Ed on the Oklahoma Adventure Trail

I rode the Oklahoma Adventure Trail “OAT” for short from September 29th through October 4th. The OAT is an assembly of GPS tracks put together by a fine bunch of folks in Oklahoma to showcase their state to dual sport riders.



A special thanks to Oklr and Dadayama who ram-rodded the project and all the others that contributed to it.

http://www.youtube.com/oklahomaklr

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=836706

It is 1500 miles full of changing scenery. Many people are not aware how diverse Oklahoma is and this trip points it out to anyone fortunate enough to do it.


I mention a lot of things here in passing. If interested google it as I am not going to explain it here. My version of things might clutter the report up. This is meant to be a quick tour of a ride available for free to all who have a little off road experience and sense of adventure. I also wanted to help out. This is a fairly new one of the “Trans” trails and so I wanted to ride it all and report back any closures or route arounds so that the tracks can be fixed for those riding it after me.


I also needed something to show my friends and family what I have been up to. Have you ever tried to explain to someone what you really mean by “back roads” and motorcycle camping. Most folks don’t understand so a place to point to including pictures will help tell the story.

This trip began with delays. I live in Iowa and intended to start south on Saturday. It was raining. It rained all day. It was also raining all the way to Oklahoma It was even raining in Oklahoma.

So I waited until Sunday. I got up bright and early, the weather looked good so away I went. Two miles later I realized I left my oil filler cap off.






Back to the house and regroup. After sourcing another cap and changing pants, shoes and socks .. away I went again.

Much better now. Good weather and good scenery on the way down.


I picked up the OAT trail in Adair. Eastern Oklahoma is a lot like Arkansas. Rocky with lots of trees and clear streams.

I run up against a locked and posted gate. A reroute around it was short and easy.






Having just rained there was plenty of running water.





I ended the day at the state park in Stilwell. Nice park but don’t bother. The park is right by the train tracks and they are not shy with the whistle…. All night long.

Up the next day early and riding the interesting back roads of eastern Oklahoma.

























On this trip I seen several turtles crossing the road. Through out the whole state not just eastern.

Runestone in Heavener very cool.







Onward





















I would hate to hit that culvert

I started out on a portion of the track named “advanced 50 miles” I intended to do all of it and I have ridden the area before so I know I could but due to the recent rain there were some pretty big water holes. I went through a few but some were getting big. Not knowing how deep and the fact that I was by myself I decide to turn back. I also was on a fairly bald tire. I can think of a lot of excuses. Here is my tire.



Here is a little of it to give you an idea of the terrain.






Something else I seen on this trip was Tarantula spiders. I learned since I got home they migrate this time of year in Oklahoma.



I came to a bridge I wasn’t going to cross.



I stopped at Lake Hugo to camp. Very nice there. I hope no spiders.

Woke up to fog and rode to the Circus cemetery. Interesting.












This looks like a good project.






The trail began to get sketchy …. In a good kinda way. The sign said “dead end” and it sure doesn’t get used much. One of the culverts is just about gone. On good gully washer and this may not be passable anymore. I am sure glad I brought the DR650 and not the Vstrom.

















Back to beautiful southern Oklahoma






Something that I have noticed about Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma in the rural areas. You will see dilapidated and/or abandoned homes. Sometimes with trash and junk everywhere and nearby see fabulous homes and acreages. The contrast is striking.




Carpenters Bluff Bridge. I had never been here before. Pretty cool.

More Rural Oklahoma















Fort Washita

Back to rural Oklahoma.













This officer was coming by lights and siren. He probably wondered “ what is that dork doing on the side of the road taking my picture?”



Arbuckle mountains





Another closed gate. Just a couple miles to go around no big deal.




Come upon a bridge out. The bridge might be out but it was easy to go on through.





There is evidence of oil field activity in all of Oklahoma










I ended today camped in a city park north of Elgin.

Thanks for Posting this. I've ridden most but not all of what you have posted.I live in Wister. I know all about those muddy crossings. The thing is most have jeep ruts that will swallow a bike. It is still fun to do and see just how deep that muddy water is I do it all the tme. Whats the worst than can happen goes through my mind everytime. and usually does but pull it out dry it out and go on.

Time to go eat supper. I will post the rest in a little bit.

Good stuff! I took about 10 pics in 6 1/2 days on the OAT. You're the man.

The next morning I worked my way on to Fort Sill to see Geronimo’s grave site.















I thought my rear tire would make the trip but I knew it might be close. The rocky eastern half of the state was pretty hard on it. I decided to buy another on to have with me since I would be riding in such a remote area. I found one at Lawton Suzuki.






Next up is Medicine Park. Interesting community. I think I will come back sometime with my wife and check it out further.
















Next in line is Mount Scott. As I am riding here the government shutdown is starting it’s second day . There is this road sign to let me know.







Although I found a way to get around the barricade to Mount Scott I didn’t take it. I just rode on through. It was fogged in up high anyway.









I went in and took a look at Meers burgers. I will certainly be back sometime when I am hungry.



Now we are getting out west.

This ATV park has east and westbound lanes



The track will need updated here unless you can jump a fence.








Just a little ways north you can re access the trail. This part is a little gnarly but doable. One water crossing has deep sand in it. It was dry for me.












More Western Oklahoma.
















This was the biggest water crossing I came to. I took off my shoes and checked it out. Leading up to the crossing and in the water it was solid but the north side was mucky mud. A little momentum and the bike went right through.







More of the every changing landscape.


















And tarantulas

This mud hole was all muck and pretty deep. Choose the excuse ( bald tire, all alone, late in the day, I am a wuss) I did not feel the need or desire to wade through it. I went a couple miles east and viewed the same area from the ridge line there. I am glad I took the clockwise direction so the west could dry out a couple of days. It was even more apparent that was a good idea later.


















This is a BIG pump. There is a lot of expensive and unattended equipment in rural Oklahoma. The fact they can leave this stuff out there speaks well about rural America.





Ended the day camped at the Community Center parking lot in Camargo.

Early the next morning at the store I order up a big breakfast. The cute ( I know you need a picture but I didn’t get one) cashier girl asks me is that your DR out there? I said yes. She asks if it is a 400 or 650. I told her a 650 and she replies “ they are sooo bad ass”. She talked about her dad having one and such. She even called me darling a couple of times. Pleasant way to start the morning. I was rolling before daylight full of food and gas.






Early morning in western Oklahoma.


























Gloss Mountain. It was a pretty good climb to the top but worth it.













Better put away the camera and use both hands through this part.














Start back down again.









Then it started getting sandy. All doable just be ready.

The government shutdown kept me out of Salt Plains.

As I started working back east the track took me to a closed road. I went on to were a dirt pile stops you from continuing. If you go around the dirt pile the bridge is torn out.












There was a lot of BIG farm equipment working around the western portion of the state







Monument for the Bewell Stockade and a cowboy grave.









I got into some sticker bushes here. I was hoping the thorns would not give my tires problems. They didn't.





This was just too muddy for me. I went around.

Since when is a roadway an activity or program? Makes me wonder where I could stow bolt cutters on my bike.

Enjoying your report despite the petulant interruptions!

This was on the track but obviously not traveled. I was also getting more thorn bushes here so I went around.










This road was defiantly closed. It is now a tilled farm field.






Getting back to the center of the state.

















Graffiti wall





Ingalls was super cool.











Metal Rooster.




The famous Frog Rock







The track then winds around a very picturesque area of Oklahoma towards Bartlesville. It was getting late and I had been running pretty hard all day so not much for pictures here. I ended the day at Copan and from there turned towards home.