Discover Missouri Grist Mills

This weekend is going to be a great time for a ride in the Ozarks,  With the fall colors in bloom we recommend you try the Missouri Mill Run, and take a step back in time and discover some of the best examples old Missouri grist mills. 

Southern Missouri is home to many well-preserved grist mills. Some are still in use, some have been turned into restaurants and bed and breakfasts, some are undergoing restoration. All of these can give you a glimpse into what life was like in the Ozarks a century ago

Villages and towns were often built around a gristmill, where grains were ground into flour and meal, and a sawmill, where timber could be worked into usable lumber. These water-driven mills were plentiful in Missouri, especially in the southern regions where spring-fed streams provided an almost inexhaustible supply of water power.

So get out a discover the Ozarks on two wheels.

A motorcycle ride brings magic to the Ozark's fall colors in Missouri & Arkansas

Fall is the perfect time of year to rev up the motorcycle and tour some of the Ozark's best highways and back roads. Don’t miss out on the brisk air and brilliant fall color that accompanies these fantastic scenic drives during autumn.

Yes the leaves are full of color and look beautiful in the Autumn season, but they are hazardous to riders once they start to fall to the ground, and potentially very dangerous. Dry leaves can pile up on the road and cover potholes or any other inconsistencies. Keep your eye on the road and try to take routes you are familiar with. Rain or morning dew will bring a different kind of hazard as they will create wet leaves causing them to make a slick pavement surface. This could make your bike slide on the road so try and avoid these kind of situations whenever you can. If you approach a pile of leaves on the road, try your best to drive slowly until you’re past the obstacle.

Deer are prominent for being more active in the Fall, whether they be searching for food or scarcely running away from hunters pushing them into new areas. More collisions with deer happen during this season so you don’t want one to come in your path while riding your motorcycle. Make sure you put on your protective gear before going out for a ride, and always scan the road sides if you’re cruising in any rural areas. Stay alert during dusk and dawn as these are the times of day when deer movement reaches its peek.

So get put and enjoy the colorful beauty of Fall in the Ozark's, and take care that you get home safe.

Every fall, a familiar rumble can be heard as motorcycles converge along Fayetteville’s Dickson Street Entertainment District (and throughout NWA) for the annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ rally!

Hundreds of thousands of bikes will hit the road across Northwest Arkansas on Sept. 21-24 during Bikes, Blues & BBQ – one of the largest charitable motorcycle rallies in the U.S.

For riders, there’s the Poker Run, a parade and bike show, scenic rides, demo rides and plenty of vendors to choose from. Enter the Stokes Air Battle of the Bikes to see how your ride stacks up. Or simply take in a close-up view of all makes and models, from stock bikes straight off the lot to individually customized choppers. Between the tricked-out custom jobs, Harleys, metric bikes, cruisers, vintage stock and sport bikes — it’s a sight like no other!

For the lady riders, Bikes, Blues & BBQ has tons of vendors with women’s apparel and accessories. There’s also the Miss BBB Contest, lady demo rides and more.

This year, blues lovers can look forward to NBC’s “The Voice” star and Fayetteville native Barrett Baber, Leah and the MoJo Doctors, Joe Giles and the Homewreckers, and piano wizard Jason D. Williams. Feel the rhythm and visit Blues Alley Saloon at the Washington County Fairgrounds for nothing but the blues.

Love all kinds of music? The rally offers other genres, too, including Americana, Bluegrass, ’80s hairbands, country, funk and classic rock. Artists include Divas on Fire, Oreo Blue, The Dead Metal Society, The Nace Brothers, Members Only and Full House. It’s non-stop entertainment at Bikes Blues & BBQ.

All about the BBQ? A $6 donation lets you cast a vote for your favorite, finger-lickin’-good barbecue during the People’s Choice Competition. The main barbecue event is the Kansas City Barbecue Society portion of the Arkansas State BBQ Championship. Contestants will put their best meat forward for a chance to win thousands in prize money.

Because hundreds of thousands of bikes aren’t enough, there’s also a car show at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale. These custom cars, street rods, vintage treasures and rat rods will take part in the Dickson Street Cruise car parade, too. Grab some grub from one of the many food trucks and don’t miss it!

Courtesy: Explore N.W. Arkansas

The typically tranquil hills and valleys around the Lake of the Ozarks will come alive with the rumblings of thousands of motorcycles as they roll in for one of the biggest bike rallies in the Midwest, Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, September 15th thru 18th.

This four-day event draws over 35,000 motorcyclists and spectators alike to the Lake area for scenic rides, live music, vendor villages, two bike giveaways, entertaining contests and activities, custom bikes, food and drink specials and a great festival atmosphere.

Make plans to come out to the festivities, we hope to see you there.

The website changes are progressing nicely.  We are still on track for a relaunch around mid October, so stay tuned.

Summer Bike Rallies

With summer in full swing, now is the time to start thinking about the two major bike rallies in our area... The Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, and of course the great Bikes Blues and BBQ.

If you've never had the opportunity to attend these events, then let me tell you that it's very important to make your reservations for lodging sooner than later.  while there are still accommodations available, they will fill up fast.

Riding in the Heat

Well it's pretty evident the the "Dog Days of Summer" are here.  With area heat indexes over 100 degrees it very important that you take a little extra care with staying COOL.  When possible do your riding in the morning hours before the full effects of the days high temperatures set in, and while I hate to state the obvious... DRINK LOTS OF FLUIDS!  Water and drinks like Gatorade (electrolytes) are best while soda and alcoholic beverages will definitely work against you.

One of the best things I've found to keep you cool is the Mission Athletic Gear line of products.  When I first heard about these cooling items I was to say the least very skeptical, but it turns out they really do work great (who knew).

The bottom line is don't let the heat keep you from a great ride, just be smart about it! Stay cool, ride early, drink lots of fluids, and use a good sunscreen.