This last year has been very busy with work and not near enough play for my liking!
About 6 months ago, I started talking to Dave and my friend, Elie, about taking a week for a "first real tour" for them. Both of them were in, and then the only thing we needed to do was figure out a week that would work and where we wanted to go.
Elie suggested going to Arkansas or somewhere away from Texas so we could see a new place. I knew that NW Arkansas was pretty and might have lots of smaller towns that would make a good tour. And so the mapping and route planning began.
After multiple different versions and input from Dave and Elie on the "final" version, there were yet more changes to make a hilly route a little more reasonable. I was a little too ambitious given the amount of hills to ride and our distinct lack of hills for training in the Houston area. This was a lesson I learned from the Michigan trip last summer, but apparently it didn't sink in too far because I did the same thing again! Dave and Elie brought me back to my senses, and we have a tour that is reasonable and should be a great first tour.
A bonus of doing a tour this time of year is that the weather is cooler further north and we will be enjoying true fall-like weather. It will make a very nice break from the continued heat in Houston.
Unfortunately, Elie was feeling really bad Friday morning and tested positive for Covid. The tour has now been reduced down to two people. We will miss the fun of sharing this trip with Elie, his humor, and his Bluetooth speaker. However, that just gives us an excuse to plan another trip sooner rather than later. As Elie said, he's spent enough money on all his gear that he better get a tour out of it!
Without Elie, Dave has been promoted to the position of "old man" of the tour. Dave is taking this responsibility seriously and will do his best to represent Elie well!
All the panniers are packed, the bikes tuned up and outfitted with the necessary racks, and all that is left is to get to Bentonville, AR Saturday and start the tour on Sunday. Then we can just enjoy being out on tour.
The drive to Bentonville was uneventful and we are settled in to our accommodations for the night at the Bike Inn. We had some time this afternoon to wander Bentonville and even stop at a bike shop. Dave wanted a phone holder for his handlebar, and Phat Tire bikes had just what he needed.
Here is an approximation of the route we will be taking for the next 7 days.
I will be updating the trip blog each day as I have in the past, and will post as I have a cell signal. I will keep the obligatory margarita count for the tour. I don't know how many I'll find in the Ozarks, but I'll do my best. 🍹
