Day 11: McAlester, OK to Germantown, TN – The Final Stretch, Mountain Sweepers, and Poolside Redemption

ByPete

What a grand finale to an unforgettable adventure. Day 11 marked the final leg of our Route 66 Centennial trip. From a stormy early-morning wakeup in Oklahoma to riding the winding ridges of the Ouachita Mountains and finally crossing the Mississippi River back into Tennessee, this day brought our epic journey full circle.

Here is how we wrapped up over 4,000 miles on the Mother Road.

0330 Storm Warning & The Talimena Scenic Byway

A loud crack of thunder shook the hotel at 3:30 AM, with lightning flashing across the Oklahoma sky. We caught a couple more hours of sleep and woke up at 5:30 AM to a steady downpour.

I rolled my bike up under the hotel carport to stay dry while packing up the gear. Over breakfast at 6:00 AM, we monitored the radar while weighing our options. I was hoping the storm cell would pass, but Blake summed up the reality of long-distance riding best: “We’re getting wet all day either way—let’s suit up and roll.”

We suited up in full rain gear and pushed out on Highway 270. Dropping down Highland Bluff offered a sprawling, mist-covered panoramic view of the valley below.

From there, we banked onto Oklahoma Highway 1—the famous Talimena National Scenic Byway. This is the official route featured on the Harley-Davidson Oklahoma State coin, sweeping straight through the Ouachita National Forest and across the Rich Mountains.

The road had its share of rough, bumpy patches, but the sweeping overlooks were magnificent. We pulled over at several vistas to capture group photos on the 360 camera. By the time we hit the Arkansas state line—and snapped a picture with the iconic Talimena sign from the H-D coin—the rain had completely cleared out. We peeled off our hot rain suits, prayed the dry weather would hold, and let the wind dry out our boots.

Crotch Rockets, Chopper Trikes, and Closed Dealerships

At the bottom of the mountain, Tyler coasted into Mena on absolute fumes to top off his tank. While we were fueling up, a sportbike zipped past the gas station with the rider sporting a bright green, 6-inch mohawk attached to his helmet.

A mile or two further down the road, we spotted another wild ride: a custom metallic-gold chopper trike featuring a vintage dune-buggy body and ape-hanger handlebars parked on the shoulder. It was pure 1970s glory on wheels.

We picked up Highway 70 to 88, then merged back onto 270 through Mount Ida—a region packed with boat storage yards, marinas, and lake gear catering to nearby Lake Ouachita.

We made it into Little Rock and pulled up to Rock Harley-Davidson, but in true running-gag fashion, it was closed! I think this makes roughly the sixth time we’ve stopped by this dealership over the years, and we somehow manage to miss their open hours every single time.

We grabbed a quick McDonald’s lunch to refuel ourselves, then hopped back on Highway 70 toward West Memphis.

Crossing the Mississippi & The Final Destination

We made our last group fuel stop in West Memphis, which was a bittersweet moment. This was where we said our road goodbyes to Tyler (T2), as he would be peeling off on his own route closer to home.

We crossed the Mississippi River on Interstate 55, merged onto I-240 to 385, and finally waved later  to Tyler as we turned onto Forest Hill in Germantown.

We made it.

As soon as the bikes were parked and unloaded at the house, Billy, Blake, and I shed our heavy riding gear and jumped straight into the swimming pool. After 11 days of desert heat, highway grime, and asphalt vibrations, that cold water felt like pure heaven!

To redeem our questionable Chinese food experience a couple of nights ago, we headed out to Royal Panda for dinner. Their hot and sour soup is hands-down the best in the area, and it hit the spot perfectly.

Back at the house, we kicked back in the living room and put on Pixar’s Cars. After spending nearly two weeks on the real Mother Road, pointing out all the real-world Easter eggs in the movie was an absolute blast:

  • The Cozy Cone (based on the Wigwam Motels we just slept in!)
  • Luigi’s Tire Shop (the U-Drop Inn from Shamrock)
  • The Jackrabbit Trading Post shield
  • Radiator Springs Curios (Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, OK)
  • Curbside sights from Oatman and Seligman

The Final Numbers & Wrapping Up

Tomorrow morning, Blake heads back home to Nashville first thing, and Billy follows him up late Monday after finishing some work meetings in Memphis.

Here are the final odometer tallies for the Stator Haters on this Centennial Route 66 run: Billy – 4,605, Blake – 4,364, Tyler – 3,971 and Mike – 3,960.

Eleven days, four thousand miles, breakdown scares, water pump swaps, ghost hotels, 114-degree desert heat, and endless memories with the best riding crew on the planet.

Thank you to everyone who followed along with our daily blog updates! Another incredible trip with great people is in the books. Until the next horizon, keep the rubber side down!