TEXAS HILL COUNTRY--BACK TO THE BASICS OF LIFE

We arrived in Panama City Beach on Tuesday and we check into the condo on Thursday.  On our trip from Kerrville, TX, we had to pass through Austin and Houston which presented quite a challenge pulling the trailer.  We stayed in Port Allen, LA, on Monday night and then battled the traffic again through Baton Rouge on Tuesday morning.  Thanks to Bob's skillful driving and the gps the trip to PCB was a success!  On the way we again came across some interesting sites.  First of all, there is a town in Louisiana called Iowa.  We just saw the sign on the interstate, but we didn't go through it, because people said it was too cold (LOL)!

THE "IOWA" EXIT

THE MISSISSIPPI AT BATON ROUGE

We also passed by Mobile, AL, on the way.  Passing through a tunnel on the interstate and then past Mobile Bay, we got a glimpse of the battleship Alabama.

TUNNEL UNDER THE BAY IN MOBILE

USS ALABAMA

THE RIDES
Now that I've brought you up to date on our adventure, I want to go back and tell about some of the rides in the Texas hill country.  First of all, I had imagined that the southwest part of Texas was a flat desert.  I couldn't have been more wrong!  This area of Texas is laced with ranch roads (county roads in Iowa) that offer some of the most interesting and spectacular motorcycle riding that we have ever experienced.  On Thursday afternoon we left Fredricksburg and after transversing some sweeping curves and sharp bends on the ranch roads, we ended up in Luckenbach.

WHERE THERE AIN'T NOBODY FEELIN' NO PAIN!

On Saturday we left Fredricksburg and went to Kerrville, TX, where we were again able to ride some more of the hill country in the afternoon.  Again there were some really fun roads and an interesting stop on the way back to the motel.

AND I THOUGHT THE STONEHENGE WAS IN ENGLAND!

AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TO WALK ACROSS THE TOP OF A DAM?

Sunday turned out to be another perfect day with temperatures in the high sixties.  So it was a perfect day to tackle the Twisted Sisters.  This route is approximately 100 miles long and takes in ranch roads 335, 336, and 337 in this part of the Texas hill country.  The route is somewhat of a challenge, particularly two up on a trike, but it was well worth it.  The scenery was just outstanding.  My only wish is that it would have been spring when the wildflowers here would have just added to the beauty.  

Just to add to the already neat ride, we happen to stop for a couple of photos, and guess what appeared.

WHERE'S WILEY COYOTE?!

As part of our Twisted Sisters trip, we stopped at the legendary Garven Store.  Here you can buy everything from 30 kinds of jerky to souvenir shirts.

ANOTHER SCENIC VIEW FROM THE TRIKE

GARVEN STORE WITH WATCH ROOSTER!

DON'T MESS WITH THE WATCH ROOSTER!

We really enjoyed the Texas hill country, and we plan to return there again since there is a lot more to see and ride.  Now we are looking forward to getting some riding in with our friends here in the Florida panhandle.

TRIP UPDATE 2

We left Denver a day later (Tuesday) than we had planned due to the snow storm in the area.  Bob is getting too old (smart) now to drive in snowstorms! The snowstorm and the government shut down cost us our visit to the Carlsbad Caverns, so we  headed for Roswell, NM, as our overnight stop.  On the way south of Denver we saw some different country.  Julie took some photos.  Here's a couple.

We arrived in Roswell and spent Tuesday night there and met some of the more famous residents.

JULIE TRADED BOB IN FOR A BETTER LOOKING SPECIES!

THIS ONE HELPS CHANGE TIRES!

After leaving Roswell on Wednesday, we went "trucking" for Fredricksburg, TX.  On our way through Texas, we passed through an area of the state where trucks and oil rigs are king.

One time while we were on our way through the oil fields, we had to stop for highway repair.  I'll bet we sat there for an hour waiting for our lane to open, and I know at least 200 semi oil tankers went by us in the open lane!
We made it to Fredricksburg, TX, on Wednesday night and actually unloaded the trike and did some riding in the Texas hill country on Thursday afternoon.  It was a little chilly (lower 60's), but the scenery was incredible.
It rained all day on Friday which actually worked out well for us, because the main reason for coming to Texas was to visit the Pacific War Museum and the Admiral Chester Nimitz Museum.  Fredricksburg is where Nimitz was born, so it was only fitting that the museums be located there.  Nimitz has always been one of my heroes.  In my opinion he did more to win the war in the Pacific than McArthur ever did and with a lot less ego!  If you are interested in the WWII war in the Pacific, then you really need to visit these museums.  They are exceptionally well done!

A TRIBUTE TO THE SULLIVAN BROTHERS

NOTICE THE REFERENCE TO THE MOTORCYCLE CLUB IN THE LETTER

ADMIRAL NIMITZ IS A LOT TALLER THAN I THOUGHT!

Saturday afternoon and Sunday turned out to be beautiful, so we rode the famous Twisted Sisters. We relocated to Kerryville to be closer to the routes I was given. I have ridden the Dragon and the Pig Trail, but from a scenery standpoint, Twisted Sister tops both of them.  I'll try to get more details on them and some more on the museums in the next report. On Monday morning we will be departing for Panama City Beach with an overnight stop near Baton Rouge first.  Hope the weather is better for you guys back in Iowa!

TRIP UPDATE

When we left Waukon last Saturday, it was 15 below with a wind chill of 30 below.  Hopefully things have improved back there since then.  After leaving Waukon and heading for Denver, our first stop was in Grand Island, Nebraska, where we were greeted with several inches of snow on Sunday morning.

OUTSIDE THE MOTEL SUNDAY MORNING

On Sunday morning we drove in some sloppy and sometimes slick conditions on I80.  The conditions got a lot better after North Platte and were fine then all the rest of the way into Denver.
We are presently still in Denver spoiling the grand kids.  We plan to head south on Monday morning, but they are expecting a major winter storm in this area, so we'll have to see.  Our next scheduled stop from here is Roswell, NM, and then onto see the Carlsbad Caverns.
I did get the trike out yesterday since it was 67 degrees here in Denver.  I decided to take a ride that I had been putting off for a while.  That was riding down the entire length of Colfax Avenue, known as the longest commercial street in the US.  It has also been known as longest, wickedest street in America!  Needless to say it was an interesting trip.  Colfax ends just short of the mountains in Golden.  Here's a couple of shots at the end of Colfax.

I certainly hope the weather improves for you WNR back in Iowa, and I'll try to keep you posted on our journey.  Also, I think Jim & Cathy should be back from Texas by now.  Hopefully we will get to ride some of the same roads they did when we get down there.

DRAG-A-LEG UPDATE

After receiving the OK on my knee last Thursday (I still have to do some knee exercises for stiffness), we will be heading out on our winter journey on Saturday, the 13th if the weather cooperates.  Since I lost my brother and mother this past fall, we didn't get a chance to spend the holidays with the kids.  So the first stop on our journey will be out to Denver for a few days with the trike in tow.  From there the plan is to head south through New Mexico and possibly stop at Carlsbad Caverns.  From there the plan is to get to the Pacific War Museum in Fredricksburg, Texas.  Hopefully while we are in the Texas hill country we will be able to do some riding.  Although recently the weather in that area has been more like it has been here!
We then plan to journey across the southern US and arrive at the condo rental in Panama City Beach, Florida.  Hopefully the cold weather will be chased out of there by then, and we will be able to do some riding with our GWRRA friends during the month of February.
The first of March our journey will take us to Hartsville, SC (near Darlington) to visit with Julie's sister and maybe ride the trike and play some golf around there.  Our next stop will be Charlotte, SC where we will board a plane (flying sardine can) and fly into San Juan, PR, where we will board a cruise ship with Gold Wing riders from all over the country and cruise the caribbean for seven days (March 10-17).  We should arrive back in the US around the 19th and hopefully be back in northeast Iowa around the 21st.  Again, all of this depends on weather and I'll try to post some photos of our adventures here on the blog.

PMS MEETING
Since we won't be back until later in March, I set the date for our annual PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) meeting to be on March 28th at Rossville.  (If I don't make it back in time, Chuckles is in charge!)  If you have behaved yourself during this past year then you will be getting an invitation to the meeting and a 2018 ride schedule in the mail.  If you haven't behaved yourself and don't get an invitation, come anyway!  Here's a couple of shots from PMS 2016.

And finally, LET IT BE A SHORT WINTER!!