2018-19 Southwest

Mark, Debi and DiDi
Head South to Warmer Weather
2018--2019

X-mas this year would be spent away from home for me and Debi............this was the first time in our
lives we would be spending the holidays away from home.

My wife Debi.......we have been married for 44 years.
We hauled our 2 bicycles, one dual-sport motorcycle and a scooter in a trailer behind our motorhome.

We headed South for hopefully warmer weather and after spending a couple nites with our good friends Scott
and Sheri Williams in Oklahoma---what a nice time we had there----than you both so much..
We headed further South To Mineral Wells State Park in Texas and spent a couple days
there hiking and bicycling. We had left home in Illinois in a light snowstorm and it felt so
good down here. To get into the campground the only rode in took you right along and below
the dam----so if water was going over the dam, you drove right thru it.

The lure for us coming here was the great hiking and bicycling.
We rode right out of the park and got on an old railroad bed that went for 20 miles to
Weatherford, Texas. It was beautiful---we have ridden old railroad beds a lot around
the country. They always go thru the backcountry and there is no vehicle traffic to worry about.

The dirt road to it was steep with many switchbacks----Debi was a little skeert but did fine.
My bike was more of and offroad bicycle than hers so this was a hoot for me.

The old railroad route went over several bridges.

The trail surface was great........really small gravel that was compacted well.
This could be ridden on a bike with skinny tires.

It was a bit cool out--------but I wore shorts anyway.

Getting back to the state park we hiked to this deep canyon.
Debi is a happy camper and really enjoying the ride and hike.

Short Video

Riding out of Kerrville, Texas
Next up..... we drove to Kerrville, Texas and camped at the city park there which use to be a state park.
And it was there I got out my Honda Rally dualsport motorcycle and went for a ride in the Hill Country of Texas.

And looky who joined me---my Oklahoma buddy Scott Williams--better know as "High Five"
in the offroad motorcycle world.

I led this day---Scott would lead tomorrow.
We saw some awesome stuff----and I had to turn around and get a picture of these Santa
Clause heads on top of the fence posts.............after all.........X-mas was around the corner.

It really got nippy later in the day and Scott had not packed his cold weather gear
as it was warm when we started riding----so a snack and warm up was in order in
Camp Wood, Texas

We shivered into the little cafe and were greeted by this young man who was running a
hot chocolate stand. We couldn't resist------he was such a nice boy and we left him a big tip.
We also ate there---great food.

Getting back close to Kerrville we stopped at the Texas version of Stonehenge.

The next day
Scott led today-------me and him have both ridden down here a lot.
And we took each other to places the other one hadn't been---it was great.
Here we stopped at an overlook to an old railroad tunnel. It's actually a state park
Bats fly out of this tunnel each evening and I'm told it's a spectacular site.

This old wagon was covered in X-mas lites.
We wished we could have seen it at nite.

Just North of the old tunnel was the tiny town of Luckenback.
I was dissapointed by the population growth of it---they now have 3 people.

Willy was hangin' around.

These 2 days of riding we had to cross 50 creeks--------most easy..........some kinda of scary.
High Five was riding his favorite dual sport bike--a Husqvarna 650 Terra.

None of the crossings were slick thankfully.
There is a crossing down here called the James river crossing that is the slickest thing
I've ever seen. Me and High Five have both been to it years ago-----he made it---I didn't.

Now that's some nice dirt.
It was pretty cool out today also---but we were prepared and ran heated gear all day
and were toasty warm.

This is the Sandy Creek crossing. The last time High Five rode thru here the water was over
the wheels of his trusty KLR.
15 miles before we crossed this creek we passed a permanent sign (not a temporary one) that
said the road was close at Sandy creek---------well, not for us !!!!!!!

Again I had to snicker at the site of these old cowboy boots on top of the fence posts.
They went for about a mile.

Short Video

My Son Marty
On this trip we had no exact travel plans except one.
Spend X-mas with my brother Blaine and my son who lives in Austin.
It's not X-mas yet and we are camped in Kerrville........... so Marty comes to visit and we get
the Bicycles out. It's a family tradition between me and my son to give the "Fonzy" thumbs
up when getting your picture taken.

This started at a very early age.
Me and Marty in 1978

We rode a cool city bicycle route for miles along the Guadalupe river in Kerrville.
And done alot of things his mom and my wife told us "not to do"

This bridge crossing the river is only about 2 feet wide---kind of spooked me.
You couldn't stop---there was no place to put your foot!!
We probably weren't supposed to do this... But maybe she won't see these pictures.

Lots of moochers everywhere........and they were persistent.

My wife luvs to pose---------and she's good at it.
Be prepared for lots of tree poses.

Our little dog DiDi luvs to pose too.

But----we all aren't as young as we use to be !!!!

Debi went and done laundry at the campground.
The bicycles were very handy for errands--------they are electric by the way.
Like I said-----we aren't as young as we use to be.

So it's Debi's turn to go on a bicycle ride---along the river she finds rocks-------she luvs rocks.
Ever see the movie "The Long Long Trailer" ????
I think there are a few rocks in our motorhome.

Didi luvs to go too.

Well I know what it looks like----but I'm not.
Did make me want to pee tho.

We had a hoot here trying to get "not" wet.

This was made of a jillion small tiles---some had artistic carvings on them.

Back at camp.
In this picture is "EVERYTHING" I need.
I think we stayed here about a week.
There are some great mountain bike trails right out of the camgpround.
I rode them all.
Notice Didi is tuckered out.

It was my civic duty to make sure Debi had a campfire at night.........and in the morning.

Short Video

We left Kerrville
We headed towards X-mas in Georgetown------but it took us several days to go that 150 miles.
Debi had never been to Luckenbach, Texas and I wanted for her to experience Luckenbach.
And she found.............stuff.

We listened to these 2 guys in the bar---playing by the woodstove.
They were very good. After a bit I just picked up a guitar hanging on the wall and just barged
my way into the band. They were constantly cracking jokes between playing and were a lot of fun.
So I said.........."I'm going to start playing a song and you guys just play along"
So I kicked off a well known song my Willie Nelson called "On The Road Again" which has a
distictive guitar intro that I knew they would instantly recognize---after all this is Luckenbach.
So they.......being the funny guys they were started singing the National Anthem---it was Hilarious.
And then the playing got serious as we did "On The Road Again"----and I'm sure they were surprised
as I took the lead part-------just the way Willie did it.

I can't remember this roosters name.
But he definitely rules the roost in Luckenbach.

My wife and Willie shared a "SMOKE"

We walked around and there were some huge trees in Luckenbach.

I warned you.

A bargain at five cents.

Both these guys were polished musicians and singers.
The guy in black had rubbed elbows with all the old country stars.
He was as good as any of them.

I love Johnson, Texas
The nice officer didn't give me a ticket for running a red light and wished us a Merry X-mas.
It was so funny----------Debi leans over me and tells the officer it was all here fault as she was pointing
at stuff she wanted me to see in Johnson, Texas. I'm sure he got a cackle out of that.

Where the hell we at now ???? Let's not miss x-mas dinner.
Camped at Pedernales state Park West of Georgetown, Texas.

So--------I proceed to have a flat on my bicycle which I'm well prepared to fix---------and did.

We made friends with "John"------I think that was his name.
He had built the neatest homemade little camper
He had it decorated with X-mas lites---it was cool to see it at nite.

We took a long hike here---down to Pedernales Falls

The hiking trail

I had read about this place and had looked at the map of trails and couldn't wait to ride across this
low water crossing I saw on the map---with 5 miles of trail on the other side.

I chickened out-----I had a very bad experience earlier this year riding the Mid Atlantic Discovery Route
on my motorcycle crossing deep fast moving water. It didn't turn out well.

Back at camp---DiDi was always on guard.
Don't let this picture fool you--she can hear a mouse fart at 50 yards.

Next Day
We rode our bicycles on the paved roads to the trail that went to a swimming hole on the Pedernales river.
Debi insisted we chain up our electric bikes.

The Hike

Debi bet me 5 dollars to skinny dip in the water...........she don't know how close I came to doing that
but a hiker showed up---------she never pays her bets anyway.

Tree pose number 97

New Campsite
Cedar Breaks Campground just West of Georgetown, Texas where my brother lives and where we'd spend X-mas.
This lady was a sweetheart----a happier lady I never met.

This campground is right on Georgetown Lake and since were old------we camp for cheap.
I like cheap---we stayed here a few days. Good Bicycling as you'll see.

I've got it made------a lot of people do-----but don't know it..........I know it.

There is a 27 mile hiking trail around the Lake----we hiked "some" of it.
I thought I'd ride it on my electric mountain bike,.....but some of this trail was too rough for me.

I'm incapable of knowing how to set my camera to get a good moon picture.
It didn't look like this at all.

So Looky who shows up for a good meal...........Marty our son drives over from Austin and spends more time with us.

"Hey Dad..........can I trade you mom's lolly gag bike for your awesome mountan bike for awhile" ?????

I don't think so son---get away from my bike

This Dam road use to open to traffic but is now closed and is actually part of the 26 Mile
trail around the lake.

Below the Dam

Looky who is riding 'MY" bike now. So I'm on the lollygag bike................me no likey.

Next Day

Marty takes me and Debi in his car to a trail head and we hike some of the river trail.

I say Marty is my favorite son...........he's says I'm his favorite dad !!!

Next Day
I take Debi on the river trail---and some of it is over her riding skill and I have to help out a bit.

We ride much farther today than me and Marty did----------and it is awesome with many river crossings.

Short Video

X-mas

Me and Debi drive the motorhome to my brothers house in Georgetown, Texas
X-mas dinner......his wife Peggy is a superb cook---and I am a superb eater.
This is a long over due get together as me and my brother rarely see each other.

Debi helps out with the cooking---her and Peg have a great time.

They have a little yorky too----but Didi never warmed up to Joey much.
What a great picture. Joey used to be Marty's dog but he didn't have time to have a dog
with his traveling job.

Mason Texas
We stopped in the cool little town of Mason and it had a really neat square with an old courthouse.
Debi did some shopping for hats---and got some bargains. And of course has to pose.

Where we headed next Mark ???------asks Debi.
South, Southwest ...hell I don't know.
I pick a cool little backroad that I don't know if I should have tried---it was awesome.
We poke along at 40mph-----they ain't nobody out here.

I navigate around ..........not thru Del Rio and I find a Pecos river overlook East of Langtry, Texas.

This bridge over the Pecos river is the highest bridge in Texas and is about 1,600 foot long.
Built in 1957---it was not the original.......the original was a mile South and was destroyed by
high water---I think it was built in 1923 ??? google it.

We had passed by Seminole Canyon state park-------and having not been there, we went back and camped.
We did not want to leave and stayed 2 days I think.

We went on a very long tuff hike along the canyon rim and Didi wanted to go.

The bridge behind us was called "The bridge to the past".........don't remember why.......google it.
The trail was called the canyon rim trail-------I do remember that.
We dressed for a cool hike---------but it warmed up and we eventually had to shed our jackets.

This plant was right beside the little wooden walking bridge and was so pretty.

Poor DiDi got tired and became a limp rag. I guess I would have tired too if my legs were 5 inches long.

Debi got artistic and built a rock schulptor---however you spell that.

Back at our campsite.
It was a primitive site with no typical RV hookups but it was way better than the electric sites.
We were self contained and can camp like this for days.
By the way------that hike wore all of us out---we slept good.

The View from our campsite.
That is Mexico in the distance.

Click--Part 2