Need routes, ride leaders for Texas Hill Country Ride

[RainMaker]

I am the first to admit that I don't know the area around Fredericksburg as well as most of you, so would like to have a couple of volunteers who have favorite routes around Fredericksburg to PM me so that we can get some planning going on the Saturday rides.

Thanks!

RainMaker

[us385south]

There is a very cool route I like... take 290 west to I-10 exit 477.  Turn right!  Stay on I-10 till you get to US 385... then turn South.  Stay with that till it dead ends into the Chisos Mountains.

If you want to jazz that up a bit you can do the dead head dog leg out FM 2627 to what used to be the town of La Linda.  Truly one of the best rides in Texas. (Of course it doesnlt "go" anywhere... but it's a cool ride.)

 

[RainMaker]

There is a very cool route I like... take 290 west to I-10 exit 477.  Turn right!  Stay on I-10 till you get to US 385... then turn South.  Stay with that till it dead ends into the Chisos Mountains.

If you want to jazz that up a bit you can do the dead head dog leg out FM 2627 to what used to be the town of La Linda.  Truly one of the best rides in Texas. (Of course it doesnlt "go" anywhere... but it's a cool ride.)

 

It does look like a good route but it is probably a bit too long and too far from Fredericksburg.  I did a quick map and it's 390 miles, 6 hours each way.  Was looking for rides closer to Fredericksburg/Kerrville area we could complete in 4-5 hours round trip.

Thanks for the idea, though.

RM

[us385south]

There is a very cool route I like... take 290 west to I-10 exit 477.  Turn right!  Stay on I-10 till you get to US 385... then turn South.  Stay with that till it dead ends into the Chisos Mountains.

If you want to jazz that up a bit you can do the dead head dog leg out FM 2627 to what used to be the town of La Linda.  Truly one of the best rides in Texas. (Of course it doesnlt "go" anywhere... but it's a cool ride.)

 

It does look like a good route but it is probably a bit too long and too far from Fredericksburg.  I did a quick map and it's 390 miles, 6 hours each way.  Was looking for rides closer to Fredericksburg/Kerrville area we could complete in 4-5 hours round trip.

Thanks for the idea, though.

RM

It twere' a joke... a joke I say! 

[mario]

Travis, Travis , travis. Quit funnin with the rainman. 

[us385south]

Travis, Travis , travis. Quit funnin with the rainman. 

Me so solly! 

Actually... there is a FM 385 that runs from 290 west of Harper up toward FM 1871 which hangs a sharp right to Mason that is pretty nice...

[RainMaker]

Although tempted to ignore the second recommendation (fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me) I did route the second suggestion and with a little work, that trip, if added to a route to the Willow City loop, actually is a nice ride.  Lunch in Mason at Cooper's as well.  

I didn't understand you were funnin' with the city boy before you told me but thank you for the second route.

Here's the route I plotted.  You that know the roads, is this a good way to go for one of the rides?

http://goo.gl/maps/xi5cp

RM

[us385south]

Good fun, good fun!  Hope you don't take it too seriously.  I certainly don't!  From here, I consider Big Bend an easy day's reach...

It is my understanding that the original Cooper's location is in Llano.  I know there is one in Junction, but I was unaware of one being in Mason.  But... it has been a while since I've been to Mason.

I would also say that if you turn left at Daunna's store just on the west side of Harper (FM 783) the ride out that way toward Kerrville is gnawsome... especially in the fall.



A little closer to home, there is the Old Tunnel Road.  There is a tunnel there... a remnant from the train that used to run from San Antonio to F'burg.  They have coverted it to a state natural area and it has a sizable Mexican Free Tail bat population.  Certainly worth a look.  And there is an EXCELLENT Cafe out there that makes a mighty mean burger.  I cannot recall the name... I am getting old... so the hard drive platters are wearing thin these days.  None the less... I know where to find it.

http://www.culleynet.com/gallery/var/resizes/Motorcycles/1998-Valkyrie/Odds-%26-Ends/Old%20Tunnel%20Rd.JPG?m=1347320409

Has any one given any thought to rousting out early one morning and diving out to ride the Twisted Sisters?  Certainly do-able but would be a long day.

http://www.culleynet.com/gallery/var/resizes/Motorcycles/1998-Valkyrie/Odds-%26-Ends/3_sisters.JPG?m=1347319611

Pretty much any road within this loop is pure solid gold...

http://www.culleynet.com/gallery/index.php/Motorcycles/1998-Valkyrie/Odds-Ends/solid-gold

As a point of knowledge, I would consider Castell, TX a place to see.  The owner of the store there has a rooster named Duke... that will come when called like a dog.  They have down and dirty hill country BBQ in in Castell.  There ain't no restaurant, no waiters, no service.  You buy it by the pound wrapped in paper from an open-air, home made pit... and either eat it at a picnic table, standing or even better yet... from the back of your tail bag washed down with a Big Red from a can.



I certainly hope this makes up for my yanking yer chain a bit!

T

[Disco]

I'm not volunteering to lead a ride until my comm situation is straightened out, but I am interested in seeing the tunnel road and Lost Maples State Park.  Those two destinations would be new for me. 

[Serk]

I'm not gonna be able to make it, so feel free to ignore my ramblings, but if you're that close, surely ya'll won't be neglecting the Three Twisted Sisters? 335, 336 and 337, south of Kerrville?

[RainMaker]

I'm not gonna be able to make it, so feel free to ignore my ramblings, but if you're that close, surely ya'll won't be neglecting the Three Twisted Sisters? 335, 336 and 337, south of Kerrville?

It's about an hour 15 minutes if we blast down the road to get to 336 and further if we end up on 335.  There are so many other roads we could explore.  The locals to the area are our guides - hope to find out the hidden routes that are just waiting for us.  And we may end up on the 3 sisters - nothing is set yet.

Once we have a few routes, those who have volunteered to lead will make their choices.

RM

[RainMaker]

I'm not volunteering to lead a ride until my comm situation is straightened out, but I am interested in seeing the tunnel road and Lost Maples State Park.  Those two destinations would be new for me. 

Friday afternoon/evening, I think it would be great to ride out to the Bat Tunnel on the Old San Antonio Highway, watch the bats fly out at sunset and then go next door to the Alamo General Store and Cafe and get some bat burgers.  Anyone else?

https://maps.google.com/local_url?dq=Alamo+Springs+Gen+Store+%26+Cafe&q=http://www.alamospringscafe.com/&ved=0CBgQ5AQ&sa=X&ei=EBhPULmWLI3KwQG_soDICA&s=ANYYN7l8wfiImdQscePWtlncFWe9vETv3g

[Houdini]

Friday afternoon/evening, I think it would be great to ride out to the Bat Tunnel on the Old San Antonio Highway, watch the bats fly out at sunset and then go next door to the Alamo General Store and Cafe and get some bat burgers.

+1

[f-Stop]

Here's a link to the Bat Tunnel...
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/old-tunnel

...and an iPhone pic from the upper viewing area I took while on a ride earlier this year...


The Alamo Springs Cafe Rocks!  Here's a borrowed pic of one of their burgers from their Facebook page...


They also have weekly specials that are non-hamburger type meals, but I have only tried the hamburger...

The place is not real big, so depending on the size of the group, a pre-warning phone call may be in order.

Plus, Luckenbach has a free dance that Friday night...
http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/calendar  (Just navigate to October 12th for information.)

These three places are close to Fredericksburg and close together...a very nice evening ride!

 

[mario]

another destination option.

http://www.lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com/index.html

[RainMaker]

another destination option.

http://www.lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com/index.html

Yup - an oldie but a goodie.  Many of us have been there but there are many that have not.  If we do a 3 Sisters run, that would definitely be on the agenda.

[us385south]

Alamo Cafe... yeah, dat's it!  Back when I was about 16 and I had this girl friend named Patty Lancaster, we spent a night in a pup tent at about where the parking lot is now.

There is also the Devils Sink Hole just east of the 377 junction with Hwy 41. Yet again, might be a bit of  a stretch for many folks but one must remember, I am only about an hour from F'burg so a lot of the roads you guys are coming here to ride... are Sunday morning routes for me.  Sad... but true!

The section of US 377 between Hwy 41 and Junction is a pretty ride.  Much in the same way that 335 hugs those cliff cuts and has those overlooks of the Nueces River... that stretch of US 377 is very similar... except the road is better and the river is the South Llano.  It is also likely to be completely deserted.  (Mostly because everyone wants to ride the sisters!  I consider this a plus!)  There are a couple of serious low water crossings, so if it rains like it did last year we'd have to stay on our toes.

T

[TXFireman07b]

Stopping to see Enchanted rock is pretty nice and If you happen to be down in Medina area you HAVE to stop at the Apple Pie Shop!!! hope they have some of their apple ice cream so go a la mode

[flamingobabe #44]

Check out these routes...out of F'burg and area

http://www.motorcycleroads.us/regions/tx_hill.html

[flamingobabe #44]

This could be a nice easy ride that I would lead...if y'all want more miles...I can add some back roads...a stop at a bourbon place and lunch in Blanco...or I can change it and start over

http://maps.yahoo.com/#q=Fredericksburg%2C+TX&conf=1&start=1&lat=30.191431221535417&lon=-98.66683959960937&zoom=10&mvt=m&trf=0&q1=Fredericksburg%2C+TX&q2=Cain+City%2C+TX+78624&q3=Sisterdale%2C+TX+78006&q4=Blanco%2C+TX&q5=Hye%2C+TX&q6=Sandy%2C+TX+78636&q7=Eckert%2C+TX+78624&q8=Fredericksburg%2C+TX&w2=30.019415%2C-98.474251&w3=30.14282%2C-98.449402

Garrison Bourbon
http://garrisonbros.com/garrison_brothers_texas_bourbon_whiskey.html

[Bosman]

I'm with Serk! How could you go to Kerrville and not do the 3 sisters? They are considered some of the best motorcycle roads in Texas. The people that live near there have ridden the sisters many times I’m sure, but the rest of the North Texas group are missing some fine riding.
Just saying !

[flamingobabe #44]

Bosman...we are not staying in Kerrville...we are staying in Fredericksburg and want to do something different....that's my opinion...for what it's worth...2cents

[RainMaker]

The general opinion is that we always ride the 3 sisters to the exclusion of many fine roads and vistas in the area.  I took a poll at the DFW meeting last night and the majority liked the idea of some new routes this year.  For those who wish to ride the 23 sisters, we can put together a route or give them a map to get there and they can ride that route while the others are on the other two routes.

RainMaker

[RainMaker]

This could be a nice easy ride that I would lead...if y'all want more miles...I can add some back roads...a stop at a bourbon place and lunch in Blanco...or I can change it and start over

http://maps.yahoo.com/#q=Fredericksburg%2C+TX&conf=1&start=1&lat=30.191431221535417&lon=-98.66683959960937&zoom=10&mvt=m&trf=0&q1=Fredericksburg%2C+TX&q2=Cain+City%2C+TX+78624&q3=Sisterdale%2C+TX+78006&q4=Blanco%2C+TX&q5=Hye%2C+TX&q6=Sandy%2C+TX+78636&q7=Eckert%2C+TX+78624&q8=Fredericksburg%2C+TX&w2=30.019415%2C-98.474251&w3=30.14282%2C-98.449402

Garrison Bourbon
http://garrisonbros.com/garrison_brothers_texas_bourbon_whiskey.html

I personally like that route!  Any others want to throw their 2 cents in?

[5_19]

For those of you that are interested in bridges, the Regency Bridge is worth looking at.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regency_Bridge

Warning only unpaved roads! The dirt road from the south is less than .5 miles from paved. From the north it's 4-5 miles of dirt road.
 
BTW I won't be able to make this ride, instead I will be touring the Texas Tech campus that weekend in a cage.    :'(   Y'all have a grand time!!

[flamingobabe #44]

5_19...you will be missed...but get that girl in college....

[flamingobabe #44]

How many would like to go with me and visit Garrison Bros Distillery...bourbon...website says $10 each...but I'm going to call and see if they can do a lunch....and how much $$$...see above post with links

[Hollyday]

FB, Randy and I might be interested in distillery tour. 

[HayHauler]

I'm not volunteering to lead a ride until my comm situation is straightened out, but I am interested in seeing the tunnel road and Lost Maples State Park.  Those two destinations would be new for me. 

BJ and I want to go to the tunnel to see the bats... never seen a bunch o bats fly out into the night before.  State Park would be cool to visit also.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[HayHauler]

How many would like to go with me and visit Garrison Bros Distillery...bourbon...website says $10 each...but I'm going to call and see if they can do a lunch....and how much $$$...see above post with links

I am interested, if we do it early enough to get to the tunnel to see the bats at dusk. 

Hay 
Jimmyt

[flamingobabe #44]

OK...for anyone who is interested in taking a ride with hg and I.....If we leave at 9am...head to Luckenbach....short stop...then to Sisterdale...over to Blanco....up to Garrison Bros Distillery... tours are $10.per person - times are 10-12-2-4...we should make the noon tour and it will take about 1 hour....then eat in Johnson City...then off to Sandy...Willow City Loop and back to Fredericksburg...it's about 160 mile ride....but should take us about 6 or 7 hours