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- Joined
- Oct 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,253
- Reaction score
- 50
- Location
- Big sky country; Ronan, MT
- First Name
- Bruce
- Last Name
- Taylor
Well, it's spring. Time to take the dual sports off the battery tenders, blow the cobwebs out of the exhaust, and burn up the gas left in the tanks from the last ride. We didn't get the pretty spring day we wanted but what are ya gonna do? 
Our mission was to ride our usual loop around Bastrop County and hit as much of the good dirt as possible in the time alloted. We left the home around 0830 with a little water on the streets and very light mist in the air.
We head east from Pflugerville through the farmland and make a stop in Coupland to top off tanks for the rest of the day. Our next stop was a cool restored old bridge on CR 426 just east of Coupland. Nice photo op and the first little bit of dirt road.
Back to the pavement and further east on 1466. We turn south taking CR 469, 467, 302 though Siloam and get back on a short twisty bit of dirt. The light rain is enough to knock down the dust but not enough to make the road slick; perfect. We continued east and south on County Line Rd and CR 90. This is where the route gets interesting and I was up for some exploring. This is the area of the open pit mine being run by Alcoa. The roads are moved as the pit moves and the maps do not keep up with them. I wanted to get to some roads on the east side of the pit. We head north on what the signs say is FM 619 but the screen on the Zumo shows this.
Just keep going north and take the first road that looks like it might go east and/or south. CR 304 fit the bill just right. Turn right onto CR 305 which becomes CR 129 until we get to Wolf Rd. (CR 131 on Mapsource). Turn right on Marlin Rd. (CR 142) then left onto Paint Creek Rd. (CR 162). Finally back on dirt this road winds it's way through ranchland with hills, ponds, pastures. I think this may be the best dirt road in Bastrop County.
We turn right onto Paint Creek South (CR 160) and run it out to the end. Just before you get to HWY 20 take a sharp right turn onto Old HWY 20, the dirt version. Not much here just a dirt road that pretty much parallels the RR tracks.
Left when you get to Old Potato Rd to get you across Hwy 290 and continue on Old Potato Rd. When we made it to HWY 20, Old Potato does a left/right thing to continue south towards Old Antioch Rd. Old Antioch takes a right down some sandy loam roads. Watch the corners, those big dump trucks will come around in your lane.
Makes for a few interesting seconds. I saw him first but he did see me in plenty of time to GET BACK ON HIS SIDE. 
After a few miles at the intersection of Old Antioch and Gottier Trace is the Antioch Cemetary.
After taking a stroll the headstones, finding the one for Benno, we rolled west toward Bastrop State Park on Gottier Trace Rd. I always enjoy riding Park Rd 1 and it's especially nice after a rain when you can really smell the pines. At the west exit from the park we blasted across 20 for lunch at the Roadhouse. Best burgers in Bastrop County they claim. I have to agree. The cream cheese with fresh jalapenos on sourdough bun was very tasty. Perry had one called the "Destruction" burger. I think it had everything in the kitchen on it. It's one of those fork and knife burgers.
After lunch we went south into Tahitian Village (always thought that a weird name for a subdivision in the pine trees) to an overlook of the CO river. Nice view once you get past the condom wrappers and the used contents.
Time to head back north. We motored through Bastrop and onto Sayers Rd.
This road is probably in a tie with Paint Creek Rd and the best dirt road in Bastrop. Winding through open range with pastures and excellent views. Watch out for traffic hazards and take in the views. No need to rush through. The ranchers will appreciate the slow pace as you roll past their homes. And when you wave, they will wave back.
Be sure an take Old Sayers Rd and catch the last bit of dirt roads before you get back to Elgin. West of Elgin we take the back roads through the farmland and back to P'ville. All goals had been fulfilled for the day. The old gas was gone, no cobwebs left, and another dual sport riding season has begun.
Our mission was to ride our usual loop around Bastrop County and hit as much of the good dirt as possible in the time alloted. We left the home around 0830 with a little water on the streets and very light mist in the air. We head east from Pflugerville through the farmland and make a stop in Coupland to top off tanks for the rest of the day. Our next stop was a cool restored old bridge on CR 426 just east of Coupland. Nice photo op and the first little bit of dirt road.
Back to the pavement and further east on 1466. We turn south taking CR 469, 467, 302 though Siloam and get back on a short twisty bit of dirt. The light rain is enough to knock down the dust but not enough to make the road slick; perfect. We continued east and south on County Line Rd and CR 90. This is where the route gets interesting and I was up for some exploring. This is the area of the open pit mine being run by Alcoa. The roads are moved as the pit moves and the maps do not keep up with them. I wanted to get to some roads on the east side of the pit. We head north on what the signs say is FM 619 but the screen on the Zumo shows this.
Just keep going north and take the first road that looks like it might go east and/or south. CR 304 fit the bill just right. Turn right onto CR 305 which becomes CR 129 until we get to Wolf Rd. (CR 131 on Mapsource). Turn right on Marlin Rd. (CR 142) then left onto Paint Creek Rd. (CR 162). Finally back on dirt this road winds it's way through ranchland with hills, ponds, pastures. I think this may be the best dirt road in Bastrop County.
We turn right onto Paint Creek South (CR 160) and run it out to the end. Just before you get to HWY 20 take a sharp right turn onto Old HWY 20, the dirt version. Not much here just a dirt road that pretty much parallels the RR tracks.
Left when you get to Old Potato Rd to get you across Hwy 290 and continue on Old Potato Rd. When we made it to HWY 20, Old Potato does a left/right thing to continue south towards Old Antioch Rd. Old Antioch takes a right down some sandy loam roads. Watch the corners, those big dump trucks will come around in your lane.
Makes for a few interesting seconds. I saw him first but he did see me in plenty of time to GET BACK ON HIS SIDE. After a few miles at the intersection of Old Antioch and Gottier Trace is the Antioch Cemetary. After taking a stroll the headstones, finding the one for Benno, we rolled west toward Bastrop State Park on Gottier Trace Rd. I always enjoy riding Park Rd 1 and it's especially nice after a rain when you can really smell the pines. At the west exit from the park we blasted across 20 for lunch at the Roadhouse. Best burgers in Bastrop County they claim. I have to agree. The cream cheese with fresh jalapenos on sourdough bun was very tasty. Perry had one called the "Destruction" burger. I think it had everything in the kitchen on it. It's one of those fork and knife burgers.
After lunch we went south into Tahitian Village (always thought that a weird name for a subdivision in the pine trees) to an overlook of the CO river. Nice view once you get past the condom wrappers and the used contents.
Time to head back north. We motored through Bastrop and onto Sayers Rd.
This road is probably in a tie with Paint Creek Rd and the best dirt road in Bastrop. Winding through open range with pastures and excellent views. Watch out for traffic hazards and take in the views. No need to rush through. The ranchers will appreciate the slow pace as you roll past their homes. And when you wave, they will wave back.
Be sure an take Old Sayers Rd and catch the last bit of dirt roads before you get back to Elgin. West of Elgin we take the back roads through the farmland and back to P'ville. All goals had been fulfilled for the day. The old gas was gone, no cobwebs left, and another dual sport riding season has begun.
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