TAT-2020 Post-05 16 Feb 2020



This is a quick Oklahoma detour update for those planning on doing the TAT this season.

My group completed the TAT through Oklahoma in August of 2016. We had to bypass a good chunk of the eastern side of the state because of a road closure. I always wanted to go back and do that section and this past week-end I had the opportunity. I was in Tulsa, OK visiting family so on the way back home to Little Rock, AR I drove to Salina, OK to intercept the TAT then followed it back to Mountianburg, AR (137 miles).  I did finish the section we missed except I encountered another issue that I want to share with anyone doing the TAT in the future.

We used SAM’s TAT maps that I bought in the 2015 time frame so this may be updated on the newest version. I found the Combs Bridge over the Illinois River is totally missing. The bridge foundations are still there but the bridge is gone. In addition, the property on the west side of the river is now private property and marked no trespassing. I rode down the road anyway and found the bridge gone. It was a significant detour to get back on the TAT because there are not a lot of river crossings in this area.

The map below shows the route I took and the circle identifies both the SAM TAT route (Magenta) and my detour (Red). The sad faces are the detour way-points I marked. I was traveling from west to east so are numbered as such. The zoom in picture shows more detail and I also included picks of each way-point with the Lat/Long.









Most riders go east to west and if you follow the SAM route to the river, you will have a long back track to pick up the detour route I provided.

BTW I was in my Jeep not on my dual-sport so I included a couple pictures showing how many mud holes and water crossings I encountered.
Ride Safe!












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