So a friend of mine and I went to Hill Country on our two-wheeled beasts. Here is the story:
Day 1
http://www.flickr.com//photos/37260677@N06/sets/72157635064787259/show/
First official ride report so we will see how this goes.
After spending all night checking and rechecking everything I have been packing for the last week or so, I also cooked up the now-traditional meal bars. The bars are great (well let’s be real, edible) and I will give you a recipe if you would like, but on the road, they are a nice and healthy treat that’s temperature immune. Needless to say sleep was hard to come by so this morning will be a trying start to an epic journey.
This is the first time I am using my new bag, too, which turned out great. Lots of space, easy to remove and replace when I have to refuel (quite often as it turned out), and made it VERY easy to put my in-tent materials in one place so after the tent is erected I only have one bag to worry about.
After Brian’s windshield got a last-minute Asian spit-shine he joined me precisely around 8-ish.
Once we snacked on a bar, we got on the road and took the VERY long way through Austin on our way to our first stop, Junction. I had planned a trip via Joker’s route on ADVrider and the starting point was Junction, just like the first 1.0 attempt in May. We wanted to get to Junction and secretly to myself I was hoping we got to hit up the camp site we found last time. I was just hoping it was still the same as in May when we first visited. Passing over the dry riverbeds and creeks, however, I was worried our laundry and shower services would be disabled. With temperatures well into three digits, a shower or bath at the end of the ride would be a great feeling indeed!
As we wound through the Bastrop and Buescher State Parks around noon, (I promise, the park fees are in the mail!) we were starting to get hungry. Those meal bars last only so long. Between our hunger and my pathetic range on my scooter, the decision to stop at Bucees near Bastrop was a forgone conclusion. Oh the eye candy. Never a disappointment. Apparently Eric isn’t feeding Brian because size of his reuben sandwich he had for lunch was quite epic.
After a nice lunch and show we headed out back on the road. Unfortunately this stretch involved some time on I-75 slabbing it, which was unavoidable, but fortunately we missed some rush hour and cruised through Austin on our way to Junction without issue. After a lovely leisurely ride to Junction we were getting hungry again and it was starting to get late. One of the only places open just happened to be a BBQ place a friend recommended to me earlier, Lums. The BBQ apparatus out front near the gas station was suspect but we were hungry so we had our fill. At that point even the terribly dry brisket was edible.
After full but still rumbling stomachs (uh oh), Brian gave me the great news that he wanted to stay at the same camp site in Junction we had scoped out earlier in May. Smiling ear to ear, we set off in search of our site, just 10 miles away. When we got there, everything we expected was in place; the flowing “river”, the rocks, the tent-damaging nettles, the screaming cars with bright headlights, everything just as it was! This time, however, rather than offroading around some trees and against better discretion we set up camp right off the road in complete view. The new underbrush growth made that decision even easier for Brian.
And then the sky lights up. Really? Again with the rain and lightning? Huge clouds and light show threaten our otherwise great camping again, but hopefully the rain is far off.
After a quick and VERY wonderful bath/shower/laundry session devoid of snakes (this time) we hit the tents for some shut eye. All in all this was the best day of riding I had ever done up to that point and was looking forward to what Joker’s route and the Twisted Sisters had to bring the next day. Throughout this day, I was getting more calm in my riding, more confident, taking corners more comfortably and with less trepidation. All of this would be put to the test tomorrow. The start of this trip I wanted to expand my riding repertoire and challenge myself. Today was a great start, but tomorrow would be the true test.
Also I passed the 10K mile mark on my “bike”. After running it through some amazing terrain and for such long epic road rides, I can’t very well call it a “scooter”. It just doesn’t have the same connotation.
Miles: 413*
Fuel: 5.63 gallons
* – Since my odometer isn’t all that accurate this is a close approximation.
Day 1
http://www.flickr.com//photos/37260677@N06/sets/72157635064787259/show/
First official ride report so we will see how this goes.
After spending all night checking and rechecking everything I have been packing for the last week or so, I also cooked up the now-traditional meal bars. The bars are great (well let’s be real, edible) and I will give you a recipe if you would like, but on the road, they are a nice and healthy treat that’s temperature immune. Needless to say sleep was hard to come by so this morning will be a trying start to an epic journey.
This is the first time I am using my new bag, too, which turned out great. Lots of space, easy to remove and replace when I have to refuel (quite often as it turned out), and made it VERY easy to put my in-tent materials in one place so after the tent is erected I only have one bag to worry about.
After Brian’s windshield got a last-minute Asian spit-shine he joined me precisely around 8-ish.
Once we snacked on a bar, we got on the road and took the VERY long way through Austin on our way to our first stop, Junction. I had planned a trip via Joker’s route on ADVrider and the starting point was Junction, just like the first 1.0 attempt in May. We wanted to get to Junction and secretly to myself I was hoping we got to hit up the camp site we found last time. I was just hoping it was still the same as in May when we first visited. Passing over the dry riverbeds and creeks, however, I was worried our laundry and shower services would be disabled. With temperatures well into three digits, a shower or bath at the end of the ride would be a great feeling indeed!
As we wound through the Bastrop and Buescher State Parks around noon, (I promise, the park fees are in the mail!) we were starting to get hungry. Those meal bars last only so long. Between our hunger and my pathetic range on my scooter, the decision to stop at Bucees near Bastrop was a forgone conclusion. Oh the eye candy. Never a disappointment. Apparently Eric isn’t feeding Brian because size of his reuben sandwich he had for lunch was quite epic.
After a nice lunch and show we headed out back on the road. Unfortunately this stretch involved some time on I-75 slabbing it, which was unavoidable, but fortunately we missed some rush hour and cruised through Austin on our way to Junction without issue. After a lovely leisurely ride to Junction we were getting hungry again and it was starting to get late. One of the only places open just happened to be a BBQ place a friend recommended to me earlier, Lums. The BBQ apparatus out front near the gas station was suspect but we were hungry so we had our fill. At that point even the terribly dry brisket was edible.
After full but still rumbling stomachs (uh oh), Brian gave me the great news that he wanted to stay at the same camp site in Junction we had scoped out earlier in May. Smiling ear to ear, we set off in search of our site, just 10 miles away. When we got there, everything we expected was in place; the flowing “river”, the rocks, the tent-damaging nettles, the screaming cars with bright headlights, everything just as it was! This time, however, rather than offroading around some trees and against better discretion we set up camp right off the road in complete view. The new underbrush growth made that decision even easier for Brian.
And then the sky lights up. Really? Again with the rain and lightning? Huge clouds and light show threaten our otherwise great camping again, but hopefully the rain is far off.
After a quick and VERY wonderful bath/shower/laundry session devoid of snakes (this time) we hit the tents for some shut eye. All in all this was the best day of riding I had ever done up to that point and was looking forward to what Joker’s route and the Twisted Sisters had to bring the next day. Throughout this day, I was getting more calm in my riding, more confident, taking corners more comfortably and with less trepidation. All of this would be put to the test tomorrow. The start of this trip I wanted to expand my riding repertoire and challenge myself. Today was a great start, but tomorrow would be the true test.
Also I passed the 10K mile mark on my “bike”. After running it through some amazing terrain and for such long epic road rides, I can’t very well call it a “scooter”. It just doesn’t have the same connotation.
Miles: 413*
Fuel: 5.63 gallons
* – Since my odometer isn’t all that accurate this is a close approximation.