With a Fiancé out of the country and renewed ability to ignore household chores, I got to spend a long day this past Sunday on my CRF300 Rally.
I started my trip by heading out west via 1431 from Cedar Park. Plan was to try a loop I could never complete with the limited fuel range of the XT250. I would hit low fuel light and need to turn early at James river crossing. With the extra gallon on the rally, I would give it a go!
I can’t ride down 1431 without breaking off for a little ride down cow creek road.
A top off in Horseshoe bay, and I was ready to attempt a never completed loop!
Here’s the route I planned:
horseshoe - 2147 to 71
71 West to 962 (LT)
962 to 3347 (RT)
3347 to 310A (RT)
CR 310A - North
CR 310 - West
CR 308 - North
CR 315 - West.
HWY 16 - South (left)
CR 113 - West
CR 112 - West (Left)
RR 2323 - South (Left)
CR 110 (Loyal Valley Rd/Horse Mountain Rd) - West
RR 2242 - South (Left)
HWY 87 - South (Left)
Threadgill Creek Rd/Squaw Creek - West
RR 783 - South
Geistweidt - West (quick right from 783)
Onion Creek Rd - North (Right)
Salt Branch Loop/E Mill Rd/CR 4301 - West (Left)
CR 430/Mill Creek Rd - North (Right)
RR 1871 Northeast (Right) to Mason
Topped off gas in Mason, and then headed East on 29 to Art Hedwigs hill roads. This would drop me onto 87 where I could head south and then turn left toward Castell for lunch via FM152. From Castell, took CR106 to 2323 to CR112 and rode backwards back into Horseshoe bay.
I left the route jumbled up there in case someone wanted to copy/paste to try themselves.
CR315 is a delight, lots of sand to keep you guessing which way your bike will go. I’m a newbie with dirt so I didn’t dare crack the throttle beyond 50mph.
Here was one of many exciting moments, coming out of sandy creek and burying the front tire in sand:
While I didn’t drop the bike, I got sideways.
No worries, only 50 more yards of this stuff
For the record, it was super easy coming through the opposite direction.
I found my hoglett stalking loose cows for most of the day
Wildlife was abundant as I would sneak up on Turkey, deer, and even wild pig. I will say the most exciting thing I witnessed was a helicopter about 30 feet in air with two men hanging off it, rifles in hand. Pretty sure they were finding new ways to cull out the pigs. (No photos of the helicopter, but one guy waved)
Most water crossings were fun to splash
I got into a nice groove, would lean back on the rear tire when I’d find sand and keep steady throttle. Did have an exciting water crossing on mill creek road. It was slippery, and I carried plenty of speed to get me through, but also felt the bike slide out a bit. Probably the 20th time of the day that I defied death, laughing maniacally in my helmet each time, looking forward to the next!
Little over 300 miles of unforgiving saddle: