My long weekend had been spent clearing dead trees and other exciting property related tasks, but I swore I'd go riding on Monday, Memorial Day, come rain or shine...
Oddly enough, I got both rain and shine come Monday, with the day hot and windy, intermixed with rainfall from some billowy and puffy white clouds. Texas weather for sure.
It was baking hot by the time I set out for an afternoon’s ride, generally feeling the need to end up in Fredericksburg at the end of the day for dinner.
There's an excellent little back road from Kerrville to Fredericksburg, known as "Old Centerpoint Road" and it's a nice change from the flat and traffic laden Hwy 16. From Kerrville, one catches Cypress Creek Road aka FM 1341 which eventually leads to Old Centerpoint Road. FM 1341 is a great road in itself, sort of a mini-version of one of the 3 Sisters near Leakey, at least for a bit. There are lots of twists, curves and hills, albeit on a smaller scale, but it’s a nice ride.
A few miles down FM 1341, at a low water bridge you can see a stone building off to the right. This is the “Cypress Creek Community Center”, which used to be a one room school house if I remember correctly. It's worth a stop to sit under the big oak tree and think back on history. Though it sounds slightly romantic, in reality I was hot and had a vicious leg cramp and this was a perfect place to sit in the shade and cool down.
Cypress Creek Community Center
Continuing on FM 1341 will lead you under I-10, and a few hundred yards past the freeway a blacktop road turns sharply off to the left. From the Kerrville side there is a sign that says "Hassenwinkle Road" with another sign that simply says "YMCA Camp". This is the Old Centerpoint Road that leads to Fredericksburg.
It's a great little narrow country lane that winds through farms and pastures, crossing a few cattle guards and meandering through country scenery. The only traffic you may see is a farm truck or 4-wheeler heading to a pasture, but the road also passes through loose livestock areas, so be aware of the occasional cattle or goat herds.
A perfect picture of why you ride aware in the hill country… Note the cow by the bush and the deer running from the other side.
Riding in the hill country is always full of surprises (deer) and one should (deer) always be on your toes (deer) and alert (deer) and today was no different. For some reason, at dead noon in 100º+ heat, the suckers were out in full form, lurking behind bushes, just waiting to race out with fawns in tow. They were out in droves for some reason.
Though Old Centerpoint Rd leads directly to Fredericksburg, I decided to cut over to Luckenbach and see what wasn't happening.
Bear Creek Road splits off of Centerpoint Road towards Luchenbach so I took a right, continuing on the nice narrow blacktop road until reaching Hwy 87 for a short jog up to Grape Creek Road. Grape Creek was a nice easy ride, with a section that was unpaved, a little silty and freshly graveled, but contained no big surprises.
Grape Creek Road hits Old Highway No. Nine and then Grapetown/Luckenbach Road. I'm surprised it isn't called "Old Grape Creek Road".
After sitting in the 100º heat for 15 minutes waiting for the Stop sign to turn green, I got mad and ran it.
Turning left on Old No. Nine on my Old GS and and getting Older as I rode, I found the Old German farmstead of Ferdinand Hohenberger, a beautiful example of an Old German farm.
One of the enjoyable aspects of the hill country is the old farms that date back to the establishment of the German immigrant community in the mid 1800’s. Here and there on old backroads you’ll spot an old stone building or barn, though many like this place are historic sites.
Old German engineering and new German engineering - both built to last.
A little ways past the Hohenberger Farmstead, Luckenbach Road turned off to the right and eventually connected with FM 1376. A short jog to the right led to the road into Hondo Crouch's little bit o' heaven.
I hadn't been there in a few years and it seemed to have grown some. Especially the prices. There were plenty of motorcycles parked around and I grabbed a cold drink and cooled off from the sweltering heat in the shade of the oaks. Luckenbach is a bit touristy, but I like it and it makes a good spot to ride to where one can cool off and listen to some Texas music. At least it doesn’t take itself seriously.
There were the usual tourists wandering aimlessly, doing what everyone does in Luckenbach - not much... except for taking a picture by the post office sign.
Out back there was a good band playing with folks enjoying themselves. I sat in the cowboy hat section.
The cat had the right idea and didn't move a muscle the entire time I was there.
After cooling down with a few gallons of ice tea I headed for Willow City, taking Luckenbach Road to Hwy 290 and then Jung Lane over to FM 1631.
The heat was atrocious but it still felt great to be on the bike. The old saying "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun" came to mind. They need to add "GS riders" as well.
Jung Lane led north to FM 1631 where I was able to open the bike up and cool down a bit in the hot breeze.
Cave Creek Church
Nearing Willow City, I turned off to follow the signs to Rheingold School and eventually found the deserted old school house and community center.
Needless to say, I was alone in the midday heat, with not an Englishman or mad dog in sight so I snooped around a bit...
This reminds me of the spider motel in Cody...
Waltz across Texas with me... my dancing partner is a fat German gal named GehlandStrasse.
From the old school I continued to FM 1323 and Willow City, pretty dehydrated from the hot wind. I was desperate for a cold drink, so I swung into the parking lot of Harry's and hid under a short tree.
Hearing VERY strange noises coming from inside, I changed my mind about going in and decided to head on over to Crabapple on Eckert Road off Highway 16.
Another nice and easy ride through farmland and pastures.
Unfortunately, just past "Rabke's Deer Processing", the bridge was closed for rebuilding and I had to reverse back to Hwy 16.
Stuck truck
Beat from the heat and surrendering to my growling stomach, I lead-wristed it down Hwy 16 to Fredericksburg to find a cold drink, some shade and good German food.
Being Memorial Day, I feared the teeming, sweaty masses of tourists who would be lumbering aimlessly about the town. I was pleasantly surprised to find relatively few masses and teeming was minimal. The heat must have taken its toll on the tourists.
I sat in the shade out front of Silver Creek Grill and watched the touristas stroll past while enjoying the breeze from several large fans on the patio.
The. sausage sampler and bottomless ice tea were the perfect combo until the sun and heat began to ease for a late ride back to my house on the river.
A perfect way to end the day!
The route:
5.26.2008