The Jasper Disaster...

 

We got out relatively early today - more heat and humidity.  The ride goal: the Jasper Disaster.

Why is it called that?  Was there a disaster there?  Thanks for asking.  According to the Harrison Visitors Bureau: "The Jasper Disaster has the name for good reason! Mile for mile, this route is the curviest riding route. The route encompasses the most beautiful scenic section of Highway 7, follows Highway 74 over the mountains and joins Highway 43 in Boxley Valley."

So, no, there was no disaster here.  Another catchy name, like "Tail of the Dragon" that we rode earlier this month.  As usual, I shot a bunch of video.  It took a while to get it all downloaded, but rather than work on a big video project right now, I let the AI editing feature of the Insta360 app handle the heavy lifting; I just added a couple short clips in there.  I may work up a more thorough ride video (including a voice over) later, but in the meantime, here's a fun, short clip...

 We rode from Harrison to Compton, then to Jasper, then another loop west of Jasper, then a stop for lunch at the Low Gap Cafe (excellent choice), then some more fun, curvy roads back to Harrison.

How does this compare to "the Tail of the Dragon"?  This is supposed to be one of the more challenging rides in this area (if you believe the tourist info)... we'll have to ride a few more before we pass judgement, but we both agreed: the scenery here is pretty, there are some steep grades, but the roads we were on in North Carolina and Tennessee the past month are far more twisty (and challenging) than what we rode today.  Don't get me wrong: we are not necessarily looking for "a challenge."  But, we do enjoy a twisty road.  There are areas that open up here, allowing some striking views of the hills and valleys.  The area is wooded, but you see more than just trees.  There are plenty of rallies (car, motorcycle, and scooter) that are held here in the Ozarks, and it is easy to see why.  The RV park we are in in Harrison, puts us in the middle of all that.

Here are some still images taken from the video clips today...