Austin Texas Hill Country Dual Sport Day Trips

[GlockPointer]

Thanks Trace! I bought some Fox comp 5s, I'm breaking them in around the house. Not sure about Junction yet.

[bikejones]

Blast from the Past........03032013

Once again an awesome ride with awesome riders…….no spills but there were a few thrills.


We also delivered the walking cane, that the proprietor of the Castell Country Store lent to GlockPointer after he become one with a steel rail fence and tweaked his ankle, back to its original owner.

Here are a few of us at the meeting place………behind Backwoods in Bee Caves Texas….on the Hwy 71 West side of the store.



We proceeded to head west to meet up with sm42 and cjm12 in Round Mountain and eventually meet up with slowoldguy in Castell.

After meeting up with sm42 and cjm1219 in Round Mountain we headed down the pavement just a few more miles to get to the dirt……..





Even though it was the day after Texas Independence Day………I couldn’t resist this photo-op……..Texas runs deep in me.......very deep.



Playing around in Sandy Creek…….



After riding through the short water crossing in Sandy Creek, Ken wanted to show us how he uses his motorcycle to dig for water in the dry section of the creek bed…….notice the moisture in the sand…….it also serves as a bike stand so that you can dismount and assess the progress.







While we were still in Sandy Creek, slowoldguy came upon us on his way to meeting us in Castell.

Everything was going well until we got to the intersection of 2323 and CR109.

I turned on my blinker and started to turn right on CR109……but my thinking process kicked in……..I was thinking about CR106 so since I didn’t see the CR106 sign I turned off the blinker and kept going straight down 2323 for a few miles until I finally remembered that you have to go down 109 to get to 106…….duh!

So we backtracked to CR109……..and that folks………was the adventure part of the ride.

We got to Castell………returned the cane…….and had some great steaks……Good Times!!!







While eating lunch I got a chance to get some valuable advice from oldslowguy about some of the dirt roads in this area.

We had a couple of bikes with 2 gallon tanks that were in need of petro…..so after lunch we headed to Llano to top off the gas tanks……..and oldslowguy headed back to West of Waco.

After topping off the tanks in Llano we rode a few un-paved and paved county roads then ended up at Angel’s in Spicewood to let the bikes cool down.



Awesome ride y’all………let’s do it again soon!

[bikejones]

03/16/13 ATHCDSDT Ride Report

On a day that you could not ask for better weather…….maybe a little less wind…….but not better weather…….another Hill Country Dual Sport Day Trip was logged into the record book.

Saucesquatch, my6 and I met at Backwoods in Bee Caves, made our formal acquaintances, discussed various motorcycle topics, and at 9:15am we proceeded to ride into the wind………literally!!!!!



Our destination…………..Castell.

Our purpose………….because it is there…….and because they have BBQ.

We were riding against the clock on this trip, so we didn’t stop for too many pictures or breaks.

We did stop to top off the tanks at the Shell in Round Mountain and were quickly on our way again at 10:15am.

Our route took us down the ever so scenic county roads in this area……….including CR315…….



The locals must have known we were riding against the clock…………so they made sure that this ride through open range included a typical Texas Traffic Jam……..



This particular traffic jam immediately transformed into a Texas Traffic Calming Device……whereas the cows proceeded to walk down the middle of the road………and would not move to either side to allow us to pass………..for a quarter of a mile or so. I was tempted to ride the bar ditch and pass them but I didn’t want to make them run.



After all………a fat cow is a tasty cow………..I mean……a happy cow.

There were quite a few wet creek crossings…………one of which Saucesquatch tested his riding skills by sliding sideways…….with the shiny side up of course.

Here is the classic and ever so popular Sandy Creek crossing where Saucesquatch………and then my6…………really made a splash……..

Saucesquatch………





my6……..







We stopped briefly in Sandy Creek to discuss the exposed rocks on the hills we had passed. I mentioned to Saucesquatch and my6 that one of the hills appears to have a cave that you can see from the county road.

After arriving in Castell at approximately 12:10pm, we were very lucky to find an empty picnic table in the shade…..which we gladly shared with other folks.



Soon after we ate, we were on the road again, headed back to Austin. To save time, our plan was to take the same route….however……..I took a wrong right turn (as opposed to a correct left turn) which lead us a couple of miles out of the way. We could have proceeded the way we were going, but it would have added more time to our travels, so we doubled back the way we came.

This slight detour gave us the opportunity to ride some 4” inch +/- thick sugar sand.

Once we were back on track, we stopped to see the cave in the hill. While we were stopped, we were passed by a half dozen jeeps going in the opposite directions……at least they were a friendly bunch of folks as we all said hi, hello and howdy as they went on their way.
We proceeded down CR315 to 308 and 310 to take Saucesquatch to HWY 71 so he could make a little better time getting back to Austin.

My6 and I backtracked up 310 and 310A.

When we got to 3347, we planned on doing a loop along Smith/West Road to 1323 to CR307 and back up Hwy 281 to get gas at the Shell.

However, my6’s gas tank had a different plan.

After switching to reserve while riding down 3347……then………..a mile or two later on 972……….my6 had to lean the bike over to get to the special reserve……...then again in another mile or so…….we leaned the bike over into the bar ditch to get to the extra special reserve…….

Therefore, my6’s gas tank decided that we would get gas first………then do 281 to 307 to 1323 to Smith/West Rd and back to 972.

Still, it was a great addition to the ride……..my6 and I even did a slight detour to a granite quarry with a very enticing pond……..enticing on a hotter day in the near future that is.

As with all of these rides….we encountered a lot of wildlife……..of special interest were the 8 to 10 deer that jumped a fence within a safe distance yet close enough to have to slow down and proceeded to crossed the road and jump the other fence………another instance was a half dozen or so turkeys that took flight as we got close to them. Several times we were in the close vicinity of skunks…..you can tell by their smell in the air…..but luckily we didn’t encounter them directly.

It was great meeting and riding with you Saucesquatch and my6…….let’s do it again,
Britt

And from Saucesquatch......

Originally Posted by SauceSquatch

Had a blast today, we have to do this again soon.

















P.S. I've been burping that BBQ all day and smiling like only good 'Q can do.

[neoxaero]

You don't know stink until you shoot a skunk...

[bikejones]

Originally Posted by neoxaero

You don't know stink until you shoot a skunk...

Thought about it but never done it.........thanks for the warning.

[my6]

Britt... Thanks again for helping me lift her back up after we laid her over. Mission ONE this week is to drain my tank and see what the problem is with both my petcocks. When I gassed up it only took a wee bit over 3 gallons. Lets see now, 160 miles on 3+ a smidge gallons means I was getting darn close to 50+/mpg. If that's possible it's not too shabby for the old girl I'm thinking. Funny thing I noticed when I got to the house, both my wrists were sunburned between where my gloves and my long sleeve jersey. I can't wait for the next time. Also, when I looked at the Google map as to where we had ridden I noticed that we were pretty close to where my wife's family ranch is in Hext. Ever been out that way?

[bikejones]

5/5/13......A Tribute to Ashton "Ash" Edwards.

Breakfast in Blanco.......



Takin a break at Hillbilly's.......



Under the mighty oaks at the Albert Ice House........




On a steel horse he'll ride..........




Rest in Peace.........



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Silence........

[GlockPointer]

Great send-off Britt, Ashton was a great guy. Good job capturing his last ride.