Labor Day Ride on the GS1100E

[trumpetguy]

On Saturday of Labor Day weekend, I convinced my wife to don her gear and join me on a 200 mile outing. It was a perfect day for a bike ride -- low 80s, almost no wind, and perfectly clear skies. The absence of wind is pretty rare for western Oklahoma.

This was the day the 1982 GS1100E would turn 16,000. The bike, restored by my dad, has been on numerous road trips. It ran flawlessly and doesn't even seem to notice the extra passenger.

The midpoint of the trip was the summit of Mt. Scott in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, and we stopped for a stretch and photo op. the Wichita Mountains are a rugged granite range rising about 1,000-1,500 feet above the surrounding plains. The view from the top is incredible.

[trumpetguy]

A couple more pics:





The road up Mt. Scott was a WPA project during the Great Depression. Notice the rocks used as a guard rail visible in some of the pics.

It was a great ride.

[jwhelan65]

Been to Oklahoma many a time, never seen it look like that WOW!

Beautiful photos..

[Charlie G]

Been to Oklahoma many a time, never seen it look like that WOW!

Beautiful photos..

I've never seen that part of OK. Looks great!

cg

[trumpetguy]

I'm a native Texan, BUT there are several beautiful parts of Oklahoma, my home for the last 15 years. Eastern OK along the Arkansas border has fun stuff to ride, in the Ouchita Mountains and the Ozarks. Northwestern OK has a few pretty spots, although it is almost ALWAYS windy as heck. Southwestern OK has the Wichita Mountains and the Quartz Mountains, two small ranges that are gorgeous. The Wichitas are only about an hour and fifteen minutes from my home if I take the direct route. Fantastic hiking and pretty views. HOT during the summer, though. I have hiked several times in 108 degree temps (not recommended).

[frosty5011]

Completely forgot about Mt. Scott.

I went up there a few times while at Ft. Sill.....had to go through Medicine Park to get there. Sometimes you had to wait a spell, while a herd of buffalo leisurely crossed the road.

Word to the wise....do NOT try to get too close to the baby buffalo, Momma does not like that!!!

[trumpetguy]

Frosty, two days after my ride, a friend rode up Mt. Scott with his wife on their Honda ST1300. The road in another part of the refuge was blocked by two buffalo, so he went around. One of the two buffalo charged at them, and my friend hit the gas, pulling the front end of the ST about two feet off the ground. He said his wife woke up about that time...

I joked that then he had to explain that it was an accident and that he had never done it before!

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Beautiful ride! Thanks for the pics!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[trumpetguy]

Hi,

Beautiful ride! Thanks for the pics!

And thanks for your many resources on this forum and your website, BassCliff! Much appreciated.