Arkansas: Total Eclipses
A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere every 18 months. Considering 70% of the earth is water, though, your chances of seeing one from dry land are pretty slim. You have to be in the right place at the right time. On top of that, you need favorable weather conditions, a clear sky, and ideally a 360-degree view of the horizon.
The contiguous U.S. experienced a total solar eclipse back in 2017, while the one before that happened in 1979. I was lucky enough to witness the 2017 eclipse from my home in Tennessee, where we experienced 55 seconds of totality. I was hooked.
The next total eclipse would happen seven years later on April 8, 2024. The path of totality would stretch from Texas to Maine, which meant I would have to travel a little farther than my own backyard for this one. Seems like a perfect excuse to plan a motorcycle trip.
Motorcycle & Gear
Helmet: HJC RPHA 11 Pro
Jacket: Klim Marrakesh
Pants: Klim Outrider
Boots: Klim Blak Jak, Gaerne Balanced
Gloves: Klim Marrakesh
Comm System: Cardo Packtalk Edge
Camera: Nikon Z6II, 24-70mm F2.8, GoPro Hero 12 Black
Our Crew
We were a motley crew of riders who—in the beginning—identified each other by the bikes we showed up on, rather than our names. Over the years, we’ve become such good friends that I consider them to be family. I’ve put more miles down with these goons than with anyone else.
We’ve gotten bikes stuck, unstuck, and repaired on the side of the road. We’ve shared beers in bars in out of the way places, explored trails, gotten lost, and seen some of the best sunsets together. We’ve wrenched all night, ridden all day, and scraped each other up off the asphalt when the gremlins decided to bite. These are our people.
Caleb, whom you may already know, is Mr. McInturff. No further explanation necessary. You can catch up on our moto shenanigans by reading the last several years of RoadRUNNER back issues. On this tour, we were both on a Yamaha Tracer 9 GT+.
I’ve known Jesse as long as I have known Caleb, and he can ride the wheels off a motorcycle. His rear tires wear out quicker than the front—I’ve never seen someone ride a wheelie as far as he can. He’s a dad now, so we don’t get to see him as often as we’d like to. Jesse was riding his Yamaha MT-10.
Jon is the wild child. He speaks off the cuff, always looks for trouble, and knows how to have a good time. It’s simply not a party until Jon shows up, and his laugh can be heard from across the campground. Fun fact—he officiated my wedding. This weekend, he was riding his Yamaha XSR900.
Troy is our “moto dad.” We always end up having the coolest experiences with him. Some of my favorites include listening to steel guitars in a tiny bar in Mississippi and many midnight paddles under the full moon. This was the maiden voyage for his new Honda Gold Wing, affectionately named Woodstock.
James, who we sometimes call Andy, is the happiest person I’ve ever met. His saddlebags are like Mary Poppins’ duffle and can always fit one more item—especially if that item is bourbon or Arkansas moonshine. Andy was riding his not-so-stealthy KTM 1290 Super Duke.
On the Road
The rendezvous point for Operation Eclipse was Mountain View, AR. Most of us had around 450 miles to ride to get there, and we all arrived just before the sunset. We grabbed dinner at the local Mexican restaurant before bunking in one of the family cabins at Ozark Folk Center State Park. In hindsight, suggesting burritos before sharing a room with a bunch of guys was a bit of an oversight. Note taken.
The next morning, we had a chilly start. It was that time of year when you aren’t sure whether to wear cold or warm weather gear, so we all opted for the latter plus layers in case the temperature dropped. We got ready slowly, while the sun melted the frost off our motorcycle seats.
Heading west, we followed the most indirect route we could piece together. The curves were endless and fast as we made our way toward the state's western border. I’d never ridden in Arkansas before, aside from quick through-trips on major interstates to get to another part of the country. I’d heard riders talk about the great riding in the Ozarks, and it’s been on my to-ride list for a long time. But until I put rubber down, I had no idea how beautiful Arkansas was. The rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and twisty roads were a bit of a shock to all of us. We were in our element.