Heart of Texas Ride May 9, 10 & 11th. [Archive]

Tourmeister

04-23-2003, 04:52 PM

:tab So here are the final details:

Best Western in Gatesville, Tx.
888-451-4521

I have eight rooms blocked for the weekend of May 9 & 10th.

:tab Double occupancy with Double beds: $63 + 10% tax
:tab Single occupancy with single bed: $51 + 10% tax

When you call to make a reservation, please tell them you are with Backroad Motorcycle Tours. NO, this is not an official tour. However, it is a convenient name to use and they may give us a corporate rate. I'll have to call them back for final info on the rates.

:tab If you call and reserve a room, please let me know so I can keep track of how many people are going so we don't have someone slip between the cracks and get left behind.

:tab I'll work out a route, feel free to suggest roads you want to hit.

buck000

04-23-2003, 05:42 PM

As it happens, I went through Meridian on the way back from the Dallas moto show:

clickie-poo (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/rogersp98/lst?.dir=/2002+Dallas+Motorcycle+Show/Roads+etc&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/)

My particular faves were FM 4 from 281 to Palo Pinto (N. of Stephenville) and 144 from Glen Rose to Meridian. Nice scenic sweepers on the latter.

Probably add the Koffee Kup in Hico as a place to stop; they have decent meals, and awesome pies.

580 west from Lampasas to Bend is sweet, too. I like those easy sweepers. If you have the Ride Texas Ride guide, I believe they have some little country lanes that go northward, emptying onto 580 between Lampasas and Bend. I did this twice, couldn't follow directions either time, still wound up on 580, and enjoyed some nice isolated country roads... :oops:

I'll shut up now and let the real NorthCentTx riders give you the real truth :).

scratch

04-23-2003, 07:40 PM

I've edited and added comments in bold italics -

:tab If you are familiar with this area, I'd like to hear about some of the roads. Of particular interest are:

FM's 580 and 581 North and West of Lampasas - I've ridden 580 and the best section is between the little towns of Rumley and Topsey. 1113 north out of Copperas Cove to Topsey is also a nice ride. I've never done it, but it looks like you could connect 580 to 581 via 2527.

FM's 914 and 219 From Stephenville to Lake Whitney - I've travelled the section of 219 between Hwy 281 and Clifton and it's a very nice ride. About halfway between Fairy and Cranfills Gap you can turn north on 1238/216 and go to Iredell; there are some excellent curves as you approach Iredell.

...There are other roads that look like fun as well, especially South of Meridian.

Here are a few more nice routes in the area around Meridian:

Going south, you can take 1991 out of Merdian to Clifton, then go east on 708 to 56, then back southwest to Valley Mills.

To the north, go up 144 to Walnut Springs, then take 203 to Hwy 67 and turn left. Go to 51/204 and turn right (north) and proceed to 205 and turn right (east) and go back to Glen Rose. 51/204 is narrow with some very tight rock-strewn turns, but it's enjoyable if taken at a slower pace.

There are also some excellent roads east of Lampasas about halfway between Georgetown and Killeen and going back to Rockdale.

FM 487 west out of Rockdale has some nice sections, especially between the towns of Davilla and Bartlett (mind the gravel in some of the curves) and then from Bartlett to Jarrell and on west to the intersection with 2843. Turn right (north) on 2843 for a 5-mile run of some of the best sweepers you'll find anywhere. South of Lampasas, off of Hwy 183, go east on 963 from Watson to Oakalla for a nice run with lots of curves.

Tourmeister

04-23-2003, 09:15 PM

Gee Scratch, sure would be nice to have you along ;-) Ditto for Buck!

scratch

04-24-2003, 10:13 AM

Unfortunately, my Friday work schedule probably won't allow me to join up with you for that one. :(

brd

04-24-2003, 12:54 PM

Howdy,

:tab Okay, so I have that weekend off and want to explore some new roads I've never ridden. The area that I want to explore is everything within a 50 mile radius of Hamilton at the intersection of US 281 and Hwy 36. I'd like to find a place where some of us can stay real cheap in Hamilton, meet Friday night, ride like crazy all day Saturday, then head home Sunday.

Dude, there is not much in Hamilton. It is a small town and I didn't think they even had a hotel, but yahoo shows 3 of them (http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypResults.py?&&city=Hamilton&state=TX&country=us&msa=0000&slt=31.703730&sln=-98.124069&cs=4&stp=y&stx=7737307). Dunno how you'd tell if they were all dives or fleabags.

:tab If you are familiar with this area, I'd like to hear about some of the roads. Of particular interest are:

FM's 580 and 581 North and West of Lampasas

FM 1047 between FM 581 and 2005

FM 572 East out of Goldthwaite

FM 590 between Zephyr and Comanche

FM's 914 and 219 From Stephenville to Lake Whitney

:tab Anyone... anyone?

I'm interested. I've never done any of those roads except for 219 around Cranfills Gap, which has a few good curves. North of the Y with 1238, 219 is not much, at least on up through Fairy, where I usually head north to Hico.

If you're around Dublin, it's worth stopping in at www.dublindrpepper.com. It's the only plant in the country that still makes DP with cane sugar. :-D They will set up a tour of the place for groups and also have a sandwich shop there.

max955

04-24-2003, 01:40 PM

Shoot yeah, I'm in. Hamilton looks like it's within a couple of hours of Austin, so I should be able to make it up there on Friday night pretty easily. I take my last test of the semester that Tuesday, so I'll definitely be up for a weekend of relaxation!
:-D
Any one else in Austin want to meet up that Friday after work and ride up together?

Mr.Brownstone

04-24-2003, 10:25 PM

I think I might be in for it as well it is only 148 miles from my house, perfect straight shot up 281.

Tourmeister

04-24-2003, 11:32 PM

:tab Okay. So now we need to find a place to stay. Anyone familiar with the hotels in town?

Rose Cottage B&B :tab 254-386-3194
The Hamilton Inn :tab 254-386-8864
The Hamiltonian :tab 254-386-8868
Value Lodge Inn Motel :tab 254-386-8959
Western Motel :tab 254-386-3141

Apparently, a website is still too much to ask for any of these folks ;-)

:tab We could stay in Gatesville on the North side of Ft. Hood.

Best Western/Chateau Ville Motor Inn (254) 865-2281
Regency Motor Inn (254) 865-8405

The Best Westerns are usually not too expensive and are of at least average quality. This particular one's most expensive room is $50 :-|

scratch

04-25-2003, 08:44 AM

There are a few motels in Copperas Cove too. Best Western and Howard Johnson if I remember correctly. You could head out on 1113 and 580 from there.

Tourmeister

04-25-2003, 12:12 PM

:tab Now that is intriguing. Many many moons ago, I spent my formative elementary days in Copperas Cove. Dad was in the 2nd Armored Division at Ft. Hood. I've kind of been thinking it would be cool to go back and see the old place after thirty years. Will have to give this some thought.

:tab So Friday sucks for you Scratch, any chance you could ride up Saturday morning to meet us? Don't let anyone kid you about us getting up at the crack of dawn to go riding. I'm not remotely functional till at least 8:30 or 9:00am at the earliest. :-P

scratch

04-25-2003, 12:53 PM

That's a possibility. It would take me about an hour and a half coming up Hwy 190 to hook up with you there. Would 9:30 - 10:00 a.m. work for you?

Tourmeister

04-25-2003, 01:13 PM

scratch

04-25-2003, 02:14 PM

:tab Works for me. I don't know about anyone else. That is about the time we usually leave for the rides out into East Texas to do 400 miles and we usually get back about 6:30-7:00pm. That would be in time for folks to freshen up and then do a group dinner Saturday evening.

:tab Is your arrival time based on us staying in Copperas Cove?

Yes; a start from Hamilton would likely put me out of the picture. But don't let my situation affect your plans if starting there works better for the purposes of the ride. I just threw in Copperas Cove as another possibility since you were also considering Gatesville. I could probably rendezvous with you there just as easily as Copperas Cove anyway, come to think of it. Looking at Mapquest, I just noticed that Hamilton is only another 34 miles up the road from Gatesville, so maybe that wouldn't be so bad either...

Hey, don't let my rambling confuse matters for you! :roll: :lol:

Tourmeister

04-27-2003, 11:29 PM

Howdy,

:tab So I'm gonna make an executive decision here. We are gonna stay in Gatesville. I'll be calling the Best Western there to see how many rooms we can get. I NEED A HEAD COUNT SO I CAN TELL THEM HOW MANY ROOMS!!

:tab Now look, if you want to go but are not positive you can go, get the room reserved anyway. Then if you can't make it, give them the 24hr notice and cancel the room. This way you can be sure to get a room. I would like to have at least fiver rooms needed so they might give us a group discount. But the rooms are less than $60 per night anyway so I'm not gonna hold my breath.

Mr.Brownstone

04-28-2003, 10:13 AM

Im in, taking that whole week off from work, so if anyone wants to ride anytime that week drop me a line.

Tourmeister

04-28-2003, 01:39 PM

Howdy,

:tab So here are the final details:

Best Western in Gatesville, Tx.
888-451-4521

I have eight rooms blocked for the weekend of May 9 & 10th.

:tab Double occupancy with Double beds: $63 + 10% tax
:tab Single occupancy with single bed: $51 + 10% tax

When you call to make a reservation, please tell them you are with Backroad Motorcycle Tours. NO, this is not an official tour. However, it is a convenient name to use and they may give us a corporate rate. I'll have to call them back for final info on the rates.

:tab If you call and reserve a room, please let me know so I can keep track of how many people are going so we don't have someone slip between the cracks and get left behind.

:tab I'll work out a route, feel free to suggest roads you want to hit.

Anonymous

04-28-2003, 03:03 PM

Count me in :twisted:

irondawg

04-28-2003, 03:05 PM

Oops, wasn't logged in. :shock:

Scott - gotta roomie yet? Wanna split a room?

Tourmeister

04-28-2003, 03:38 PM

Scott - gotta roomie yet? Wanna split a room?

:tab Yes, I have a roomie and she doesn't snore as loud as you :-P Cuter too :kiss: However, check with Will B.

scratch

04-28-2003, 05:43 PM

Gatesville it is, then.

Don't let me hold you up if I'm running late that Saturday morning. Shouldn't be a problem though. 8)

Tourmeister

04-28-2003, 05:51 PM

Don't let me hold you up if I'm running late that Saturday morning.

I'll try to get a route posted before that weekend. So if we are already gone, perhaps you can find us or catch up to us.

brd

04-28-2003, 07:44 PM

Don't let me hold you up if I'm running late that Saturday morning.

I'll try to get a route posted before that weekend. So if we are already gone, perhaps you can find us or catch up to us.

Cool. I've been informed that I already have plans for Saturday evening, but if your route brings you up north a ways, I'll try to meet up for part of the ride.

Let me know if you need somebody to scout some of the roads ahead of time. I've got a lot of DIY projects on my plate, but I'd try to take a day to run down there. :-D

Tourmeister

04-28-2003, 08:11 PM

Cool. I've been informed that I already have plans for Saturday evening

:tab So maybe you could come down Friday evening, ride the route for part of the day and then head home? *nudge nudge*

max955

04-29-2003, 03:43 PM

Excellent. Anyone need a roomie?

Mr.Brownstone

04-29-2003, 11:15 PM

yep in need of roomate.

Tourmeister

04-30-2003, 12:26 AM

:tab I have already reserved my room for the weekend. There are seven left. I will have to cancel them on May 7th so they don't get tacked onto my credit card!

irondawg

04-30-2003, 08:40 AM

Max995,

Irondawg here, when do you plan on leaving? I live in Austin and wouldn't mind hooking up with you. I've gotta work Friday so won't be able to leave till around 5pm. Also, you gotta roommate yet? I'm still looking.

irondawg

04-30-2003, 08:50 AM

I took a room...WITH a single bed :moon:

max955

04-30-2003, 09:51 AM

I'm planning on leaving around 6. I have a standing 5 PM meeting that wraps up a bit before 6 on Fridays, and I plan to leave for the motel directly from the office. Irondawg, you wanna meet somewhere and ride up together that's great with me. Anyone else wanna?

Tourmeister

04-30-2003, 12:28 PM

I took a room...WITH a single bed

Hmm... I had no idea :shock: :-P

Did you ever get ahold of Will? Achim? Kevin?

Mr.Brownstone

04-30-2003, 01:51 PM

I still need a roomate if anyone needs one.

max955

04-30-2003, 02:21 PM

Oh, for Pete's sake. Someone forgot to tell me this is Mother's Day weekend. I'm going to have to back out, fellas. Sorry.

scratch

04-30-2003, 04:02 PM

Oh, for Pete's sake. Someone forgot to tell me this is Mother's Day weekend. I'm going to have to back out, fellas. Sorry.

Disaster narrowly averted! :wink:

max955

04-30-2003, 04:40 PM

Disaster narrowly averted! :wink:

You can say that again! :oops:

Tourmeister

04-30-2003, 09:52 PM

So come home early on Sunday and take her out to dinner ;-)

Tourmeister

05-02-2003, 03:16 PM

Howdy,

:tab Okay, so I've laid out a few potential routes. It is always frustrating to have so many roads in an area and not enough time to effectively hit them all. It always boils down to a compromise.

Base Route
Start Gateville > Hwy 36 N
FM 929 E > FM 185 E > Hwy 317 N > Valley Mills
FM 56 N > FM 708 W > FM 219 W > Clifton (50 miles)
Hwy 6 N > FM 2136 W > Hwy 22 W > FM 219 W
FM 1238 N > Iredell (90 miles)
FM 216 N > Deadend > Backtrack to Iredell (102 miles - gas stop)
FM 927 E > Hwy 144 N > FM 203 N > US 67 W > FM 51 N
FM 205 W > Stephenville (152 miles - Lunch)
FM 914 S > FM 1744 W > FM 219 E > Olin (205 miles - gas stop)
End Base Route

Short Route End
FM 219 E > FM 182 S > FM 217 E > FM 2602 NE
Hwy 6 S > FM 217 W > FM 215 W > Hwy 36 S > Gatesville
Total ride mileage 290 miles.

Medium Route End
US 281 S > Hamilton > FM 218 W > FM 2005 SW
US 84 W > Goldthwaite (252 miles)
Hwy 16 S > San Saba (274 miles - top off gas)
US 190 E > FM 580 S > FM 581 N > Lometa > FM 581 E
FM 1690 N > FM 183 N > US 84 E > Gatesville
Total ride mileage 363 miles.

Long Route End
US 281 S > Hamilton > FM 1241 S > FM 932 N > Hamilton (262 miles)
FM 218 W > FM 2005 SW > US 84 W > Goldthwaite (298 miles - gas stop)
US 183 S > FM 572 E > FM 1047 S > FM 581 W
FM 580 W to US 190 > Backtrack FM 580 to Lampasas (398 miles - gas stop)
US 281 N > FM 580 E > FM 2527 N > FM 1690 N
FM 183 E > US 84 E > Gatesville
Total ride mileage 441 miles.

:tab You should notice that the base route ends at FM 219 and US 281. Each of the three end routes continues from that point. If we leave Gatesville by 10:00 am Saturday morning, we should easily be able to do the long route and be back by 7:00pm. That is an average speed of less than 50 mph. If you knock off two hours for lunch and stops, it is still only an average speed of 63 mph. None of this stuff should be super tight, so I am fairly confident we can keep that average.

Comments, questions, concerns?

brd

05-02-2003, 04:32 PM

Howdy,

Hwy 6 N > FM 2136 W > Hwy 22 W > FM 219 W
FM 1238 N > Iredell (90 miles)
FM 216 N > Deadend > Backtrack to Iredell (102 miles - gas stop)
FM 927 E > Hwy 144 N > FM 203 N > US 67 W > FM 51 N

Comments, questions, concerns?

Minor FYI, no gas in Iredell (I'm pretty sure), but there is in Walnut Springs, just 12 miles away, up 927 at 144 on your route.

scratch

05-06-2003, 10:26 AM

Howdy,

Base Route

...FM 216 N > Deadend > Backtrack to Iredell...

Just my opinion, but unless you're riding a dual-sport or enduro (same thing?) FM 216 should probably be avoided. It's very narrow, bumpy, and of course, doesn't really go anywhere. If there was some spectacular scenery along the way it might be worthwhile, but it doesn't have that to recommend it either. Might as well proceed to Walnut Springs instead.

Have you thought about another end route that would go north on Highway 4 up to Palo Pinto? Judging by Brian's Palo Pinto report from last month, it looks like there might be some interesting roads up that way.

brd

05-08-2003, 03:58 AM

Base Route
Start Gateville > Hwy 36 N
FM 929 E > FM 185 E > Hwy 317 N > Valley Mills
FM 56 N > FM 708 W > FM 219 W > Clifton (50 miles)
Hwy 6 N > FM 2136 W > Hwy 22 W > FM 219 W
FM 1238 N > Iredell (90 miles)
FM 216 N > Deadend > Backtrack to Iredell (102 miles - gas stop)
FM 927 E > Hwy 144 N > FM 203 N > US 67 W > FM 51 N
FM 205 W > Stephenville (152 miles - Lunch)
FM 914 S > FM 1744 W > FM 219 E > Olin (205 miles - gas stop)
End Base Route

I'm too cheap to spring for a motel and have plans for Saturday evening, so I will meet up with ya'll near Clifton.

I'm planning on leaving the house at around 7:30am, riding to clifton (120 miles), and then meeting up with you folks there at the intersection of 708 & 219. I'll tag along until the lunch stop and then head home.

If I'm not there, don't wait for me. If I'm running late, I'll just ride to Glen Rose and run the route backwards til I find ya'll.

Any other DFW folks want to make a morning of it? I'm going to leave the mid-cities, head down 820 to 287 South to 157 down to Maypearl, take 916W to I35 S to HWY 22 in Hillsboro, take 22 over to 219 and take that to where it hits 708.

Tourmeister

05-09-2003, 02:01 AM

Howdy,

:tab Well, both bikes are back from the shop. I did the race tech upgrade to the front of both. The 01 got its' 32K service and the 98 it's 48K service. I'm still waiting on the Ohlins rear for the 01. Both bikes have new EBC HH brake pads on the front and new OEM rear pads. I'm still a little buzzzzed from the brake cleaner spray :brainsnap The whole freaking house smells like it because I left the kitchen door to the garage open so I could get some cool air. Put a new Pilot Road on the back of both bikes. With liberal use of the Yamalube silicon tire spray snot, the old ones came right off with no fuss and the new ones went on even easier. I still have to go back out in the garage and balance them before putting them back on the bikes. Almost 2:00am... :|

:tab If all goes well, tomorrow we will have a nice 1992 Honda Accord 4dr Sedan with only 41K on it and totally loaded for a mere $4500, nearly $2K below bluebook. It belonged to Beth's boss' recently departed Mother-in-law. The tires are brand spanking new as is the muffler. Beth doesn't get off work until 6:00pm so she doesn't want to ride out to Gatesville. I'm guessing she'll show up in the Accord. I'll be heading out sometime around 3:30-4:00pm so I should be in Gatesville by about 7:00pm. If you are heading up as well, don't eat and we'll all go out for a bite if there is anything open in this tiny town :lol:

:tab I really have no idea how many people are going as only one person actually told the hotel people that they were with the Backroad Motorcycle Tour group. So when I called, they could not tell me how many rooms had been reserved for our group :( However, I suspect it to be in the neighborhood of 7-8 people. I'll try to remember to stop occasionally and take some pictures of the scenery, hehe. I get so into riding I forget. :P

:tab See everyone there!

irondawg

05-09-2003, 09:59 AM

Hey,

Nice route Scott. 8)

I noticed you didn't include Chalk Mountain and Dinosaur Valley State Park. Since we are going in that vicinity, I've added the route in my GPS, just in case.

Tourmeister

05-09-2003, 11:12 AM

Well, the long route is nearly 450 miles. Unless we ride at your pace we won't have much time for sight seeing :shock: :-P But we'll keep an open mind about it ;-)

scratch

05-09-2003, 11:52 AM

I'm going to have to back out on this ride, Scott. A good friend of my father's died yesterday and the funeral will be in Louisianna tomorrow. Hope ya'll have a safe ride.

scratch

05-09-2003, 12:04 PM

brd

05-09-2003, 01:11 PM

Hey,

Nice route Scott. 8)

I noticed you didn't include Chalk Mountain and Dinosaur Valley State Park. Since we are going in that vicinity, I've added the route in my GPS, just in case.

Just curious, what and where is Chalk Mountain? Is it a park or scenic overlook?

It's a town west of Glenrose on US67. There is a picnic area up on the hilltop just a mile west of where we'll turn off of 67 onto 51. Good view from up there. Maybe that is Chalk Mt itself?