I've also added a few photos from previous rides to fill in some of the gaps. (Click on photo for larger view)
It is an honour to have been asked to help plan rides for the Lace, Grace & Gears Rally 2018! Really, I am just offering suggestions for the committee to consider, and have no idea what the final offerings will be. The "Castle Run" is one of the suggestions. Riding the loop clockwise offers the best overall views.
I've also added a few photos from previous rides to fill in some of the gaps. (Click on photo for larger view)
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At the end of February I went to Houston to get Cherise, a 2001 Sportster 1200 Custom with 4879 original miles. She wasn't a touring bike, just an occasional putt-putt to the corner store for a soda-pop. At least she didn't just sit neglected in a barn for 15 years! Still, she immediately went to Shamrock Cycles for a 5000 mile service and new tires (she was still wearing her originals)! I picked up a solo pillow seat for her from an '03 off Craigslist, and a set of buckhorn bars also. I know I can ride Rosie forever, so setting Cherise up in a similar fashion makes sense. The seat was an easy swap, the bars have to wait for longer cables.
The ride home began meandering along the Cane River Heritage Trail, stopping at Magnolia and Oakland Plantations with lunch in Nachitoches. Farewells were said, and we were on our way ... or so we thought! A mere 30 miles further, in Many LA, she refused to start after a fuel stop. She coughed, then all electrical went dead! Rosie will sometimes do the same thing if her negative cable isn't tight. After pushing Cherise away from the pumps I begin tearing her apart in the parking lot to get at her battery. I had a few tools, but not my whole bag, so I started asking guys as they pulled in, "Do you have ...?" Her cable was a little loose, but that wasn't the problem. One gentleman who had just parked his bike after leaving the rally, pointed out an Autozone (about 1/4 mile away) was open on Sunday. He suggested that maybe her cable had been just loose enough to keep the battery from charging. He got her going with a jump, put my stuff in the back of his truck, and followed me there. I had a sinking feeling when bringing the battery in for a charge it immediately read 12.6 volts. Still, we tried, but nothing when I put it back in Cherise. I no sooner got off the phone with my daughter (who was going to drive three hours with a trailer) when a young man and his dad (or maybe big brother?) noticed I was about in tears and came over to help. He checked fuses and tried to troubleshoot the best he could. He called over someone else who had just pulled into the parking lot saying, "You're really smart with this stuff. What do you think?" "Bad battery. This looks like an Autozone battery. The dates aren't punched, how old is it?" I explained I had the bike less than a month and really didn't know. He worked at that Autozone and was just coming in on his day off for his own parts, but he replaced the battery at no charge (warranty), checked Cherise's charging system, and had us on our way before my daughter even had time to hitch up the trailer! It was already after three in the afternoon, with another 400 miles ahead of us. So much for getting home by dark for an early night to rest for work in the morning! I was very grateful to everyone who pitched in to help and get me on the road again. The rest of the trip was uneventful, except for me taking a couple wrong turns and adding extra miles when I was nearly back to Georgetown!
I am frequently asked why I am not afraid travelling alone. The answer is, for the most part, People ARE Good. The first rule I was taught when I began riding was "If you can't pick it up, you don't belong riding it!" So true. I know the technique for putting your butt in the seat and pushing with your legs, which is usually taught and demonstrated on level and solid ground. Unfortunately, that's not usually the situation!
Water crossings are a fact of life in Texas, or at least this part of the Hill Country. I had already gone through three or four before reaching Sandy Creek, but they were minimal and it was just a matter of choosing the right line. The water here wasn't deep or fast, but the bottom was VERY soft. U-turns are rarely a problem for Rosie, slow and easy, using whatever slope there is to help me pull her back. At 5'3", even with heels, sometimes leverage can be difficult. There wasn't a level turn around spot, and wanting to avoid getting into deep, soft, silt I chose a spot where the gully wasn't too deep, cautioning myself not to try to swing her around too soon. I did, and her rear wheel kicked out. Over she went, and there I was with her wheels higher than her seat! That's when the true meaning of "Sportsters are top heavy" hits home. Now, I turn 60 this year. Not only have I gained 20 pounds, I've also lost muscle mass since I no longer dance, water and downhill ski, or rock scramble with any kind of regularity like I did when I was younger. So, drop Rosie's pack, lighten her up as much as possible and try to drag her over to where her wheels are in the gully so I can get under her. Almost there and her road bar digs in. She won't budge. My failsafe is the house I can see on the other side of the creek. The last habitation I passed coming in was miles back. There had been zero traffic, though there were tire tracks in the freshly graded dirt. I prayed for Creator to send me help, pulled out my cell phone, and had signal! A friend who is willing to drive 30 miles out into the middle of nowhere to help pick up your bike is priceless! Mike was on his way as soon as I called and gave him directions (and honestly, I have done the same for him). Grabbing my camera, I started walking back the way I came in to take some of the photos I hadn't stopped for. Barely 1/4 mile from Rosie, along came a truck. Chris and Jessica from Austin/ Dripping Springs were just out sightseeing on one of his "favourite roads". Chris picked Rosie up like she was a bicycle! Though his height gives him added leverage, the bottom line is I need to do some serious strength training! After making sure Rosie started ok, and posing for me, they continued on across the creek. I got back in touch with Mike and let him know I was up and on my way out. He waited for me at the junction of 308 and 315. Planning to ride back out to TX 71 via CR 310, we were stopped at another water crossing the was much too wide and fast, even for his truck. The water crossing south on CR 308 was probably passable for Rosie, but it was too late to take a chance on another dead end. All in all, it was a great ride with the most gorgeous vistas I've seen so far in Texas!
Winter weather in this part of Texas has been erratic, to say the least! It has been bouncing between high 80s and below freezing, pouring rain and red flag (fire) warnings. Christmas Eve day was 80 degrees, that night it fell to 29 degrees! At nearly 85 degrees when I left work at one o'clock today, it wasn't if to ride, it was where.
On my way down, I noticed an interesting looking road on the next hill over. Rather than go up Cow Creek Road (which I've been over before) to the Doeskin Ranch Trails entrance, I decided to explore unknown territory. I've found the most beautiful and unexpected things journeying up these out of the way, and often, dead ends!
Today, tucked back in the hills at a tiny, little airport, is an F-4 Phantom Jet!
F-4 Phantom Memorial at Rusty Allen Airport
Type Serial # Location RF-4C-20-MC 64-1000 Airport, Lago Vista (TX) (http://www.coastcomp.com/av/pres/phantom.htm)
Bison Trail was the kind of road I was looking for! There were cutoffs up hills and down valleys, dead ends, with more turn offs than I could follow with limited daylight and having no idea of where/if any of it came out!
The roads had obviously been paved at one time, but also contained potholes and washouts. Eventually I came down into Lago Vista near the post office, which will give me a quick way back in to explore some of the very intriguing roads I passed up!
For an interactive view of the map, follow the link below.
Many have heard of the Three Twisted Sisters ride in the Hill Country of Texas. Biker Living featured this map back a couple of issues and it also shows the Three Brothers.
We are riding them from Bandera on Saturday 15 October. Meet with us at the River Oaks Inn if you are interested in joining us! TX 16 Kerrville to Bandera
10/14/2016
The ride down TX-16 from Kerrville to Bandera is as interesting, and maybe more challenging, as riding the Three Twisted Sisters themselves! In places we saw speed monitors, and rumble strips on the road were an indicator of a slow, steep, tight turn immediately ahead! The photos from my Ion Air 2 (mounted on my spedometer) really do not give a good sense of just how fun and challenging this road is! RR 337 - Medina to Leakey
10/15/2016
Five of us met up in Bandera at the River Oaks Inn, a quaint little place with a different mural in each room. We were greeted Saturday morning with overcast skies and a heavy mist. We all anticipated getting wet! The Inn's restaurant no longer serves breakfast, so we headed up to Medina to eat at Keese's Cafe. Excellent choice and well recommended! Medina also provided our entrance to Ranch Road 337. Though not yet part of the Three Sisters "Loop", I found it to be by far the most interesting part of the road to ride. It bears left in Vanderpool, a right would lead to the entrance of Lost Maples State Park, a destination worthy of a return visit. We encountered construction in Leakey (pronounced "Lake-ee") and passed by the Moto Stop without even realizing it. We were now officially riding "the Sisters". RR 337 - Leakey to Camp Wood
Still on Ranch Road 337, the sky began to clear and the day grew warmer. Aware that finding gas on this ride could be difficult, we mapped out our course based on fuel stops at approximately 100 mile intervals. This meant riding the Three Brothers first.
TX 55 - Camp Wood to Rock Springs
We passed the fuel station in Camp Wood, turning onto TX 55 four miles shy of Barksdale and the turn onto RR 335. If just riding the Twisted Sisters, be sure to gas up in Camp Wood as there is no fuel available on the remainder of the loop!
55 is a state highway with a cruising speed of 70 mph a good part of the way. The sky was turning blue, so we kicked back to enjoy the scenery! Rock Springs is a nice sized little town and provided our first fuel and rest stop. We were only a couple hours from breakfast, so passed on staying for lunch. US 377 - Rock Springs to RR 674 - Kickapoo Caverns SP
Heading west out of town on the Texas Pecos Trail (US 377) we were soon once again crossing cattle grates and riding the open range on RR 674. Though the sky was nearly cloudless now, the play of light demanded close attention to the road. Nearly hidden in the shadows of one turn was the carcass of a huge porupine (can you find it in the photos?)!
Kickapoo Caverns State Park
Roughly halfway down RR 674 is Kickapoo Caverns State Park. Stopping to take photos with the sign for the Women in the Wind scavenger hunt, we decided to take a drive through. Exploring the caverns would wait until another day as we were less than halfway through our planned ride.
FM 674 - Kickapoo Caverns SP to Bracketville
The turn onto RR 334 is just before entering Bracketville. There are services in town, if required. At approximately four hours into our ride, the battery on my Ion Air 2 camera was exhausted. The photo of the turn off was the last it took. Dark spots in the photos are a result of bug splats on the lens. I must learn to clean it every time I stop!
FM 334 - Bracketville to Camp Wood
We had been on the edge of Hill Country and RR 334 led us back into higher elevations. There are many places in Texas where a tall, yellow flood gauge is seen along the side of the road. Pay attention to these and be prepared to stop! These water crossings can be fast and slippery. Though our ride so far had been dry, the Nueces River was flowing across RR 334! It is my regret that I do not have a photo of this to post! We stopped long enough to evaluate the speed and depth of the water, then continued on through it one at a time.
Do not underestimate these water crossings! They can carry a motorcycle, or larger vehicle, downstream! Back onto TX 55, we stopped this time in Camp Wood for fuel. The corner station was very busy with bike traffic! One rider cautioned us that there may be loose gravel on the Sisters due to recent resurfacing. The Three Sisters to Leakey
The Three Twisted Sisters, anticipated to be the highlight of our ride, offered the most dramatic scenery. Turn onto RR 335 at Barksdale, then right onto TX 41, and right again onto RR 336 and back down into Leakey. Technically, I found it to be less challenging than TX 16 between Kerrville and Bandera, or RR 337 from Medina to Leakey.
More than ready now for lunch, we stopped at the Friends Grill in Leakey. Having completed the ride, the Moto Stop provided souveniers before heading back to Bandera. Leakey to Bandera
To avoid retracing our route, we took US 83 south to RR 1050, past the entrance to Garner State Park. A quick zig-zag up RR 187 to RR 470 took us back through the hills to TX 16 just north of Bandera.
Our objective of the day was the 350 mile ride. The state parks and many roads unridden beckon us back again with many areas yet to be explored.
Below is a link to Rever.co and an interactive map. Zoom out for an overview, zoom in for more detail (the image below is zoomed all the way in to the hotel parking lot).
Assistance comes in many forms, from buying groceries to chopping wood. It's not always about money, it's about community. The Biker Community. It's about being there. Every year in April, the Fallen Riders Foundation puts on an Awareness Event called Ride For Your Life. Yes, it's a fundraiser, but more so, it is about building the local riding community. Whatever you ride, whatever your affiliation, or not, ALL are invited to join in and bring the family. If you know someone injured on a motorcycle, ask the family "What do you need?" and "How can I help?" It may be a ride to the doctor, or mowing the lawn. The most precious gift is time. It is up to all of us to take care of our neighbours. That is what the Fallen Riders Foundation is really about!
High water and flooding was pronounced, especially after crossing into Louisiana, with road closures announced at the T-Towne turn. All in all, it was a good 2200 mile adventure!
The weather forcast called for three consecutive, beautiful, riding days with low chance of rain. My thoughts were that it was the window I'd been waiting for to take the 400 mile ride out to Austin TX. Rosie is still stripped of her bags, so there would be a little prep work to take care of. The day before, as I was in the middle of my daily Ideal Shape Challenge workout, my son called in the middle of a personal crisis. My plans to visit with my friend in Austin weren't confirmed, and I had stayed up all night discussing options with my son, so a local ride it would be. I headed for Alexandria to see one of my chapter sisters. About halfway there, Rosie sounded "different", nothing worrisome, just different. Sunshine was building a closet organizer and torn between riding and finishing. We decided she should complete her project and we'd ride the following day. Lloyd Bridge Road had caught my attention the day we rode to Lea's Lunchroom for our meeting, and off to explore, I was! The light on the Ion Air 2 Action Cam I have is so small I can only see it in the dark. After a short video clip while turning onto the road, I hit Rosie's kill switch so I could feel the camera vibrate to let me know I had successfully set it to take time-lapse photos. Brrrrrp. She wouldn't start. I'd had her on the charger before I set out and thought maybe I hadn't let her fully charge. I pushed her to a nearby farm road and waited for a passerby to give me a jump. Her battery wasn't totally dead, so it should be enough to get me home. Almost immediately I could tell there was still something wrong. Less than five miles later, she sputtered we sat on the side of Hwy. 167 waiting for my kids to bring their truck. Sunday, before unloading her, we put Rosie on the charger. Her battery held, and she seemed to run ok, but my confidence was shaken. She was due for new shoes, so rather than take a chance riding to Lake Charles with the kids on Monday, she went out to Dannie Davis Classic Bike Shop. She got new front and rear tires, clean oil, and her charging system checked out ok. I rode her home Tuesday, skirting the rain storms, worrying about the tornado warning that came across my phone, and just "felt" like something still wasn't right! When she groaned, only the slightest bit, after gassing up, I knew she had to be rechecked! Dannie Davis had changed out Rosie's voltage regulator back in 2010, when she decided to fry batteries. It was an intermittant thing which explained why sometimes her headlight was really bright, and not so at other times. Wednesday morning I got out my book and volt meter. Her stator checked ok, but only 11.5 volts coming off her regulator. Back to the shop she went (after making sure one was in stock) and Brrrp ... she told them she still didn't feel good.
Riding back home, she sounded "different" again, better. I could see the difference in her headlight when I'd stop behind another vehicle, and she popped right off after we stopped for fuel! Checking her battery again when we got home showed she is now charging properly and ready for the coming season! It's not the ride I had in mind for these few days. I can only thank my guardian angel that I hadn't been on my way across Texas when she quit Saturday! It is good also, that I "listened to my bones" that there was still something "wrong" when I picked her up from the shop. I'm slacking! Already three weeks into January and today is the first I've had Rosie out! Truthfully, it's been more than five weeks since I've ridden! It's either been clear and cold, or warm and raining. We even had our phones go off with a tornado warning one night! The day after Christmas was absolutely beautiful! 80 degrees and sunshine ... and I woke up with a migraine. The headache was bad enough, but the real killer was that it was the nicest day of the winter! The Women in the Wind Vagabond Sister Chapter held their monthly meeting today at Lea's Lunchroom in LeCompte LA ... and the weather gods smiled on us, with 70 degrees and partially blue sky! Lea's is famous for it's pies, even the sign marking the entrance to town features a pie! I splurged on a piece of pecan after a tasty ham sandwich. Today is also the first time I've ridden Rosie with nothing more than a tool bag in longer than I can remember! Her bags are off so I can give her a good detailing. I can do this in the winter since I wear all my "extra" clothes. I love riding her stripped down like this, but miss my bags everytime I take them off. I was a bit overdressed today, with no place to carry anything. At least I wasn't cold!
I've been back in Louisiana for two months now, winter camp, and the seasonal slump has begun. Some days are just plain wet and cold, others (like this past weekend),are unseasonally warm! It makes it very difficult to plan rides. Weather-wise, this would have been the perfect weekend for that ride to Austin TX I've been wanting to make, but it was my "almost grand-daughter's" eleventh birthday celebration, so I stayed home. Trips back and forth to Alexandria account for the majority of the 1200 miles logged since mid-October. Alternate routes are limited and I am already bored with the trip, though one evening was so beautiful all my grumpiness disappeared just for the joy of riding! It's BAD when lack of variety robs much of the pleasure if being on a motorcycle! I'm a mountain girl, 40 miles each way of straight, flat road several times make me wish I could teleport! To be fair, it's better than snow, freezing temperatures and not being able to ride at all. Rosie was stripped of her bags yesterday for the beginning of a good detailing. The new petcock for my daughter's Savage arrived Friday so we can get that up and running again. Even more exciting, we finally found her a "new" 1986 Honda Rebel 450 with only 10,ooo miles on it! It currently sits up in New York in my brother's garage, waiting until she can go up and ride it home. We've been planning rides and camping trips for nicer weather; Natchez Trace, Kisatchie Bayou Camp, Arkansas, Texas... maybe I'll even finish writing about the trip we took to the Keys two years ago! In the meantime, working on the bikes so they are ready to go on a moments notice will keep us busy during the gloomy weather.
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I've been riding now for over 40 years, beginning in the dirt on a Honda SL-70 when I was 12. I always leaned more toward trials riding than racing, but also loved riding the tracks (flat track and motocross) with the guys I came up with when they'd practice (on a Honda Elsinore 125). Our motto then was "If you don't go down you're not riding hard enough!" ... not finding your limits. Archives
February 2018
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