We spent most of yesterday riding in severe weather...although it had stopped to a drizzle near Austin, it continued to rain sporadically all eve. We took a cab to Stubb's for BBQ and walked 6th street. Although there was a good deal of live music, it seemed to be of the head banging variety, which didn't interest me at all. I heard one decent blues guitar. Sorry Kelly, didn't make it to the Continental Club, that probably would have been more our speed! Somewhere along 6th street, we both hit that imaginary wall that indicates its time to give it a rest.
When planning this trip, I realized yesterday that I cut out time short in the Texas Hill country; called my Aunt and Uncle in Ft. Worth to tell them we wouldn't be in until Wednesday. We worked our way out of Austin in rush hour traffic....Jeesh, I hate traffic when trying to wrestle Bessie. 290 West lead us directly into Hill country...wide open asphalt, 75mph posted speed limit, very little if any traffic, and clear blue skies. We stopped at Dripping Springs Texas to grab a paper map of the region and decided to see the falls at Pedernales State Park. Being from Florida, I guess I expect every attraction to be crawling with people....but not the case in Texas. There were few other tourists enjoying the spectacular scenery.
I chose a loop through the area that is considered one of the 'Top100 Most Scenic Drives in America,' there are also several twistie turnies that are on the 'Top 100 Motorcycle Roads in America,' a couple of them intersect, but we will wait for the trip back through to do the ultimate ride...The Twisted Sisters. Farm roads 333, 334, & 335.
Blanco Texas is a real cowboy town, we rode through slowly but didn't stop...looked like a great place. Just before we hit 46 east, we stoppd and washed the bikes off....road dirt messes with my feng shui and its just bad Karma to ride with a dirty bike! I am amazed at the acres and acres of wildflowers growing along the highway and in the fields beyond. I'm told we are too late for the bluebonnets, but the display available is wonderful! We stop in an idyllic little town called Boerne....German, and the pristine atmosphere would indicate a dedication to precision. Its like all the buildings and homes are new; beautiful little river walk area, bakery, antique shops...we stop to hydrate. The only indication it is a Texas town are the numerous Texas stars everywhere as adornments!
We slip under I-10 on 46, grateful we are not traversing that super slab....and I feel sorry for all the vehicles whizzing by at 80mph and totally missing this gorgeous landscape. The road winds through vast ranchlands with ornate gates and names like Otter Creek Ranch, Twin Boar Ranch, Circle R Ranch....houses are hidden by copious trees. Our destination is Medina Texas...to indulge in a piece of world famous apple pie with apple cinnamon ice cream! Yes, bikers will travel hundreds of miles to enjoy a twisty turny slab of asphalt and good food.
Medina is literally a little more than a wide spot on 16; the ONLY activity in town was in front of the ramshackle Apple Store (not of the Steve Jobs variety either) which was our destination. As soon as you open the screen door with the little tinkle bell announcing your arrival, the aroma of fresh baked apple pie....OMG, I literally swoon. The shop is a dilapidated house, with gift shop, food shop, bakery, and picnic area. I announce our intentions 'we want pie.' The girls at the food shop point us in the direction of a larger than life size fresh baked still warm apple pie, sliced and ready to go. We are told to take what we want...there is homemade apple cinnamon ice cream over there, made on the premises apple cider syrup....take what you want and just pay as you leave! We both select a piece of pie....dont even think about sharing....then hone in on the ice cream machine....okay, we will share the cup of ice cream....then select a vacant table to enjoy our treat. The first bite is almost orgasmic, we both just savor the moment, there are no words to describe how good this combination is.....and when I'm finished, I literally consider another piece. I settle for a bottle of the apple cider syrup to go though.
Fortified with pie and ice cream we tackle one of the premier motorcycle roads in Texas - kin to the Twisted Sisters - 16 between Medina and Kerrville - is a twisty turny switchback challange....yee haw! I take the lead, and we rock n roll through some of the most spectacular scenery the Texas Hill Country has to offer. All along the route, there are deer.....and we don't bother them a bit...they just casually look up from munching the sweet grass as we zoom by! An hour of this spectacular road and we are in Kerrville, stop for gas and I euphoric after our ride (or else its still the sugar rush from the pie...probably a little of both)!! Its one of those rides where you get to the end and shout 'lets do that again!' We decide the day couldn't get much better than that so we should just stop right there.
A soak in the in-room hot tub, hot shower, and we were toast, barely able to walk across the street for a quick dinner.
Thank you God for safe travel today and twisty turny asphalt.
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