About two months ago I started planning this trip. I've been wanting to do a motorcycle camping trip to the Texas Hill Country, and originally planned to go it alone. I got to talking with Calgary-Yogi (Graeme) at one of our Monday bike nights, and we decided to go together. He mentioned that DFW_Warrior (Bill) was a great guy to ride with, so I said yeah, tell him to come along. The main goal of the trip was to ride the Three Sisters - Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337. Widely considered the best motorcycle roads in Texas.
The plan was to head out of Sugar Land from Starbucks, and meet Bill in New Braunfels for lunch at the New Braunfels Smokehouse.
Me at the house - ready to leave:
On 90A heading west:
The Smokehouse:
The guys - notice where they make me park my BMW. I guess the Strommers don't want to be too closely associated with a beemer-dork :
After lunch, we headed west on FM 1863 through Bulverde, then we took TX 46 west to TX 16, then on west into Bandera where we camped at the Pioneer River RV Resort. I had called around to all the campgrounds around Bandera, but this was the only one that allowed tent camping. It was a great facility, with clean showers and restrooms, and nice tent sites down by the river. No ground fires allowed since they are inside the city limits.
Entering the Hill Country west of New Braunfels:
The campsite:
After setting up camp, we headed down Ranch Road 470 to Tarpley for dinner. Bill knew about this great little eatery we had to check out. Actually, Bill knows lot's of eateries. As Graeme said in an earlier post, you need to have medical arrangements made ahead of time if you're riding with this guy, 'cause you're gonna eat too much!
We ate at Mac & Earnie's Roadside Eatery. Basically, it's a little shack, but they serve the most amazing gourmet food on paper plates! You order at the shack, then walk up the hill to the store to get your libations, find a picnic table, and wait for them to bring it out. And, boy is it great! We split a plate of lamb chops for an appetizer, Graeme had the salmon, Bill had the quail, and I had the pork tenderloin. For desert, we split a chocolate pie (more like fudge!) and strawberry tres-leches cake. WOW - I hurt myself! By the way, the Food Network featured this place on their Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives show last week.
On the road to Tarpley:
Mac & Earnie's:
Graeme:
Bill:
FOOD!
After that, it was time to hit the sack, but not before some brews. We picked up some Shiner Bock at the Beverage Barn before heading back to camp.
The next morning, we were up at the crack of dawn to get ready for the best day of riding so far in my short motorcycling career! I've only been riding since September, and according to Bill, at this stage of the trip, I'm just a baby rider.
Saturday morning at camp:
Packed up, we headed west out of Bandera on TX 16 to Medina. This was a great warm-up for the day, with great scenery and lots of fast sweepers! In Medina, we hit the first of the Three Sisters - Ranch Road 337. All I can say is WOW! This road features some steep climbs and descents with tight turns and switchbacks punctuated by nice runs along the ridge tops with panoramic views to either side. At one of the lay-bys, I had to stop for some photos, and Graeme had to claim another part of Texas for Scottland!
Along 337:
Bill shows how it's done:
Graeme had a hitch hiker:
337 ends in Camp Wood in the Nueces River Canyon. We stopped for drinks and a snack, and were soon inundated by other riders - mostly Harley's with a few Gold Wings thrown into the mix. We got to talking with this lady on a Harley, she must of been in her late 50's, and she was out for her first ride after recovering from a car accident. This little detail will be important later.
More to come in the next post...
The plan was to head out of Sugar Land from Starbucks, and meet Bill in New Braunfels for lunch at the New Braunfels Smokehouse.
Me at the house - ready to leave:
On 90A heading west:
The Smokehouse:
The guys - notice where they make me park my BMW. I guess the Strommers don't want to be too closely associated with a beemer-dork :
After lunch, we headed west on FM 1863 through Bulverde, then we took TX 46 west to TX 16, then on west into Bandera where we camped at the Pioneer River RV Resort. I had called around to all the campgrounds around Bandera, but this was the only one that allowed tent camping. It was a great facility, with clean showers and restrooms, and nice tent sites down by the river. No ground fires allowed since they are inside the city limits.
Entering the Hill Country west of New Braunfels:
The campsite:
After setting up camp, we headed down Ranch Road 470 to Tarpley for dinner. Bill knew about this great little eatery we had to check out. Actually, Bill knows lot's of eateries. As Graeme said in an earlier post, you need to have medical arrangements made ahead of time if you're riding with this guy, 'cause you're gonna eat too much!
We ate at Mac & Earnie's Roadside Eatery. Basically, it's a little shack, but they serve the most amazing gourmet food on paper plates! You order at the shack, then walk up the hill to the store to get your libations, find a picnic table, and wait for them to bring it out. And, boy is it great! We split a plate of lamb chops for an appetizer, Graeme had the salmon, Bill had the quail, and I had the pork tenderloin. For desert, we split a chocolate pie (more like fudge!) and strawberry tres-leches cake. WOW - I hurt myself! By the way, the Food Network featured this place on their Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives show last week.
On the road to Tarpley:
Mac & Earnie's:
Graeme:
Bill:
FOOD!
After that, it was time to hit the sack, but not before some brews. We picked up some Shiner Bock at the Beverage Barn before heading back to camp.
The next morning, we were up at the crack of dawn to get ready for the best day of riding so far in my short motorcycling career! I've only been riding since September, and according to Bill, at this stage of the trip, I'm just a baby rider.
Saturday morning at camp:
Packed up, we headed west out of Bandera on TX 16 to Medina. This was a great warm-up for the day, with great scenery and lots of fast sweepers! In Medina, we hit the first of the Three Sisters - Ranch Road 337. All I can say is WOW! This road features some steep climbs and descents with tight turns and switchbacks punctuated by nice runs along the ridge tops with panoramic views to either side. At one of the lay-bys, I had to stop for some photos, and Graeme had to claim another part of Texas for Scottland!
Along 337:
Bill shows how it's done:
Graeme had a hitch hiker:
337 ends in Camp Wood in the Nueces River Canyon. We stopped for drinks and a snack, and were soon inundated by other riders - mostly Harley's with a few Gold Wings thrown into the mix. We got to talking with this lady on a Harley, she must of been in her late 50's, and she was out for her first ride after recovering from a car accident. This little detail will be important later.
More to come in the next post...
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