Texas Horn Toads ~ Spring Break Ride 2012

[us385south]

There had been some chatter on Rocketman's Kerrville hill country ride-in thread about my annual spring break ride.

I have dates: March 11 thru 15.

I will have a new (yet mature) rider from Georgia in tow on my wing.  The plan is to ease out of San Marcos at sunrise-thirty and just sort of wander toward Del Rio at a slow comfortable pace.  We'll prolly make stops in Luchenbach. Turn south toward Sisterdale, sort of doodle through the Comfort area... drop south along the western twisted sister, gas at Camp Wood and head toward Del Rio.

Del Rio is likely to be the rally point for folks I know coming up from Corpus and maybe one from Pasadena.

Next morning it is my plan to be cruising across the high Pecos bridge of US 90 just at day break.  That ride out through the desert is awesome.  I never get tired of it.  We have rooms booked at the Antelope Lodge in Alpine. We've got some folks coming down from Moriarty, NM as well.

Beyond that.. I have no real plans.  Just ride, ride, ride!  Big Bend, FM170, the Davis Mountains loop... and if other Valkers arrive... we can ride up to Van Horn and get a snapshot for the Everywhere in Texas video.

Anyone is invited to join us for all or part.  We are a very informal and relaxed group with no real membership and a "who cares about all that anyway" attitude.

Clicky, clicky!  Pics from last year...
http://culleynet.com/zen/The%20Road/spring-ride-2011/

[DIGGER]

Best trips I've ever taken had unplanned destinations.  Just backroads and unheard of towns and ask the locals what there is to see there.

[us385south]

You betcha...

This last June I took off from here to ride to Georgia.  At Natchez I turned north along the Natchez Trace till just shy of Nashville... then turned right and just wandered.  It was awesome! 

I would say this... there are just certain places that are better if you can manage to get there at just the right time of day...

[us385south]

Alrighty... I thought I would revive this one and let folks know that we are still planning on heading to the Big Bend area again this spring break.  We are up to six bikes and it is likely we will picking up a few more.  Two groups from the Pasadena/ Friendswood area, two from Corpus and my group heading out from San Marcos. (We are a mixed bag of folks.)

We are going to meet up in Del Rio at the LaQuinta Inn on Saturday March 10th in the evening to ride out the following morning along US90.

Most of us will be staying in Alpine until Wednesday or Thursday.  I have no plans or itineraries... as those become meaningless once you get there anyway. Generally speaking, we fuel up at the Stripes Station in Alpine everyday at daybreak, look at the maps, spin the bottle and take off in that direction.

So far most of the group is staying here: http://www.antelopelodge.com/

If you have ever been to Big Bend over spring break you already know that rooms and campsites are hard to find.  Better to have the reservation and cancel later, than arrive and have no place to stay.

Y'all come ride!

Travis

[mario]

Reservations made! Lord willing, we are going to make this ride.
Thanks Travis.  And whoever is riding out from Houston area, give me a shout.

[us385south]

Reservations made! Lord willing, we are going to make this ride.
Thanks Travis.  And whoever is riding out from Houston area, give me a shout.

Did I meet you in Kerrville last month?  I just came up for that Saturday morning.  Had to split and get back to San Mucus 'cuz I was up to my ears in work and broken motorcycles.  the winger is fixed now... and a bee-u-teeful double darkside GL1500 she is!  But, I'll be on the Valk for the Big Bend ride...

Anywhoo... there is an ongoing dialog already open on the Steve Saunders Goldwing forum... here:http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum2/121206.html.  I know all those that are committed and as the time approaches I am sure folks will be wanting to team up for the ride out to Del Rio. 

We'll burn that bridge when we get to it!

[us385south]

Just thought I bump this up again to remind everyone that our spring break group is growing... a few wingers... a Yamaha or two... even a Harley.

Open to all... BUT... you better make your reservations soon.  Spring Break is big business in Big Bend.

[us385south]

Okay, one last bump!

I know spring is a really busy time around the VRCC Texas, but I just want to remind everyone that our little spring break ride is really beginning to firm up.  Along with myself, we have a few other VRCC-er's headed that way with us.

I want to get the Van Horn picture for the "Everywhere in Texas" video... so come along!

If you have ever wanted to ride Big Bend, now's your chance.  If you have ridden before and wanna twist that throttle again... here's your chance.

Due to a few cancellations there are a few rooms still available at the Antelope Lodge in Alpine. (Ground Zero... links above.)  If you want to come along... better get your room locked down.

Also, due to heightened interest this year we are generating an online list of riders... that will be distributed via email sometime this week.  That way folks can meet up with other riders headed that way.

Register here: I have closed the registration form

Alrighty... see you guys in a couple of weeks1

T

[Super Santa]

Travis, add two more to your list for the Big Bend thingy.

Early Bird and Wizard both have kitchen passes and a room booked at Antelope Lodge.

I plan on meeting you in Del Rio on Saturday, Wizard should arrive in Alpine on Sunday coming via Dallas area.

[mario]

that's great eb!  we'll see you there.

[us385south]

Travis, add two more to your list for the Big Bend thingy.

Early Bird and Wizard both have kitchen passes and a room booked at Antelope Lodge.

I plan on meeting you in Del Rio on Saturday, Wizard should arrive in Alpine on Sunday coming via Dallas area.

Ray... I got your friend request on FB and was thinking, "Who da heck is dat?"  I guess I have it put together now.  I'll be looking for you in Del Rio.  If you haven't hit the registration page please do so.  It'll help folks meet up wherever they are.

Tell Wizard that I'll be looking forward to seeing him again...

I have the center stand he sold me on the Valk... looks good too. http://culleynet.com/zen/The%20Road/spring-ride-2012/DSC08796_X790W.jpg.php

[us385south]

Ray, Mary (and Tim), Wizard and Greg... thanks all for coming!

That was fun, let's do that again!

us385south and Georgia Greg are in the house.

T

[Bullgoose]

A truly fantastic time. I could spend weeks down there exploring. Made some new friends. Had lots of laughs. Spent tons on gas. What more can I say?
Next year fer sure!

Rode with some beautiful wings. Should I get one?

Mucho thnx to Travis for inviting us to his yearly commune with the high desert of south west Texas. US385south is a fun road... especially if you're not restricted to the speed limit.

[us385south]

It is true... I do derive good chi from ridiing out there!

Oh... btw... I may have printed out the wrong address for the image galleries.  The upload address should be right, but the galleries are here:

http://www.culleynet.com/zen/horn_toads_2012/

Tim/Mary... in answer to your questions it will accept these formats: GIF, JPEG, JPG, PNG, 3GP, FLV, MOV, MP3, and MP4.  would LOVE to see some of that swingin' video Tim shot.

Finally... a splashy bike shot taken in the Davis Mountains.

Here: http://www.culleynet.com/zen/horn_toads_2012/DSC08875_X1200W.jpg.php

It makes my knees weak and my heart flutter to think what sorts of shots I might get of Mary's bike... out along some lonely stretch of road somewhere just moments (and I do mean just moments) before daybreak.

Next year... maybe?

[mario]

agreed travis!  tim and mary are in the house.  did greg say gas??  one or more of my plugs and or wires went bad somewhere along the way home.  i ran out of gas west of ozona, i believe it was.  but thanks to gregs syphon hose and tim's large concourse tank, and a water bottle, they got me on the road in due time to the next station about 5 miles up the road.  i was av'ging 75 miles a tank before reserve.     the poor thing had to haul my arse plus gear home, but she was faithful to do so.  tim's checking her out as i type.   
thanks travis for a grand time and meeting some new friends.  the country is primo beautiful and the river road and ft. davis loop-i can't say enough.  fun, hilly, twisty, gorgeous. we can't wait to go again. 

[us385south]

I am so sorry you guys had issues.  First, Tim's tire and then running dry on the interstate... I wonder how you stay positive.  75 miles per tank... something ain't right there.  I also carry a siphon hose... I have never used it... but I carry one.

The gallery is growing... http://culleynet.com/zen/horn_toads_2012/

T