Roaring River Ride May 7 2022
Okay, so the reason for this post is to be able to say I took my bike to Roaring River and back (approximately 240 miles) and get some idea of how it does on longer trips. The thing did awesomely! The only issue I had was the connection on the battery loosened up on the ride and started giving me fits when I got back to Langley to get gas. One other interesting aside is that my right saddlebag latch became disengaged on the way back and found out that the entire locking mechanism had been somehow ripped out of the side. Yeah, weird.
Got to get out and do some (more) riding yesterday with my brother and nephew. They have a couple of the larger, Indian motorcycles – a Challenger and Roadmaster and it’s seldom that we can all get together for a ride. We decided to go out to a place over in Missouri called Roaring River State Park. Roaring River is situated in Cassville, MO, and it’s only a couple of hours from where we live. The park is a state fish hatchery also and people from all over the country come and pay to fish for trout here. Roaring River also lays claim to many miles of hiking trails and is a favorite summer getaway for a lot of people looking to get back to nature and just relax for a bit during the summer – or really just about any time of year.
Even though we had gotten off to a late start, we were still able to get to the park in a reasonable amount of time. My nephew led the way on his Challenger and I must admit that the twisties from Jay Oklahoma to Cassville are something to be feared and admired. Josh has only been riding for a few years now and has really matured from his early days. Sometimes it’s really hard to imagine him not growing up riding like my brother and I did. Then again, he is always on his bike when possible and he seems to be trying to make up for that time he didn’t have growing up.
Anyway, we get to the park and it is teaming with people out for the weekend and a lot of them fishing for trout in the spring-fed stream that seems to literally materialize from inside a crevasse at the bottom of the mountain. The depth and voluminous discharge of millions of gallons of water daily is, in itself mind bending and the attraction of wildlife to the area, such as Bald Eagles and Blue Herons, is an added bonus. Roaring River is an apt signature when the water comes rushing out of a cave-like structure with a deafening… ,well, roar. This is true especially after heavy rains have swollen the streams and rivers in the vicinity. Below is an excerpt from the Roaring River website:
Roaring River State Park is unique on so many levels!
With a deep, narrow valley surrounded by a striking and rugged landscape, Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s most popular state parks.
Located in the southwest Ozark hills, Roaring River State Park is one of three state parks stocked with rainbow trout. Eager anglers flock to the park year-round to try and catch their lunker trout.
The scenic setting makes everything more fun. The park has seven hiking trails, picnic tables for a leisurely lunch and a nature center to learn about the park.
For those wanting to spend the night, the park has many options. The campground has basic, electric and sewer/electric/water site. Rustic cabins are scattered throughout the park, or guests may choose a modern room at the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center. The center also boasts a full-service restaurant. (https://mostateparks.com/park/roaring-river-state-park)
The area around Roaring River State Park is also a popular destination for motorcycle groups and rides. As mentioned above, some of the roads leading to the park are seen as an adventurous departure from those who own bikes as economical commuters to those weekend warriors looking forward to putting down some rubber before getting back to the grind on Monday. This area of Missouri really does have almost something for everyone.
Okay, so the reason for this post is to be able to say I took my bike to Roaring River and back (approximately 240 miles) and get some idea of how it does on longer trips. The thing did awesomely! The only issue I had was the connection on the battery loosened up on the ride and started giving me fits when I got back to Langley to get gas. One other interesting aside is that my right saddlebag latch became disengaged on the way back and found out that the entire locking mechanism had been somehow ripped completely out of the side! Yeah, weird. On the brighter side though, the bike ran like a champ and never had any issues with the motor or transmission. I am so hoping that the rebuild will extend the life of the bike and also my riding enjoyment. The engine has 913 miles on it so far and I plan on changing the oil again at 1000. In the meantime, everyone made it back home safe and sound and already scoping areas out for another ride (Hopefully in the near future). Hmmm…. Maybe we'll go to Devil's Den..., or Eureka Springs..., or....
