Saw us mentioned on r/Arkansas... riders are welcome, but a few manners

My grandson sent me a thread off r/Arkansas, somebody asking where to move, and a bunch of folks said the riding in Fairfield Bay is great and the locals are welcoming to respectful visitors. Nice to hear... we've had our share of grumbling over the years, so I'll take it.

That word "respectful" is doing a lot of work though. Spring's here, the trailers are showing up, and I figure it's worth saying a few things out loud...

Stay on the marked trails. Keep it slow going past houses, a lot of us have lived on these streets 30 years and the dogs still haven't figured out side-by-sides. Early mornings, headlights and engine noise carry a long way over the water at 6 a.m. And park the trailers where they ought to be so the lanes lot stays open for the people who are actually there to spend money.

I sold real estate in these parts a good while, and I can tell you folks buy here because it's quiet AND because there's something to do. Both can stay true if everybody minds their manners...

Anybody else seeing more out-of-town rigs this year, or is it just me?

More rigs this year, yes. Fridays are the worst, trailers lined up before noon. Most of the riders I've met out my way in Shirley have been friendly. Speed past houses is my only real gripe. Slow down and wave and you're good with me. I might even hand you a plate off the smoker.

Cindy, I'd slow down for a plate off that smoker, no question.

I've noticed the Friday pileup too. Last week the lanes lot was full well before lunch and a couple of trailers were hanging out on the shoulder. Most riders I've talked to are perfectly nice once somebody says something. I think a lot of them just don't know where they're supposed to park. A sign at the turnoff might do more than all of us grumbling on here.

Keisha, I like the sign idea. Folks can't follow a rule they don't know about, and nobody reads a forum before they hook up the trailer. Something simple at the turnoff, "trailer parking this way" with an arrow, would probably do it.

Out in Mountain Ranch I'm usually in the garden by 6 before it gets hot, and a rider going by slow doesn't bother me one bit. I wave, they wave. It's the ones that come flying past and kick up dust all over my tomatoes that I could do without. Cindy's right, slow down and wave and everybody's happy.

And Cedric, yes, more out-of-town rigs this year. I counted four on one street last Saturday.

Sign's a good idea, Donna. I'd put a little map of the marked trails on it too, since half the trouble is folks not knowing where they're allowed to go. Somebody would have to okay it with whoever owns the lanes lot, but a couple of signs beats a summer of complaints.

The dust is a real one. In a dry spell, 15 mph versus 30 is the difference between a wave and a coat of dirt on your tomatoes. I've been on the trails around the lake a lot of years, and the riders who ease off past houses never get a second look from anybody.

Cedric, thanks for putting it out there so politely. Saying it nicely goes a lot further than a grumpy post would.

I drove past the lanes lot again Saturday and it was packed by late morning, but the trailers were lined up along the back edge instead of out on the shoulder. Maybe word is getting around, or maybe somebody had a talk with them. Either way I'll take it.

Still think a sign or two would help, especially for first-timers. Does anyone know who we'd even ask about that? Might be worth bringing up at the next city meeting.

Glad to hear they were tucked along the back edge... that's how it ought to look. Could be word's getting around, or somebody had a friendly talk with them. Either way I'll take it too.

On who to ask, I'd start with whoever runs the lanes, since I believe the lot's private and they'd have to okay anything on their own property. If a sign needs to go out at the turnoff on the road itself, that's a call to city hall. I'd bring it up at a council meeting, but I'd have the lanes folks on board first so nobody gets told "not our lot."

Years back we had a little "welcome, here's where to park" sign for the lake access, and it did more good than any letter to the editor... Cheap, too.

If you do go to the meeting, Keisha, I'd bring Waynet's idea about a little trail map on it. Folks will read a map.

That's a good point about the lanes folks, Cedric. I'd hate to stand up at a meeting and get told it's not the city's lot. I'll stop in some weekday morning when it's slow and see who I can talk to. If they're open to it, I'll take Waynet's trail map idea with me.

I've only ever been to the school board meetings, so I'll have to look up when council meets and how the public comment part works. Your old lake access sign is exactly the kind of thing I have in mind. Cheap and friendly beats a stern letter every time.