4/30 Bluebonnet Ride to Snooks/Sodolak's Country Inn

[RainMaker]

NOTE: Date changed since I've been told I can only go on the 30th!

It's been a while, actually, since Gear Jammer went on his South American adventure, since we've had the ride to Snook and Sodolak's Country Inn for chicken fried steak, chicken fried bacon and other healthy foods.  

Great meet in the middle for the Houston and DFW Groups and Centex if they want to join in.

The bluebonnet forecast says that the 3rd week of April will be the best week, but, that's Easter weekend.  So two weeks later, they should still be around.  And this is far enough from a potential GOTF that you'd have time to earn another kitchen pass.

So, any takers on making this a ride at the end of April, like the 30th?  

RainMaker

[Firefighter]

Never heard of it but looked it up and Texas Country Reporter did a spill on the place and the chicken fried bacon! Sounds like a good ride for me if I am able at the time. Was in the area a couple of months ago. Let me know when you plan to meet and if your gonna ride the area or if you guys are just riding to the cafe. I have friends in New Caney and can visit them also.  Firefighter

[Red Diamond]

http://texaslesstraveled.com/tablet/bluebonnet.html

[Disco]

Sounds great.     Put me down as a maybe.

[michaelyoung254]

Sounds like a plan! Weather permitting, Vita and I will be riding in frum Hooterville (Huntsville) if anyone wants to meet up and ride together.


Mike

[Rocketman]

I've got a conflict on the 29th, but I have a lot of conflicts, so maybe you shouldn't take that into account.  We could probably go the 6th of May.

[RainMaker]

Added the option of 4/30, Sunday.  Will reset all to zero and start again.

[Gear Jammer]

Well, I'm glad to see somebody took up my slacking off.  After my South American Ecuador living adventure, I got back and found the bike needed some major work done.  Now I think it's up to the ride, so I'm a strong maybe. As an indigent retiree,  I'm open for whatever date it happens. I suppose the Houston area riders could meet up at the same spot as in the past,,,,the Exxon/McD/Denny's on Hwy 290 @ FM 1488 and ride to Snook for the lunch meet-up. Any comments welcome.

[CDuster]

I will be there if my business will allow me (crop dusting).

[Gitter]

I'm a definite maybe from the East Houston area

[michaelyoung254]

Once again, I voted for 4/29, but we would be okay with either date.


Mike

[RainMaker]

Due to work complications, the date for me has now been changed to Sunday, 4/30.  As I am leading the effort, I must ask everyone going to also change to 4/30.

I'll post the ride for the DFW riders in the next few days.

Please indicate if you are coming so that we have a headcount for Sodolak's.

RainMaker

[franco6]

A strong maybe we are due for a cruise

[Gear Jammer]

I'm in for 1.  I will be at the meet-up place on FM1488 @ Hwy290 at the Exxon/McD's around 830 and leave by 9, to arrive in Snook by 11am.

[Ten Bears]

I am good to go on either day. However I do prefer Saturday.

[ragincajun]

Well, I'm glad to see somebody took up my slacking off.  After my South American Ecuador living adventure, I got back and found the bike needed some major work done.  Now I think it's up to the ride, so I'm a strong maybe. As an indigent retiree,  I'm open for whatever date it happens. I suppose the Houston area riders could meet up at the same spot as in the past,,,,the Exxon/McD/Denny's on Hwy 290 @ FM 1488 and ride to Snook for the lunch meet-up. Any comments welcome.

I remember when you were leaving for Ecuador.  Welcome back.

[SideCar]

Going to miss this one as the Houston Ride for Kids at Lake Conroe is Sunday. Enjoy what's left of the bluebonnets or for those down south, come help some kids in need at the new ride location. It's the 25th anniversary ride. http://pbtf.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=2777&pg=entry#.WNu7u_krKUk

[planecrazygal]

Tim and I are interested in this ride and for the first time, the are NO conflicting items on the calendar!  WOOHOO...well weather permitting of course.  Hope I didn't just jinx anything....

[RainMaker]

For the DFW crew:

After talking it over at the meeting last night, the thought was to set a meetup spot further along than normal, then take the less scenic but more direct route to Snook to be there between 11 and 11:30am on 4/30, eat and then take a ride areound the area with our statewide brother bikers before heading back on a little nicer route back to the metromess.

So, plans are to meet up at 8:15am at the Whataburger in Hillsboro, on the southwest corner of the intersection of I-35 and Hwy 22.  We'll leave there at 8:30 am, proceed to Waco via I-35, take the exit at 340 and the Bellmead loop to Hwy 6, then head south towards College Station.  Right on Hwy 60 through the A&M campus on the way to Snook and Sodolak's.

For the after lunch ride, it would be better to ask those who know the area of a good set of roads to go on.  Any volunteers to lead that part?

After our joint riding, we'll head back on Hwy 6 to Hwy 14 and head to Richmond before joining I-45 and heading north into Dallas.

That's the plan.

RainMaker

[BnB Tom]

  Put me down as 'a definite maybe/probably'. 

[Gear Jammer]

Thanks RaginCajun, it is good to be back, and with a bike that now runs,,I hope.    And as I mentioned earlier, I will be at the Exxon/McD's at Hwy290@FM1488 around 8-830 and leave by 9ish. If any want to meet up there, give me a shout so I'll know to wait for you. 

[RainMaker]

Headcount wise, I see a possibility (with the maybes included) of 12 folks.

Please indicate if your "maybe" is now a "yes" so that we have an accurate count.

RainMaker

[HayHauler]

Bj and I will be there......  along with our friends from Missouri, Joe and Monica.  They missed GOTF, so they are coming down for a visit next weekend. 
Any idea of the route from the gas station on 1488?  Remember, this is the MS150 bike ride to Austin weekend again this year.  Curtis from New Ulm is going to try and meet us on our route somewhere.

Looking forward to it.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[Gear Jammer]

Hayhauler,  I hadn't thought of the MS ride.  This is a link to the MS150 bike route, which isn't on 290.   http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/2017_TXH_BP_MS_150_-_Maps_-_Route_Overview.pdf?docID=83388   Rainmaker, You can add one more to my list of riders as long as the weather holds. There may be another, but still unconfirmed.

[michaelyoung254]

Headcount wise, I see a possibility (with the maybes included) of 12 folks.

Please indicate if your "maybe" is now a "yes" so that we have an accurate count.

RainMaker

RainMaker, I know I chimed in earlier in the conversation, but thought I'd update. As of right now, Vita and I plan on attending this fine event.

[michaelyoung254]

Thanks RaginCajun, it is good to be back, and with a bike that now runs,,I hope.    And as I mentioned earlier, I will be at the Exxon/McD's at Hwy290@FM1488 around 8-830 and leave by 9ish. If any want to meet up there, give me a shout so I'll know to wait for you. 

Gear Jammer, Vita and I plan on meeting up with y'all at the Exxon. We should be there about 8:00 or shortly thereafter.

Mike

[Disco]

I'm 99.96% no.   

[Gear Jammer]

Michael,  If the weather holds, I'll be there and looking for you !

[MarcusS]

  One people

[MarcusS]

I made a nice run to snook that started at the buckee-s in Waller (Corner 362 and 290). KSU at 9AM and took 362 up 105 , east 4 miles to 2445 N to 1774, then up Anderson. Top off/ pit stop in Anderson then take the 3090 loop around to Carlos( 244&30).

From Carlos take 30 west to College station then 60 down to Snook.( this is a nice 30 mile cool down before lunch)


Loop 2445 between 105 and 1774 has a 70 MPH speed limit and some great curves.

Trip from Waller to Snook takes about two hours rolling about 60-65MPH.

362, 2445, 1774,3090,244 are all great riding roads.

[franco6]

Seems as if Chantal and I will be going but they announce rain on Sunday . Of course they ll be wrong . lol :2funny:or we ll get wet ,nothing new  We ll meet meet you all at 290 and 1488 for the ride

[RainMaker]

I guess my handle has proven itself correct once again.  The weather bullshit artists forecasters say 0% chance of rain on Sunday in DFW, Waco and College Station and 20% in Houston. 

I am, in retrospect, pretty happy this was moved to 4/30 instead of being 4/29 as Saturday is supposed to be pretty wet.

Sometimes, when you ride, it rains.  That's why God made rainsuits.

So we're going!

Mark

[BnB Tom]

Unfortunately, I'll be a 'no-show'. 

 

[Capt. Speedo]

Speedo is going
See you in Hillsboro at  8-8:15
Anybody else going down I-35 E?
Who will be there besides Rainmaker and son?

[RainMaker]

about to depart from Hillsboro with Capt Speedo. No 10 Bears in sight. 

[Gear Jammer]

Well, we got thrown a curve by Sodolak being closed on Sunday now. But we found some good BBQ in Brenham at Nathan's. Started out a bit chilly, but ended up great. Rode a couple of new roads and I got to meet some new friends like Speedo, Marcus, Joe and Monica. Next year we'll check on the restaurant's schedule!

[Joevalk]

Still want some chicken fried bacon 

Home safe

[Gear Jammer]

 

Still want some chicken fried bacon 

Home safe

[RainMaker]

Still want some chicken fried bacon  

Home safe

Me, too.  Sorry for the problem - I knew we had eaten there on a Sunday before (get there early to beat the church crowd) but as Gear Jammer found out, they changed their hours a couple of years ago.  Probably right after our last visit.

It was a beautiful day to ride.  Great to meet up with the Houston crowd, as usual, and ride with them a little. The bbq was actually pretty good, although not on the level of Baker's BBQ (like anything is!).

Speedo and I took backroads back after the lunch to get back to the metromess.  

Speedo noted that my rear tire was on it's wear marks.  The Falken has been a nice tire but after 3 years and 18K miles I think it's time for the Austone Taxi Tire.

RainMaker