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!