Day 7 - April 25th

After a restful night, it is time to hit the road again.  On today's list are several spots on the Big Money Rally.

The ride out of Fredericksburg was nice - beautiful weather and nice roads.  Down to Kerrville on Texas 16 then I-10 to Texas 41

The wild flowers are out and in full bloom out on Texas 41.

This was leading to a block of sites - Leaky, Rio Frio, Vanderpool, Utopia and Concan.

First a quick stop in Mountain Home to get some gas, a snack and something cold to drink.  It turns out this place makes their own Jerky!  Really tasty.  I am particularly fond of the honey glazed jerky

I was thinking this bit was going to be pretty boring from a riding perspective.  Pretty, but boring as in this shot of US 83 headed toward Leaky.

In Leaky I found a few interesting buildings and businesses as well as the Post Office I was needing

It turns out this group of spots is part of The Three Sisters AKA The Twisted Sisters.

There were warning signs along the road - one by Mother Nature and one by the State of  Texas.

There were five of these critters dining on the last guy who didn't make it across the road, but three of them flew up to the trees before I could get the camera out.

Then Rio Frio (Cold River) and more fun roads.

From Rio Frio, a bit of a back track to hit Ranch Road 337 to Vanderpool (very nice ride) and then down Ranch Road 187 to Utopia and more gas and another Post Office.

 

From there it was Ranch to Market 1050 to US 83

 (what can I say, I liked this river) and South to Concan, Texas, the last Post Office in this batch.

Continuing South on US 83 toward Uvalde, there was new corn growing on both sides of the highway.

Ah, yes, the Lonestar Saloon - had a few good memories from there as well.

Now here's something you don't see in California

I love these old houses.  This place would be a fortune in Los Angeles - if you could find that much land to build on.

I can't remember the last time I saw one of these.  All I see these days are the big chains.

Heading West again, this time on US 90 - great old road and highly recommended.

I had lunch in Bracketville, at the Brackett Burger and Steak - right across from Ft. Clark.

Unfortunately my delay in San Antonio did not leave me the time to explore everything I would have like to - like Ft. Clark.  Something to do next time I'm out this way.

Blasting out along US 90 I had a ways to go.  I wanted to get as far West a practical today.

Crossing part of the Amistad National Recreation Area.  That water certainly looked inviting.

And on toward the Pecos.

The Pecos does not look nearly as inviting, but it is beautiful in it's own way.

On to Langtry and another Post Office I just had to shoot.  Why Langtry?  That's Lily Langtry

and Judge Roy Bean.

I got there too late to visit the museum so back on my (now) trusty stead and off toward Sanderson and maybe Ft. Stockton.

Just outside of Sanderson was this place - currently not being used and probably for rent pretty cheap.

After a quick fuel stop in Sanderson, I figured there was enough daylight remaining to make it to Ft. Stockton, so make a right off US 90 and up US 285.

In to Stockton for the evening.  Tomorrow will be the long boring stretch to El Paso along I-10.

I found out the there is going to be a race on US 285 from Stockton to Sanderson and return April 28th called the Big Bend Open Road Race.  Google that one.  It looks like fun.

Day 4, 5 and 6 - April 22nd - 24th

Sunday and Monday were spent being lazy and enjoying the hospitality of my buddy Phil and the Papillon, Cooper, who looks like this one from Wikipedia

We wandered around San Antonio, finding some of my old stomping grounds and having a Schlotzsky sandwich.  There are only seven Schlotzsky restaurants in California with the closest one to me being over an hour away.  I don't get these very often.

Tuesday was laundry day, repacking and sending stuff(tm) home day.  I did pack more than I needed and the gym bag could use a bit of a slimming so I could use all the seat.  Got a call around 9am telling me the parts arrived so we also dropped the battery off so the shop would have everything they needed to fix the bike.  Around 3pm I had Phil drop me off at Alamo Cycle Plex as he headed to court (he's a lawyer).  As I walked up, they told me the bike had just been finished and as soon as they finished the paperwork I was good to go.  WOW!  These guys did a great job and charged me almost nothing for their labor.  I was back on the road for about $200 or so - including the battery.  Thanks guys - you rock!

Back to Phil's, load the bike, key returned and off I go.

First things first - get a photo of that last university - Our Lady of the Lake

Now out of town and head toward Luckenbach and Fredericksburg.

Here's the freeway shot.  Exciting isn't it?  Yeah, they all look pretty much the same.

I have fond memories of hanging around Luckenbach in the ’70s – pitchin’ washers, listening to Jerry Jeff Walker, Alvin Crow, and the whole Austin music crowd performing at the open air dance floor. Dancing under the stars, listening to Hondo tell stories, and the original Luckenbach 4th of July celebrations with the Luckenbach Air Force fly over (1 J-3 Cub), the Navy parade (a couple of bass boats) and our own dare devil “Bad McFad” (neurosurgeon from Waco) attempting to be shot out of the Luckenbach Memorial Canon (several 55gal drums with some black powder thrown in for show (don’t try this at home)), and the Saturday night Get-Drunk-and-Falling-Down Contest, followed by the Sunday Morning Group Breakfast.  What a time that was.  Everything changes and Luckenbach is no exception.  But it is fighting commercialization tooth and nail.   I think it's ahead on points and may even win this one.

They were having a fund raiser for Doug Davis - one of the folks who have been around it seems like forever - who has been diagnosed with cancer.  Doug has entertained folks at Luckenbach for as long as I can remember and has mentored a bunch of young musicians.  I had  to have a BBQ plate and buy some stuff to help support him.

Some other things seen there today...

This is the road that you had to know was the one to Luckenbach.  Back in the day, there was not a road sign giving it away.  If you couldn't find it, you didn't belong

 

Eventually I headed out to Fredericksburg to find a place to stay for the night.

Fredericksburg is an old German community (there are several in Central Texas) - founded in the 1800s.

What would a German town be without a Beirgarten?

However, the reason I'm there is for the National Museum of the Pacific War.

The question that came to my mind when I saw this was why on earth would you have a memorial to an ocean based war this far inland?  Simple answer - Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was from Fredericksburg.

Besides, it's not everyday you see a submarine conning tower in the middle of a garden.

Or a Five and Dime...

And lastly, my home for the night

My parents used to call these places Motor Courts.  Nice little place.  Clean room, rolls, coffee and tea for breakfast and free Internet.  All for under $50.  What more do you need for the night?