I have been remiss!

I've let the blog linger for the entire month of October. Well I'm back and since the last post we've had quite a few "Adventures"! Life is moving along and things get hectic and apparently the Blog suffers most...

Well I state here no more! :-D I will be working on updating the blog with our trips to Panna Maria, My Parents visit with David and Maria from New York City, and our trip to San Francisco to visit our good friends the Larsenosters who introduced me to "S".

Life in general couldn't be better and between prepping "S's" Condo for sale, searching for a place we can call ours, and trotting the globe. Life is hectic and exciting and fun! I love the roller coaster.

"K"

Some More Things on Sticks!

Here are couple of items Stella found.

I35 South on the edge of Austin.

This is the real deal. I took this picture then went around the corner and there was the RV on a stick. Since then we have seen a number of things on this high roost:

Double Trucks on a Stick!

Our first reader submission provided by, our buddies, the Larsenosters! A fine example in the great State of Washington. This is an unusual occurrence because they are attached by their posterior ends....Truly a rare breed! Keep those submissions coming!

The Legend of the Ride Bell

An Article about the Ride Bell found on many bikes.

(source: www.volusiariders.com)

Here are some pictures from Google Images: (they come in different shapes and styles)

The Gremlin Bell

Many of us have heard the story about Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride, and they’re also responsible for most of your bike’s problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work; your battery goes dead, the clutch needs adjustment, or any of several hundred things that can go wrong. These problems are caused by Evil Road Spirits. Road Spirits can’t live in the presence of the bell, because they get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive, so the constant ringing of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed? The bell has served its purpose. If you pick up a bell of your own, the magic will work, but if your bell is given to you, the power is doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you. So, if you have a friend who doesn’t have a bell, why not give them one? It’s a nice feeling for the recipient to know you care. The bell, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bikes owner, will help eliminate Evil Road Spirits.

Polishing the Bell
It has been a tradition among some of us for a long time to attach a brass bell to our motorcycles to remember our brothers and sisters who have gone down riding. It’s a small thing, but the reason a brass bell is chosen is that, as we ride, it gets dirty and tarnished. Every time we get down to wash and polish it, we are reminded of friends lost, and our thoughts turn to the meaning of being in the wind. As we ride and hear the bell ring, we know that our brothers and sisters are riding with us, and how easy it would be to join them with a single mistake. And maybe, just maybe, the next time a situation comes up; they will be there to help us...as long as we remember them by polishing the bell.

A Little Bit About Lockhart

Lockhart is a quintessential Central Texas town. You know the kind of old Texas charm that comes from the central square plan that seems to be all over this great state.

The Court house dominates the square and is surrounded by various shops one containing a clock museum, and several antique and curio stores. (They also have a night club!)

The city began construction on August 15, 1893 and was completed in March of 1894. According to the city website, the court house’s interesting color scheme is a result of the limestone and Pecos redstone that makes up it exterior facade. The trim is not painted and is naturally the red color shown in our photos.

Originally built with electrical services It did not have any indoor plumbing. The city later retrofitted the broom closets with bathroom fixtures. However, change always comes comes at a cost and the renovations were met with push back from the local judge.

“It is said that when the first water bill was received, the county judge was so shocked at the charges that he padlocked the restrooms.” ~Anon (City of Lockhart)

Lockhart is featured in several prominent films including one of my all time favorites “The Great Waldo Pepper” starring Robert Redford, and Susan Serandon.

Other films include: (List courtesy of the Lockhart Visitors website)

• A Perfect World (Martindale, Texas)
• A Slipping Down Life
• A Small Town in Texas
• Deadly Blessing
• Deadly Family Secrets
• Flesh and Bone
• For the Love of Zachary
• Hard Promises
• Home Fries
• Honeysuckle Rose
• Living a Lie (The Unspoken Truth)
• Ned Blessing (Caldwell County)
• O'Dill and Evett Go to the Edge of the World (Luling, Tx)
• Olympia
• Raggedy Man
• Resurrection
• Rolling Kansas
• Screen Door Jesus
• Second-Hand Lions
• She Fought Alone
• Texas Justice
• The Big Green (Dale, Texas)
• The Getaway
• The Great Waldo Pepper
• The Faculty
• The Newton Boys
• The Only Thrill
• The Red Headed Stranger
• To Live Again
• Tornado
• Waiting for Guffman
• Whats Eating Gilbert Grape
• Where the Heart Is

For more information concerning Lockhart go to: http://www.lockhart-tx.org/web98/

Of Gremlins, Gravel Monsters, and Great BBQ!

Hi…My Name Is “K” and I have a BBQ problem! As most of you know our trips have a culinary destination, which wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have a navigator who is co-dependent and a conspirator in planning. So we usually end up "stuffed to the gills" trying to mount up to head home.

We’ve wanted to go to Lockhart for awhile but you know how it is…it’s one of those “I’ll get there sooner or later" destinations in your backyard. It’s kind of like the New Yorker that has never bothered to see the Statue of Liberty. So we were watching a late night Travel Channel show about BBQ and low and behold they featured Lockhart. “That’s it we’re going!”

Now that name may not mean much to the average person reading this blog but to Texans, Lockhart is the BBQ Capital of Texas by a 2003 resolution of the Texas Legislature.

There are 4 main BBQ places in town and we want to eventually sample each one.

Kreuz Barbeque Founded circa 1900(pronounced Crites, long i)

Blacks Barbeque Blacksbbq.com Founded 1932
Chisholm Trail Barbeque Founded 1978
Smittys Market Founded (unknown, probably the newest)

This is a basically simple trip…Oh wait a minute…this is supposed to be a simple trip. However, the simple things end up a little more complicated or hazardous than we’d like. Not to worry, nothing major happened, just a couple of OOOPS moments. You know, Gremlins the malevolent creatures that tortured WWII aircrews. They hide your gear, make things difficult, get you lost, make your bike breakdown, etc… We had our run in on this trip.

It’s my own fault “S” bought a Ride Bell to ward off these endearing creatures, but I’m so anal I couldn’t find the right spot to strap it on the bike. To break it down, the trip went something like this…

I made a u-turn and put my foot down on loose gravel and slipped but thankfully didn’t tip "S" or the bike over.

On the way home, “S” Lost one of her gloves so we had to backtrack and find it in a construction zone.

At one point, I felt “S” jerk and the bike shook, so I slowed and yelled back what happened. I received a sheepish “nothing” reply so off we went. I later found out “S” learned that even one inch of open visor can let rocks in. Apparently, a pebble pinged off of my helmet into her visor and homed in on her nose like a cruise missile. The sheepish reply was because her eyes were still watering.

Later we stopped for water and a map check. I went in to buy more water and an ice cream sandwich. I looked out of the store window just in time to see “S”, water bottle in hand tipped up into her face shield. Water gushed out of the bottom of her helmet as she involuntarily coughed! It’s one of those moments you wished for a video camera.

I walked out and sat down next to her opening our Ice Cream sandwich, calmly looked at her and stated something along the lines of “Tried to drink with your helmet on Huh?” She turned beet red “You saw that?” Yep! Classic!

All's Well That Ends Well!!!

We chose Black’s as our first choice as it is supposedly the oldest BBQ restaurant continuously operated by the same family since 1932. However, Kreuz’s restaurant has been in operation since 1900 but not by the same family. And so the BBQ Wars have raged on since at least 1932.

A word to the wise, don’t ask for BBQ Sauce at Kreuz’s…Black’s has it but they don’t like the idea that they had to start offering it…LOL

Black's was great! I had Pork Loin and Turkey; “S” had Brisket and Sausage. The brisket was melt in your mouth tender, and the Pork Loin and Turkey was moist. Now the Sausage was in a league of its own. Often Sausage is so finely ground that it gets a texture kind of like spam. However, Black’s does it right! There are chunks of meat in the casing and the spices were perfectly balanced. Yes, we shared! One down, three to go!

Oh and one other thing! Even Jackalopes can't resist good Texas BBQ!

Lesson’s Learned:

1.) Eat at least a small Breakfast. (We wanted to save room for BBQ.)

2.) 183 South and the County Roads surrounding it are flat and not pretty.

3.) Watch where you put your feet down after a U-Turn Gravel is slick as ice.

4.) Keep your visor closed on rural roads.

5.) Gremlins know if you’ve been given a Ride Bell and haven’t put it on. (See Ride Bell Explanation)

6.) Most importantly, don’t try to drink out of a water bottle with your helmet on. !8-D

Larsenosters Where Are You?

We Miss You Guys!!!

Sometimes You Get Left to Your Own Devices

While “S” was in Anaheim I decided to strike out on my own. The start to this trip actually began on the weekend of the ROT Rally. Early on Saturday morning, before we went out to the Rally, we hopped on the bike to go eat breakfast at Las Manitas on Congress in downtown Austin. If you’ve never had breakfast there I highly recommend it.

Las Manitas

211 Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78701

(512) 472-9357

On the way I ran into a guy that was working on his BMW touring bike. I offered to help him out if he needed it and we struck up a conversation. He mentioned that he rode with a group of guys every Saturday and told me they link up at the corner of 360 and Bee Caves Road every weekend at 6:00 am to go riding. At “S’s” urging I got up early on Saturday (5:00 am) and headed out attempting to find the Hill Country group.

The cruiser purred underneath me while I cruised up and down Loop 360 at dawn. Repeatedly!

I never found the group.

Oh well, beautiful day on my own isn’t such a bad thing either! o, off I went. I headed back toward Pflugerville and ended up on a county road east of town.

I cruised along the lazy curves of the road lost in my own thoughts as I passed rows of corn and other crops. Only the Cows thought I was interesting enough to glance at me as I passed through the country side. I left them to their hay munching them my exhaust burbling the sweet song of the V-Twin engine.

I angled around a bend and came across a wooden church, gleaming brilliant white in the morning sun, its pointed steeple clawed at the morning sky. I pulled over, because I’m a sucker for historic markers, and grabbed my camera out of the tail bag.

All original! They don't make them like this anymore. In my mind I can picture the local town carpenter and people spending hours on this church. All of the decorative details and fine finish work is readily apparent in these photos. Check out the beautiful wooden pews. Chris and Kurt would love this place.

Of course no old church would be complete without beautiful stained glass windows. The morning sun shines directly through the glass casting a warm glow over every varnished surface. It gives you the feeling of warmth and beauty that beckons parishioners to go inside.

To bad the door was locked.

Behind the church is the original cemetery. You hardly see a church with its own Cemetery any more.

I also stopped to snap a few photos at the town community center. Rural areas are so neat. I noticed a lot of beer and soda cans out back so it's still in operation!

Another clue that they still use the Community Center is the energy conserving fluorescents. (Click on the photo to enlarge then look at the porch light ;-D)

ME!

Why We Ride...

"K" came across this article and thought it came close to explaining why millions (including us) enjoy riding.
"Why We Ride..."

Here's another interesting article, I came across today!
"Naked Motorcycle Riding is Legal in Sweden..."

I Feel the Need for Speed…

What can you do when you find yourself bike-less in beautiful San Diego over the 4th of July weekend? You can rent GoCars! Yes, I said GoCars not Go-Karts, which is something totally different.

We were heading west on Hawthorne street towards Harbor Drive on a quick drive down Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach when I spied little yellow cars lined up outside a rental agency. Mini New York City cabs, if you will. The tiny three wheeled contraptions were sitting under a sign that exclaimed “GoCar GPS-Guided Tours ® The Original Storytelling Car!” Never one to turn down something as simultaneously geeky and awesome as this, I convinced “S” we had to do it! Three days later and an interesting ride on the public bus and a walk through downtown San Diego; we were standing at the counter waiting on our first GoCar experience.

After some quibbling between the counter guy and his helper, a sort of Mutt and Jeff pairing if I ever saw one, we hopped in GoCar #8. It had handlebars like a motorcycle, automatic transmission, and was powered by a 50cc scooter tail section. Left lever rear brake, right lever front brake, twist throttle and go…Not a problem!

We cranked it up and all 50cc’s of ground pounding terror roared to life! I grabbed a fist full of throttle and the tail end kicked up as the automatic transmission engaged and off we went. Right out of the parking lot onto Kettner, another right on to Hawthorne toward Harbor Drive. We screamed west towards the harbor with the throttle pinned, inches off of the ground! (Now mind you the roads are rough and GoCar has no suspension to speak of, so it made crossing the train tracks a bit of a visceral experience!)
We started laughing the minute we left the rental agency and we were in tears by the time we passed the first block. I swerved left crossing two lanes of traffic to make the upcoming left, as instructed by GoCar’s onboard talking GPS tour guide, “S” shouted over the roar of the motor, “Slow down, you’re going too fast!” I looked down at the speedometer, then over at “S” and exclaimed “We’re only going 30. It won’t go any faster!” At that statement we both roared with laughter as we idled at the light. When you’re cruising about 6 inches off the ground, the little car seems deceptively quick, that combined with the direct link rear steering makes the car handle like it is on rails.

Everywhere we went pedestrians and people in cars were breaking their necks to see the little yellow car. As we scooted down the streets we were greeted with waves, thumbs up, and smiles. You would think that people behind us would get irate because we were only doing thirty in what was clearly a moving tourist attraction, but we were met with nothing but awe and exclamation as they passed us. (Not the case in the SUV that “S” borrowed from her friend.)

As we cruised along GoCar "Lady" explained historical points of interest interspersed with some obvious paid advertisements. Like the local Hooters, at which point GoCar, in her pleasant female voice, said…”I have a Hooter too!” “S” and I looked at each other…"Did GoCar just say what I thought it said?” Then she stated “It’s my horn button on the left handle bar!” (Insert appropriate lame joke rim shot here) Bad jokes aside, the tour was good and we had a blast.

After touring most of downtown we headed north up 5th Avenue and made a stop at a place called Extraordinary Desserts. This place is a sweet-o-phile’s heaven. I couldn’t focus; there were too many choices. “S” and I split a Lemon Crème Brule that was fan-fricken-tastic!

Sugared-up we got back on the road and did a quick tour of Balboa Park. We approached the fountain in the main section of the park and I had to do the roundabout several times. The people on the San Diego Trolley tour could hear our laughter as we passed them. They waved to us each time we made a rotation.

We blasted out of the park and headed back towards downtown passing several bars and restaurants in the University Heights/Hillcrest district. GoCar, who is apparently well-versed in the alternative lifestyles of University Heights/Hilcrest, pointed out several alternative bars in the area including The Flame. According to GoCar this bar is “the oldest alternative bar that caters to San Diego’s vibrant lesbian community!” I’m not sure, but I think GoCar touched “S” in a hand on the knee sort of way! (LOL)

We wheeled GoCar back towards downtown but since we had about 20 minutes left on our two hour rental we passed the agency and turned right on Harbor Drive instead of left. “S” knew where to find a couple of roundabouts which we circumnavigated a couple of times.

“S” even made a video clip. If you listen you can hear her laughing above the din of the motor.

We never figured out why there was an "Ejection Seat". I'd pressed it, if I didn't think we would of have gotten stranded.

So if you find the opportunity to ride a GoCar we highly recommend it! You might even find one in Austin one day. Wouldn't that help to keep Austin weird?!

“The mayor has more important things to worry about than a bunch of nude people at a biker rally...”

...was the quote from the Austin Mayor’s office regarding reports of lewd and lascivious behavior at the Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally, (R.O.T.). Someone delivered a large number of pictures showing nude bikers, mobile stripper poles (with strippers), “Did I mention there were mobile strippers?” “K”. All the while, local law enforcement patrolled the area.
Want to see the whole story go to- http://www.kvue.com/video/index.html?nvid=258007

Yes, there were freewheeling breasts, yes there was lots of motorized “hot dogging”(mechanical and biological), and indeed there was some alcohol consumed at the (R.O.T). “Oh yeah, did I mention the mobile strippers?” “K”.

It was our first R.O.T.! Bikes galore! Tattoos aplenty! We joined “S’s” sister and boyfriend to take part in this gathering of motorcycle enthusiast. We drank beer, wandered around the exhibits, bought a back roads map of central Texas, listened to local bands, and all the while soaking up the intense biker atmosphere. Check out the official photos of the rally at http://www.rotrally.com/Pages/Public/Media.asp

We wandered over to the “Wall of Death” show. A large tin can of a building where motocross bikes sped up the walls, centrifugal force keeping them and riders glued to the wooden slatted walls. The audience, peering down into the pit, was asked to hold a dollar bill between their fingers. Then a guy on a go-kart raced around the pit walls gaining height with each revolution to pluck the dollars from our fingers. It’s a living.

As the sun set, we joined the carousing and cavorting crowd as they moved towards the main stage to see the Charlie Daniels Band. They were great! His voice is still sharp and crisp. We danced and sang right along.

“K” insisted on having meat on a bone, (aka turkey leg) while “S” enjoyed another version of something on a stick, a corndog!

“S” knew it was time to go when the parade of half naked men and women motorcyclist varoomed down the center of the Expo Center and she looked over at “K” and he had Mardi Gras beads hanging from his baseball cap.

“Pole strippers? Yes, there were nude 60-year old pole strippers with hanging boobs and sagging asses! Enjoy, “K” “S”.

After all was said and done, the dust and the smoke cleared, the rowdy bikers returned to being your dentists, accountants, and lawyers. While some of us remain just two geeks on a bike.

P.S. Did I mention that there were mobile strippers and not all were 60+. I think we’re getting an RV spot next year. “K”

Side note:
We have a very animated mayor in Austin, check out other stories related to Mayor Wynn. We love him! Who else would call the last round of trivia at Mother Egan’s Irish Pub on Tuesday nights!
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/030508kvueMayorWynn-cb.2618c644.html

Fully Dressed!

Equipment Modifications complete:

So after much grief for spending hours upon hours searching the Internet for the best quality at the best price from “S” I finally settled on saddlebags. I purchased the Ameritex Futura bags from JC Whitney (photo from JCWhitney website). They are synthetic which is good for clean up and won’t rot like leather. I purchased the XX size so they are fairly large. Although the XXX bags have a cell phone pocket on each side, I thought they might hit the exhaust on the right side of the bike, which in itself is another issue. The XX are wide and deep enough to hold plenty of stuff to keep us going on a pretty decent trip.

They are detachable and have three quick release buckles for each side allowing for easy removal while traveling. Next on the list were Saddle bag supports to keep them from rubbing the rear swing arm and tire. It also gives you a place to tie the bags off so they don’t flap around in the wind.

Other modifications included passenger peg extensions and floorboards. The C50 passenger pegs are up high and "S's" legs were folded back at an awkward, uncomfortable angle. This cuts off blood flow to her lower legs and causes cramping on longer rides. It also causes the tailbone to support most of the passenger’s weight which fatigues the back. The extensions lower the passenger’s feet by about 3 inches and moves them forward about 2 inches. The floorboards will give her more room to move her feet around in different positions helping to eliminate the onset of cramps and fatigue. Which translates to less stops along the way.

“S” was on a solo adventure to Anaheim, CA when I installed these items so I hope the extensions and the backrest make her more comfortable. I’m really excited to have her test them out on our next ride. She’ll have to give her report after we get back from vacation.

Where I purchased the parts

Ameritex Futura Saddlebags – JC Whitney
Saddlebag Supports – JC Whitney
Floorboards (note the floorboards are actually for a 1981 Honda - Gold Wing) – JC Whitney $64.99
Peg Extensions – Waynesville Cycle
Backrest – Cruiserbackrest.com
Sissybar Bag (this was a great deal) – Wal-Mart $35.00.

A note about these stores: I’m always leery of sending money to online stores and I suggest that if you are going to make a purchase do some research on many of the online motorcycle forums. Caveat Emptor!

That said, I can’t say enough about JC Whitney, Cruiser Backrest, and Waynesville Cycle. All three of these vendors were quick to ship and I had parts in hand within 3 days of ordering.

Installation wasn’t too bad, everything lined up fairly well. I also took this opportunity to adjust the rear suspension. I noticed on our last 2-up ride that the rear end kind of wallowed around turns and just felt mushy in general. I purchased a 63mm suspension wrench. I had to remove the side panel from beneath the seat then both seats. That was not a problem because I had to remove the pillion in order to install the saddlebag mounting system anyway. Then I had to remove the batter box. I didn’t disconnect it I just removed the screws and pulled the box up high enough to clear the shock wrench. The factory ships the bike with the rear shock at mid- position #4 and I moved it up two notches to six. That should give us plenty of spring pre-load to carry the two of us plus luggage.

I can’t wait for the next trip! Which there is still debate over. We don't know if we should go on our hunt for BBQ or search for ghosts.

Can you tell me how to get...how to get to...

Sunny Day

Sweepin' the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Hico, Texas!


View Larger Map

TO HICO from AUSTIN:
We headed out 183 N

then 281 N to Lampasas

Just outside of Lampasas take

FM 1690 N to Izoro through Pearl to Purmela

At Purmela take FM 1241 N

You end up on 281 N just outside of Hamilton

Continue on 281 N to Hico

FROM HICO to AUSTIN:

Going home we made a little mistake, but it was the best mistake I had made in a while. We ended up at a Y sitting in the middle of cow pastures and rolling hills. Because we stopped there to take pictures of the old fence and barn, and to be honest, take a leak behind a bush, we missed a summer rain storm down the road.

We headed E on Hwy 6 towards Iredell just before you get to town take FM 1238 S to Cransfill Gap

Then we headed W on Hwy 22 back to Hamilton then because it was getting dark we headed S on 281 to 183 S in Lampasas to get home quickly.


More pics of the Hico trip coming soon!

Still NOT it...

Okay, now the scooter was not spotted in the Lone Star state, and it is still not what we are looking for.

We just thought it would be a nice diversion.

The spotting took place in Oak Hill, Providence, Rhode Island, a few blocks from my niece's former apartment.

Notice the convenient "scooter hitchin' posts"!

Hico or Bust

Our second trip was northwest to Hico were we intended to eat some serious backyard steaks cooked by some serious Backyard BBQ warriors. Ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration...for the most part they were restaurant owners competing for the prize of top steak.

We didn't get steak, even though that's what we went to Hico for; we opted to eat dinner at the local Mexican food restaurant. The steaks wouldn't be done in time for us to leave at a decent hour.

Bovine delicacies aside, this was the longest and most enjoyable ride we've had. All 306 miles of Central Texas Hill country and rural road...and the most beautiful sunset we've seen. We were tired and sore by the time we arrived home (we left at 10:30am and arrived home at 11:30pm ) but we saw some of the best scenery and experienced a quiet that only rural America can provide...I can't even put it into words! It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words...I'll let them do the speaking for us.






Along the way we took a bypass to the town of Izoro. Well I say it was a town it was only an old Texaco station surrounded by farms. The now defunct Texaco Station is now the Izoro Post office.

"S" Kisses-up to the Locals outside the Koffee Kup in Downtown Hico.


The inside of a Historic Saddle-Maker/Blacksmith shop in downtown Hico. The log cabin was set up the same way it would've been in the 1800's.


The junction of FM 219...a brief rest before we headed to the town of Cranfils Gap. With the thunderstorms blowing through the area. "The Gap" was a windy mofo!

We stopped in the town of Evant to allow the thunderstorms ahead of us to pass. When we left we were treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets I think either of us have seen!

Our Parting Shot, "S" said we had to have a sunset photo with the bike!

This is NOT what we were thinking of...

We found our first "Truck on a Stick,"or better said, "Toy Truck on a Stick"
















Although technically it is a truck on a stick; it is clearly not what we were looking for or referring to in our first blog. Still looking for the real deal!

If you would like to take a gander at this anomaly, just drive north on 183 to Cedar Park; it is on the left hand side.

Equipment, Equipment, Equipment!

I didn't realize that there was going to be continual research of... search for... and addition of equipment to the bike. First it was the sissy bar. I agree it will be a great comfort, when I decide that I trust it and actually use it. It's a good solid piece that "K" purchased from Cruiserbackrest.com (They were quick to ship and respond; overall a pleasant experience dealing with them.) It adds a little safety and stability for me, plus the luggage rack will come in handy for some of our longer hauls.

Then "K" had to show me the new deer whistles. These will hopefully alert deer of our approach. He purchased them at WalMart, but here is a quick explanation from "Save a Life" website.

Another WalMart find was a backpack that could be strapped to that new sissy bar that will hold the essentials for the day. This included the purchase of a cargo net and bungee cords to secure it to the bike. This is a temporary solution for hauling goods while "K" is still researching the saddle bags situation.

The next important purchase will be peg extensions for me. This will allow me to stretch out my legs, so that I can ride a little longer.

While there are still the auxiliary lights, windshield, and possible floorboards to consider... research... and compare... on the many motorcycle forums and chat rooms for motorcycle enthusiasts. We have the basics and are ready to ride.

Where should we go?

Where do you go when you have a cruiser, beautiful Texas spring weather, and a free afternoon? Llano for BBQ at Coopers? (If you haven't been it is a carnivores delight! A little on the expensive side, but well worth the almost neanderthal experience. I actually forgot to use my fork. Look for details of our next visit coming soon.), Bastrop for the piney woods smell?, Luling to see the old mill?, there are so many options.

How about Wimberley? Since this was our first out of the city of Austin ride, it was a perfect distance, curvy, 2 lane road headed to "A Little Bit of Heaven" according to the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce.
Route:
Mopac-S to 290-W to R-12-S
Return via:
R-12-N to FM-3237- N to FM-150-N to 290-N to Mopac-N
(Those that are not from Texas or have not traveled in Texas: R= Ranch Road- usually a two lane road, but on occasion it will have 4; FM= Farm to Market Road- usually a two lane road, connects the small towns and is usually considered the backroad to somewhere)


View Larger Map

New Rider Tip: You want to stop and stretch those legs and backs out after about 30 minutes. There is a rest stop on the right after the 71-W and 290-W split.

Ranch Road 12 is one of my favorite roads. When I attended Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State) in San Marcos we use to ride out to Wimberley. You could find a nice secluded spot to stop and neck if your roommate was commandeering your room that weekend. From Austin to Wimberley, the Ranch Road 12 winds and curves to the hills above and the creeks and rivers below. At this time of year, it is still green and sprinkled with pink, blue, and yellow wildflowers.

Just as you enter town on the left is the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce. We sauntered in, me with my fringed black leather jacket and black boots, looking like a one percenter wannabe to find a dignified Southern lady behind the volunteer desk dressed in a light blue-jean jumpsuit with a white mock-turtleneck shirt with a red, white, and blue scarf tied around her waist. When she addressed us, it was like molasses, a Southern drawl from way back. She hooked us up with a restaurant, Juan Henry's Restaurant, locally owned of course; a great, colorful map of the Hill Country, and a few pamphlets on the bed and breakfasts for our future visits. She was truly delightful!

Another reason to stop is the really cool- 3-D model of the Hill Country!

The short ride over to Juan Henry's was lovely, especially because we missed it the first time and ended up cruising down River Road. Here are some photos that I stole from the Internet. (We will have our own as soon as one of us purchases a nice digital camera or remembers his.)

We had enchiladas and tacos and discussed the route back. Originally we were just going to go back the way we came, but after looking at the Hill Country 3-D model at the Chamber of Commerce and the new map, we decided that FM 3237 looked like an interesting ride. It curved up through the hills and had a higher elevation than RR12, which we thought would give us a better vantage point.

Overall the ride back to the metropolis of Austin was a beautiful, quiet ride until “Jackass in a f$%^#*! Dodge Viper” roared by. We assume that the posted 55 mph that everyone else was cruising at did not pertain to him. There was no warning of his approach, but as we jerked to our left to see the rapid racing blue with white stripes Dodge zoom past, we felt the spray of pebbles as he cut back into our lane a close ½ car length ahead of us. “Asshole!”

Equipment or Commitment?

Choosing a helmet for someone is no small task. When I first started riding back in the 80's, equipment was easy gas, wallet, jeans, jacket (blue jean or thin leather, if cold enough), and an open face skid-lid. Now that I'm older and wiser I choose an armored jacket, over the ankle boots, and a full face helmet. Pretty well geared up.

I'm covered, but it is amazing, how much more time you will spend contemplating gear when it is someone you care about on the pillion. Full face helmet is a must! Armored Jacket? Absolutely! Then we'll need pants with armored shins and knees. Oh! I know...A Bubble Wrap suit. That's it! I'll encase my pillion in a large Bubble Wrap cocoon! She'll be protected in case of a spill, but will probably die of heat-stroke.

Maybe this isn't the route to go.

So I got a little carried away. It's easy to do with the amount of gear that is available today. "S" returned from a trip to her home town with her sister's leather Harley jacket and boots (thanks Chris). The next day we went shopping at Cycle Gear. Now Cycle Gear closes around 8:00pm and we arrived at about 7:00pm and proceeded to try on every helmet in the place. I explained to "S" the importance of a comfortable properly fitted helmet. Their was another couple shopping so we ducked into the glove section to find some gloves. She ended up with a kid's size 7.

I kept prairie dogging the sales person helping the couple to see if we were still good to go. Peek over the racks still working with the couple? Yes! we're good...sneak peak...yep still good. However, the staff at Cycle Gear were super helpful and they let us shop and we ended up purchasing a Metallic Silver full face helmet by Seven Zero Seven. (Photo from Cycle Gear Website)

So she's set and I'm comfortable that she'll feel safe and comfortable. However, we still need to get her a mesh jacket, summer will be on us and triple digit heat is going to suck in that fringed leather jacket.

Just remember All the Gear All the Time (ATGATT) it's not a fashion show it is a commitment to being safe.

(RANT) So this kind of gives me a case of the Red A$$. Often I'll see a guy and a girl on the newest whizz-bang 2000 zipping by, she's in a mini-skirt and he's in flip flops and shorts, sometimes with a helmet and sometimes not. I know the argument goes- gear is a personal choice but I think that is only part of the reason. Why would you allow your passenger to be at risk? Often they're not thinking about the same things you are and don't have enough info to make a valid decision. So educate them then let them make the choice. Personally, I would make them wear gear because I wouldn't like to think that I permanently scarred someone because I didn't look out for their safety. Get your passenger the right gear!(RANT OVER)