DAL/FTW: Tour of Forts - March 23-25

Thank you, maximus_flavius, for an awesome weekend. It was nice being able to get out and ride motorcycles in some great weather, meet some new people all the while getting to learn more about the great State of Texas and its history. Looking forward to the next opportunity to ride.

Liteitup said:

http://fortchadbourne.org/index.html

I'm not really a history buff but this place was over the top well done. And they're good people too. .

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Now this quip between Aaron and I makes more sense ....

mitchntx said:

An hour at Chadbourne?

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maximus_flavius said:

Only 1 hour may be optimistic.

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Aaron took me by this place last summer.

We spent over an hour touring the facility and I spent another 2 hours chatting with the owner about my canon.

So, did anyone get any pictures? I'm not much of a photographer myself.

Aaron, thanks for hosting us at your ranch. There's not many TWT'ers that can do what you did, having 17 riders camp and bunk for a great weekend of riding. You were also especially gracious to the few of us that are slightly handicapped by age. Andre isn't in that group by the way. He's perpetually young.

Herding cats isn't easy and keeping 17 riders on task is even harder. You did that well and smoothly, adapting to changing circumstances as necessary. The string broke on Saturday but we adapted. It was adventure ride after all.

I had to use my puncture kit on my brand new rear tire. I noticed the bike was wallowering on corners and stopped, thinking my front tire was low. The back was smoking hot. But I was fortunate to be with a group of three sturdy lads (I think David, Dualsportrider, and Dahveed) that pulled my Tenere up on the center side as my bike sat lower than normal. That was an eye opener. Let your air out of the rear tire and try to put it up on the center stand. The bike has to be lifted higher with a greater than normal force. I don't think my 170 lbs could do it. They got me back on the road in about ten minutes.

The fort tour was a real eye opener. It wasn't too long ago that normal living conditions in western Texas were much tougher than now. In isolated places like Fort Chadbourne it must have been a rugged assignment. The army was so tight fisted with money that they wouldn't pay to put windows in the infirmary. Canvas was used to block the wind. Water had to be hauled up the hill from the creek. There wasn't a nearby town, only one saloon. And it was a long walk to the saloon and back to the barracks, especially at night by whatever light the stars or moon provided. One unlucky returning drunk was ambushed and punctured with 13 arrows as he stumbled up back to the fort. He attributed his survival to his recently consumed whisky.

It was a great weekend.

maximus_flavius said:

So, did anyone get any pictures? I'm not much of a photographer myself.

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I took some with my cell phone. When my daughter has time, I will get her to help me post them.

maximus_flavius said:

So, did anyone get any pictures? I'm not much of a photographer myself.

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I got some from Saturday.

A few more...

maximus_flavius said:

Hearing David & Andre last night debate the relative merits of Beemer riders & Harley riders was quite instructional.

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I could've settled that debate quickly for them. Just ask which bike got trailered to the ride start.

_

I missed the debate. Some of us were at the other cabin. Aaron said I should have been there. Which one was it ? I just couldn't see someone trailering a Harley.

Here's a few of mine:
The Great Debate

I call this one "The Last Lunch".

Pictures



Home sweet home.



Inside home



Chicken fried pork chop at Al’s



My GPS telling me to "leave the road" in 2.3 miles. I’ve never seen it tell me that before.



Sunrise on Sat from the top of the container.



Rich taking photos from the top of the container.



Hospital bed at the first fort we visited on Friday.


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We OWN this parking lot...

Ours was not a dry camp...

The little 650 that could...

I want one...

Texas Monthly just tweeted https://twitter.com/TexasMonthly/status/980994563824373761. Part of Fort Clark is for sale.

UncleBuck said:

Texas Monthly just tweeted https://twitter.com/TexasMonthly/status/980994563824373761. Part of Fort Clark is for sale.

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Interesting. This was an officers quarter built in 1874. Its a duplex and you're buying one side. Asking $197k now.

Man I wanted to go on this ride but sadly it happened during our busy time so could not get the time off. Great pictures folks.

Glad y'all finally got around to posting up some pics of this ride; thanks for sharing!

Aaron, looks like a good group of riders . . . hope they enjoy your history re-tellin' as much as I do! Definitely a highlight of riding with ya!