BIKES, BLUES, & BBQ H.O.G. RALLY 2024

Day One: 

I gathered a group of friends and kicked off my trip with a ride down the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. This twisty road is one of the top motorcycle destinations in the region! It twists and turns through limestone rock, farmland, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding Ozark Mountains. If you look close enough, you might even spot a waterfall or two near the roadway.  

Another bonus? Fall is on the horizon here in the Ozarks. Leaves are falling out of the sky like little pieces of yellow glitter while you’re riding! 

For lunch, we set our sights on the historic Oark General Store. People come from miles around for one of their burgers and homemade pies. At least a hundred other riders had made their way down to Oark for lunch, so conversations were endless as we all patiently waited for lunch to be served. For those wondering - it was worth the wait. That was arguably the best burger I’ve had this year!  

We pulled into a gas station to find our buddy Adam Sandoval working on his chopper. With a little bit of elbow grease and help from friends, we got the bike running and hit the road to Eureka Springs for the afternoon, where bikes rumbled through the historic district and live blues music played from Basin Spring Park. 

Day Two: 

There’s no better reason to come to Northwest Arkansas than to ride! Since I didn’t get my fill of twisty roads and scenery yesterday, I woke up early and decided to take a solo ride through the Boston Mountains before meeting up with a few friends for lunch.  

In my opinion, coming to an event called “Bikes, Blues, and BBQ,” means that you should experience all three things involved in the name. Since I’ve ridden my bike and listened to live blues music already, it was time to try some award-winning BBQ at none other than Wright’s in Johnson, AR. Their smoked brisket was a highlight of my trip! 

Afterward, my friends and I headed over to Pig Trail Harley-Davidson to check out a few vendors before riding up to Eureka Springs. We decided to detour over to Beaver Lake to enjoy the views from the nearby Beaver Dam Overlook before making our way back down to Rogers for the evening. 

Back in Rogers, the rally was in full swing! Bikes rumbled along the brick streets of downtown as the sun began to set. Soon, there wasn’t a parking spot in sight for blocks! Families gathered to watch the spectacle unfold in their hometown. It felt like a giant, family-friendly bike night, focused on camaraderie. Knowing I had a 600-mile ride in the morning, I headed out shortly after sunset, just as the party seemed to be getting started. 

Two days is not enough time to experience everything Northwest Arkansas or Bikes, Blues, and BBQ has to offer. But if you take advantage of your time, you can have a truly incredible weekend out here in the Ozarks!