Texas state ride-in- ride routes

[Rocketman]

After some discussion, we have decided to hit the three sisters again this year.  We will take two separate groups out.  Bobby (Gear Jammer) has volunteered to lead the "relaxed" ride group.  They will leave first, followed by myself leading the "spirited" ride group.  If we time things up properly, I will catch up to Bobby's tailgunner as they are pulling into the pre-arranged lunch stop.
On the way out of lunch, the spirited group will leave first so as to avoid catching the relaxed group.
The ride route as we have it currently is ~220 miles.  The monstrously large link below should lead you to a google map showing the route.  The "destinations" have no significance other than they were convenient places to put waypoints.
Some of the details may be changed by popular acclaim on the spot (the most obvious options include the option to skip 336 southward and take 41 straight back to Kerrville, and the option to take 337/16 back to Kerrville rather than the quicker 83/41).

Ride route map:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Kerrville,+TX&daddr=29.7507,-99.53969+to:camp+wood,+texas+to:29.88395,-100.01806+to:TX-41+E+to:29.8589499,-99.7846981+to:Kerrville,+TX&hl=en&geocode=Fcl8ygEdIT0X-in_2zPTYXFZhjEnTNTv9nqDtw%3BFaz1xQEdFiUR-in1wuWujrVehjFU_tjxehO24Q%3BFRC4xAEd_e4J-inxB9pmvi5fhjGRzXzPqp8kPw%3BFS7-xwEddNgJ-inLlUdqZtFYhjEEzxp7rCU8KA%3BFYJcygEdPCcM-g%3BFYWcxwEdBmgN-inpNomvPyxZhjG4wEO9fqNsEA%3BFcl8ygEdIT0X-in_2zPTYXFZhjEnTNTv9nqDtw&mra=dpe&mrcr=2&mrsp=5&sz=9&via=1,3,5&sll=29.931135,-99.591064&sspn=0.735488,1.766052&ie=UTF8&z=9

[Sparky51]

Just a week ago I took a m/c ride on TX 16 south from Kerrville towards Bandera.
Absolutely beautiful, however the return trip northbound would be tricky with
unfinished NB lane about 3/4 mile. Lots of loose stone on some kind of base.
Would be some white knuckle time.  Just to give you all a heads up!

Thanks Rocketman for putting this all together!

Anybody thinking about the ride out there on Friday from Houston?  I am thinking of leaving a bit after rush hour on that Friday Morning.   Safety in numbers and all that.  Thinking about taking 90 west towards San Antonio, but not sure how that will add  a lot of hours to the trip or not.  Let me know all!

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey SteveP , coming down hwy 90-a is a great ride , but be carefull when its getting on to sundown because of all the critters coming out you won't be able to cruise at 75 or 80 because of the local yokels shooting radar .... on I-10 you got the 18 wheeler critters to watch out for to ... if your in SA Steve come on by for a an impromtu wrench party on Sunday  around noon .... I'll have a few friends over with their Valks doing some minor maintain work at my house .... and I'll be making some chili and corn bread for who all shows up sunday ..... so if your interested come on down and give a hollar and I'll give you directions .... I'm off I-35 North and judson rd.... Thanks the Geezer 

[f-Stop]

So...does "Spirited" = faster and "Relaxed" = slower?  Or are other parameters involved?  I'm a little fuzzy on the differentiability. ???

Can't wait!

[RainMaker]

I seem to remember a lot of forest rats out after dark on my last trip down to Kerrville, so keep a sharp eye out.  Whoever has the most illumination should be leading any groups coming in on Friday nite.

Stay thirsty, my friends.....

[BnB Tom]

Just a week ago I took a m/c ride on TX 16 south from Kerrville towards Bandera.
Absolutely beautiful, however the return trip northbound would be tricky with
unfinished NB lane about 3/4 mile. Lots of loose stone on some kind of base.
Would be some white knuckle time.  Just to give you all a heads up!

 Wonder what the odds are of 16 North being in better shape  --  by the time we make that ride?

My S.O. is not up for loose road surface.  

           I'M not especially fond of it either.  

  Any decent alternatives.  Maybe thru Bandera?

Thoughts?  

  Tom

[Rocketman]

Just a week ago I took a m/c ride on TX 16 south from Kerrville towards Bandera.
Absolutely beautiful, however the return trip northbound would be tricky with
unfinished NB lane about 3/4 mile. Lots of loose stone on some kind of base.
Would be some white knuckle time.  Just to give you all a heads up!

 Wonder what the odds are of 16 North being in better shape  --  by the time we make that ride?

My S.O. is not up for loose road surface.  

           I'M not especially fond of it either.  

  Any decent alternatives.  Maybe thru Bandera?

Thoughts?  

  Tom

Charlie has volunteered to check out at least some of the roads for us the weekend before, and as a last check, we can just keep an eye on it as we head southbound that morning.  16Northbound is not on the "nominal" plan anyway, so it would be a piece of cake to eliminate it.  If it looks bad, we'll just not add it.  Definitely concur on avoiding loose roads.  Unless we verify that that construction is cleaned up, we'll avoid it.

[Rocketman]

So...does "Spirited" = faster and "Relaxed" = slower?  Or are other parameters involved?  I'm a little fuzzy on the differentiability. ???

Can't wait!

"Relaxed"=Sunday drive.
"Spirited"=Did you bring a spare set of tires?

Seriously, it's just a measure of aggressiveness level.  Take the relaxed ride if you want to enjoy the scenery.  Take the spirited ride if you want to push it.

[Rocketman]

Just a week ago I took a m/c ride on TX 16 south from Kerrville towards Bandera.
Absolutely beautiful, however the return trip northbound would be tricky with
unfinished NB lane about 3/4 mile. Lots of loose stone on some kind of base.
Would be some white knuckle time.  Just to give you all a heads up!

Thanks Rocketman for putting this all together!

Anybody thinking about the ride out there on Friday from Houston?  I am thinking of leaving a bit after rush hour on that Friday Morning.   Safety in numbers and all that.  Thinking about taking 90 west towards San Antonio, but not sure how that will add  a lot of hours to the trip or not.  Let me know all!

Thanks for the heads-up on the construction.  We'll avoid it.
As for routes westbound:  I think this deserves a separate thread.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I don't if anybody is interested but north out of Vanderpool is a motorcyle museum on highway187. The owner is a friend of my sister and it is a good place to stop and (food) cool your heals. We ran through there on our return trip from the sisters. We went south of Leakey to 1050 over to Utopia, through the Lost Maple Forest then up to vanderpool on 187 to 39 to Hunt and then back to kerrville on 27. I wish we could make it but with  the arrival of the twins  and the Romp coming at the end of the month, and opening weekend of deer season the next weekend time and money are short. Ya have fun!!!

[f-Stop]

Charlie has volunteered to check out at least some of the roads for us the weekend before, and as a last check, we can just keep an eye on it as we head southbound that morning.  16Northbound is not on the "nominal" plan anyway, so it would be a piece of cake to eliminate it.  If it looks bad, we'll just not add it.  Definitely concur on avoiding loose roads.  Unless we verify that that construction is cleaned up, we'll avoid it.

I'll be staying near Garner State Park between Leakey and Concan this weekend, October 1st & 2nd.  Will for sure be driving on the US 83 and Hwy 41 segments of the scheduled ride-in route - nowhere near Hwy 16.

FYI, last time I was on US 83 between Hwy 41 and Leakey there was a lot of contruction.  Should be done by now, but I thought that the last two times I rode/drove it.

Not sure if I'll be hitting any of the "Sisters" farm to market roads this weekend.  Our trip has been cut short due to work and we won't be on the bikes due to Dena's still healing "shifter tendon".  (She had surgery on her left foot a few weeks ago to repair the tendon that makes your foot lift up.)  So, we will just be visiting for one day with our crazy West Texas cousins who's drive time may exceed their camping time. 

...There may be some serious drinking at the camp site with a tear in my beer to offset the rideless weekend ...

[Rocketman]

I don't if anybody is interested but north out of Vanderpool is a motorcyle museum on highway187.

Sorry to hear you can't make it.
The motorcycle museum is always an option, but several people have commented that since we went there last time around, it may not be that attractive.  If some people want to stop there instead of hitting the larger loop, or as an extension to the day, we can always splinter the group some.

I'll be staying near Garner State Park between Leakey and Concan this weekend, October 1st & 2nd.  Will for sure be driving on the US 83 and Hwy 41 segments of the scheduled ride-in route - nowhere near Hwy 16.

FYI, last time I was on US 83 between Hwy 41 and Leakey there was a lot of contruction.  Should be done by now, but I thought that the last two times I rode/drove it.

Whatever scouting you can do will be great.  Just let me know what you find.
We'll be hitting 16 south before we have an opportunity to hit it north, so we can check it out then.

Mark

[godfire]

Sounds like a large time! Man, I wish I could be there!

Ride safe!

[f-Stop]

Just looked on the Tx Dot site and they show construction on US 83 between Hwy 41 and Leakey - this has been going on for over two years!  All else shows clear for the scheduled ride-in ride route.

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/GIS/HCRS_main/viewer.htm

I will post a report on the highlighted area sometime after Friday, Oct 1st.

[f-Stop]

OK...so here's what the contruction looks like on US 83 heading south from Hwy 41...


The only road crew we saw Friday afternoon...

Looks like they are sweeping off the straggly pebbles.

Saw no road crew on Sunday morning as we headed back towards Driftwood.  The constuction lasts about 5.7mi and is very smooth with no flaggers or slow-downs.  Looks like all they have to do is sweep the edges and paint the stripes, so I suggest that this section should be fine for anybody to ride on.  

{FYI, last time I rode down this section it was dirt with patches of tar.  Temps were above 100(F), so the tar stuck to my fenders and timing cover.  It was kind of a bummer after just riding 336 out of Leakey!}

Weather forecast for Leakey on Saturday, October 9th is Low of 57(F), High of 82(F) and 0% chance for rain...Wooo...Hooo!!!

[Rocketman]

Thanks for the report.  Sounds like it's a non-issue.  We'll ride through that (assuming it's still there when we get there, which it sounds like it won't).

Yes, weather is looking like a great one.  Cool at night, but we'll be riding in daylight.  It'll be a beautiful weekend.  See ya'll there.