Member Contributer sckego Posted August 13, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 13, 2007 So, my 25th birthday was on August 10, and my fiancee Vic decided to take me (or rather, let me take her) on a bike trip down to Hill Country. We had a great time and took a few pics, so here goes... Day 1 Packed up and ready to leave Fort Worth at 7:30 Friday morning Heading south with the sun to the east Somewhere on 1047, north of Lometa When people leave buildings behind... the horses take over. 3 of 'em, trying to keep out of the sun. Enchanted Rock State Park, north of Fredericksburg. Supposedly the site of human sacrifices, way back in the day... Wine tasting in Fredericksburg We bought a bottle. Vic was excited about this. Stopped off in Luckenbach. This has got to be the coolest little town ever. Seriously, how many places can you think of that have a bar (no, not a bar. a SALOON) in their post office building? With a couple of old-timers chilling around outside strumming tunes for whoever wants to sit and listen while catching some shade under century-old oak trees? I read a quote... "Luckenback is a place that you never want to return to after you've visited once, because you're afraid it might have changed." Scenic overlook on 337 between Medina and Vanderpool Arrived at the D'Rose Inn, in Leakey. Great little place to stay when visiting hill country. It's a motorcyclist/bicylist only inn... they won't give you a room if you're not riding something. No TVs in the rooms, just a central pavillion area where everyone congregates to talk story, chill, and eat. Its something to experience. Day 2 Saturday was spent exploring the area and trying to hit up every worthwhile road we could find. We started early in the morning by heading up 336 from Leakey. A pretty fun road, not as technical as 337, mainly alot of fast sweepers as the road follows a high ridgeline. It runs through open range, so you get to see alot of random animals, like a flock of sheep grazing alongside the road (that ran away before we could get a pic). Driveway entrance off of 336 Headed across on 41 and then down 335 to Camp Wood. There is only one way to describe 335: ROLLERCOASTER. If you get seasick easily, this is not the road for you... but if you can handle it, it is a blast. Up and down and up and down, cresting blind hills and feeling weightless before accelerating down the other side and nearly bottoming out the suspension at the trough and rocketing up the other side... WOOHOO! Of course, the downside to cresting blind hills at extralegal speeds is that you might find something unexpected on the other side, such as a slow moving vehicle, law enforcement officer, or a piece of roadkill covered with 30+ huge vultures that scatter as you tear down the road towards them, full on the brakes, ducking and praying that you'll come out unscathed as you barrel through a maelstrom of black wings and bodies flapping all around you and you just want to close your eyes but you have to see where you're going and you finally come to a stop at the crest of the next hill, not breathing, heart racing, and silly fiancee on the back LAUGHING HER FREAKIN HEAD OFF and babbling about "bowling for buzzards" or somesuch crap from "The Lion King." Um, yeah. Care to guess which of those three options we encountered? 335 Random exotic game ranch along 335... Kangaroos, camels, and ibex Breakfast at BJ's in Camp Wood Parked outside BJ's. Old vs New. Headed back across 337 to Vanderpool, then north on 187 to the motorcycle museum. Water crossings everywhere, but nearly all of them were low enough so as not to cross the road. Contemplating our next purchase--a 1916 Royal Enfield sidecar rig? Artsy shot by Vic of a Vincent Black Night After the museum, north to Hunt, where we found... Stonehenge!??! Then south to Medina, where we stopped at an apple orchard and had some fudge, and picked up a bag of apple coffee. No review on that yet. Then on to Bandera, where we ate at OST, a really cool joint with a whole room dedicated to a fellow Trojan alum, John Wayne. Can't belive I didn't get any pictures of that place. Oh well, next time! Finally, back to Leakey via Tarpley and Utopia. Day 3 Ready to head out from D'Rose Sunday morning. Sing with me: "Which one of these is not like the others?" Headed west on 337 towards Camp Wood Headed up 335 (had to do that rollercoaster one more time!) we came across two things you don't normally find in DFW: wild turkeys, and 35mph curves. Shiny! Blasting up 377 A picture of a reflection of a shadow of us. Got that? Gas station in Telegraph, just south of Junction Last trip we took, we went to Paris. This time it was a UK theme - London and Dublin! This is where they send your bike if you spend too much time at 120+. Whoops. Cool story about an old oak tree in downtown Comanche Stopped off at Hard 8 BBQ in Stephenville for some lunch, then on to home! 940 miles later... what a great trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dutchinterceptor Posted August 13, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 13, 2007 Way to go! Great report and even better shots. Run across much road construction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEBSPEED Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Looks like fun, Happy Birthday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forum CEO HispanicSlammer Posted August 13, 2007 Forum CEO Share Posted August 13, 2007 moved to feature, boy your soon to be - she must be a real trooper! Gotta keep that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veefer Madness Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 , and silly fiancee on the back LAUGHING HER FREAKIN HEAD OFF and babbling about "bowling for buzzards" or somesuch crap from "The Lion King." Um, yeah. Care to guess which of those three options we encountered?You lucky Buggah! Your fiancee gets it! She looks light as a feather and probably is a real natural passenger if she's all giggles and relaxed going through the fun stuff... :pissed: :thumbsup: When's she getting her OWN bike? :salesman: Random exotic game ranch along 335... Kangaroos, camels, and ibex HEY!!! :unsure: One of those Joeys looks like the one Riot Grrrl was supposed to send me! <_< :beer: Happy Quarter Century, ya young pup! (Oh... at least your LADY is cute!!!) :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted August 13, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 13, 2007 Fantastic write-up and pics.....Congrats on a great birthday................. :thumbsup: :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer ronimalvfr Posted August 13, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 13, 2007 Ah yes.Can't wait to get back to the Hill Country.Glad all went well on your ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2007 Share Posted August 13, 2007 Nice Ride Report. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlecreek Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 a little late reading it, but thanks for the write up. very nice trip with a wonderful lady to boot! what a birthday present! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer intercept this Posted August 15, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 15, 2007 Looks like you guys had a good time, and the pictures are great too...Any girl that will stop to look at old motorcycles is a keeper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer dr.toto Posted August 15, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 15, 2007 Very good, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddog Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Thanks for the report and pics. Being from Texas myself, those pics sure did bring back some pleasant memories of riding the hill country. There used to be some pretty fun roads around Austin and College Station we ran, years ago. If you can make it out to Ft. Davis and Big Bend N.P. (when it cools down), you will enjoy that ,too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 15, 2007 Share Posted August 15, 2007 Wow, you did the whole 9 yards in the Hill Country. I've been to all those places except London and Dublin. Happy Birthday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Snafu Posted August 15, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 15, 2007 Great report! Gotta love the pics! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer sckego Posted August 16, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted August 16, 2007 Thanks for the comments, all. We did have a really fun time, and yes, Vic is a keeper :thumbsup: She's a great passenger, most of the time it doesn't even feel like she's there. She does have her limits, though... by the end of each of the three days, she was definitely about ready to hop off the bike. I actually wanted to hop in one of the river crossings to cool off after we got back to Leakey on Saturday, and she was like "Uh uh, I'm not getting back on your bike today!" Hehe... not that I'm complaining too much. Again, thanks for the comments, and HS, thanks for the move to the feature forum. I'm flattered! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Frogfoot Posted August 16, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 16, 2007 Ha Aussies are everywhere lol! I didn't expect to see that in a Texas ride report. Not only is she a keeper cause she rides with you.... she also packs light... the two of you and just the topbox wow. Looks like a great ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer sckego Posted August 16, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted August 16, 2007 Ha Aussies are everywhere lol! I didn't expect to see that in a Texas ride report. Not only the 'roos, but the owner of the motorcycle museum is also from Oz. Their cafe's signature dish is Aussie meat pies... they looked great, but we were still full from breakfast. More excuses to go back! :thumbsup: Not only is she a keeper cause she rides with you.... she also packs light... the two of you and just the topbox wow. Looks like a great ride. Gawd, I wish I could pack like her. A week's worth of her t-shirts take up as much room as one or two of mine. Damn tiny people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileyrock Posted August 16, 2007 Share Posted August 16, 2007 Very nice on all accounts, thanks for sharing! :thumbsup: Happy B-lated B-day. :offtopic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 19, 2007 Share Posted August 19, 2007 Yes happy belated b-day, mine is the same day and your the same age as me. Those are some of the very same roads I love riding, but that must be a haul from Ft Worth. I usually ride from San Antonio. I try to get my fiancee on the bike more often. I have the stock hardbags, but I was looking at your top case, what kind is that? My fiancee said she likes the looks of that back pad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer sckego Posted August 19, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted August 19, 2007 Yes happy belated b-day, mine is the same day and your the same age as me. Those are some of the very same roads I love riding, but that must be a haul from Ft Worth. I usually ride from San Antonio. I try to get my fiancee on the bike more often. I have the stock hardbags, but I was looking at your top case, what kind is that? My fiancee said she likes the looks of that back pad. Well cool, happy belated birthday to you too! The topcase is a Givi E460. It's just big enough to hold 2 helmets side-by-side, and easily big enough to pack for a quick weekend getaway (provided you don't go overboard in the packing). However, I don't think the mounting rack is compatable with the stock Honda hardbags. There is an OEM topcase available that goes with the hardbags, but I'm not sure where to purchase it. Putting a backrest on it would be easy, though--just order the Givi one, drill two holes in the proper locations, and screw on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer kaldek Posted August 21, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted August 21, 2007 Looks like a great ride. Hey don't talk about his missus like that! :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soichiro Posted August 25, 2007 Share Posted August 25, 2007 Nice ride report. I like the sense of humor as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 now thats a motorcycle trip way to go!!! and happy birthday :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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