TALIMENA 1, OK, TX & AR 914 Spring Road Tour Options

[Joseph Mills]

Here's the "official" posting:


For the 3rd year in a row... we're driving down Oklahoma Highway One... one more time!



As it's been for the last two years... this is an informal NO FEES, NO FRILLS, NO T-SHIRT, real CHEAP MOTEL gathering of teener owners with an emphasis on DRIVING!

Well... that and hangin' out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

The date for this year will be Saturday, April 7th (day before easter). This weekend has been chosen because there will be no conflicting "car events" surrounding this date. Children are welcome and maybe we will have a 914 easter egg hunt.


OVERVIEW:

As in the past, the tour will be similar in nature to the MUSR road tours, in that there will be opportunities for some "spirited" driving, but it is not a race, nor is it a competition. If you want to race, feel free to meet me at the next MUSR AX...

All participants are encouraged to drive at their own comfortable pace. We will be stopping on numerous occasions for "breaks" at the scenic viewpoints and a few "photo ops'. This will allow us to re-group when necessary. Bring your camera!

We will meet in Talihina, OK, at the Kiamichi Inn. This is a classic "car" motel from the sixties, owned by Miss Kitty, who has again given her blessings for our Saturday night cookout in the parking lot right next to our cars. Many of us arrive on Friday.

For the drive, from Talihina, we approach State Highway 1, also known as the Talimena National Scenic Byway, or for short, Talimena Drive. This road runs for sixty miles to the town of Mena, AR. Although other states can boast of a larger quantity of twisties, Talimena holds it's own when it comes to a driving challenge, and has been identified as one of the best sportscar roads in America by Car and Driver Magazine and various other car and bike organizations. It extends west to east on top of the ridgeline of Winding Stair Mountain and Rich Mountain in the Ouachita National Forest north of the Kiamichi Mountains.

These sixty miles of highway are filled with sharp curves and 13% grades of unbroken blacktop. There are lots of both low and high speed turns with many tight switchbacks that are often preceded by steep downhill grades. Your brakes should be in their best condition. Several drivers have told me "THIS is better than any friggin' DE I've ever attended!"

Overall, the road surface itself is in very good shape with only occasional, rough areas. There are many scenic vistas that overlook the valleys for pulling over and regrouping, or taking some pics. All of it comes together so nicely, that even if you're temporarily stuck behind a slow moving RV, it's still a cool drive.

Remember, this is not a drive around the block - be adequately prepared... or be prepared to be adequately humiliated. Or cared for... or left behind (we'll pick you up on the way back). Extra parts, tools and AAA are strongly advised.

We will tour around Mena, have lunch, and when everyone is ready, get back to the driving task at hand, and tour back to Talihina. Don't even bother trying to re-wind the turns backwards... won't work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

After a break, we'll get together for our cookout and favorite beverages. Sunday morning we'll have a nice breakfast before heading home.

This is a fair weather get together. Mild chance of rain will not deter us, however eminent threat of severe precipitation will cancel our plans. We will be in touch as the time draws near.

Location:
Kiamichi Inn (504 Dallas St.)
Talihina, OK (http://www.talihinacc.com/).

For reservations call 918-567-2243. Tell "Kitty" you're with the 914 group.
The rates are about the same as last year:
1 bed 1-2 people 38.41
2 bed 2-3 people 49.39
3 bed 3-5 people 65.36
(In some cases, an extra 5.00 may be charged for the 3rd or 4th person)

Attendees list as of 3/20:

Joseph & Rea (plus Edith), OK
Curt & Angela, OK
Clay & Betty, TX
Rusty, AL
Doug & "Das Weibchen", TX
Stephen, Krebs OK

I will update this list as you reply to this thread or PM me.

I'm working on a "schedule" of events.

..

[ClayPerrine]

We will be leaving from the Ihop at the NE corner of 75 and 380 in McKinney, Tx at 3PM for anyone who wants to caravan up with us. The caravan also includes a nice, scenic drive too. If you can't make the caravan, you can follow along behind us. I am posting the directions we will be following.

From McKinney, Take I75 North. Far up into Oklahoma, 75 will merge with hwy 69 (Huh Huh Huh... he said "69". Shaddup Beevis!) Stop for gas in Atoka if you are anywhere near half tank. There is no place to get gas from here to Talimena. When 75 and 69 split again, follow 69 north until you reach the town of Stringfellow.

At Stringfellow, you will pick up Hwy 43. Keep going on 43 for a long time, way out in the country. You will cross the Indian Nation turnpike about halfway along your trip down this road.

Eventually you will pass along the southern end of Sardis Lake. Shortly thereafter Highway 43 will come to a stop sign, and a left turn will take you across the dam at the east end of Sardis Lake. Follow this road and it will end at Hwy 2. Turn left on Hwy 2, and you will cross a small end of Sardis Lake.

When Hwy 2 meets Hwy 1, turn right on Hwy 1. This will run straight into Talimena. It also runs right past the Motel, which is on the right, just after the downtown area (don't blink or you will miss it).


And that is how to get to Talimena from McKinney. It is a great drive, but don't do it just after dark. We got plastered with bugs while passing the lake last year on the way home.