RTRandy
03-25-2007, 12:19 PM
Don't worry, I never heard of the place either until just last week. Westphalia is located about 18 miles east of Temple, Texas and about 85 Northeast of Austin. For the third year in a row, several of the local BMW clubs around Texas converge here on a March Saturday for lunch together. I had never been and can't tell you how it ended up here, but it was definitely a happening. BMW clubs from Houston, Austin, Ft Worth and Dallas all showed up here for lunch. Originally just my friend and I were going to ride there together, however we decided to first meet at the breakfast location of the Lone Star BMW club before the ride. Our plan was to head out ahead of the group after breakfast so we could take our time and stop and take pictures along the way. Most of my riding is always west of I-35 so this was going to be a new area for me to try. Turns out, we ended up in a group of 11 riders and rode with them all the way.
One of the draw backs to riding in a large group is you don't get to stop and take photos along the way without holding everyone else up or loosing the group. Hence no photos of the ride and only the destination. Our Tourmiester and ride leader has more track time than Collin Edwards (He's from Texas) as well as our tail gunner bringing up the rear so the ride was definitely brisk with a need to stay on one's toes the whole way. Next year I'm going back to plan A and riding there solo or with a friend to take more pictures.
The route from Dallas took us east of Waxahachie through places like Italy, Spring Hill, Kirk, and Ben Hur and yes we have a Italy, Texas and who knew we had a Ben Hur.
Surprisingly good roads having excellent surface with tons of sweepers and many tight 30 mph turns the whole way.
Below are some shots from Westphalia:
First few to show up at 8 am for breakfast in Dallas.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138474691-L.jpg
My friend Doc Hermon coming towards me after parking with the Dallas group. Trees down here are in bloom so Spring has definitely shown up down here.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138474831-L.jpg
Some of the other riders from other cities used the abandoned building back there for shelter. Not sure why since no rain in the forecast, just very cloudy. Looks like some old general store with a gas pump.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475020-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477988-L.jpg
The building on the left is where we meet to eat lunch. I'm not sure, but this may actually count for downtown Westphalia ?
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475386-L.jpg
This is confusing, but the front of the store is now the back and the back is now the front. You have to enter at the other end. This building turns 100 years old this year.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475541-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475686-L.jpg
Maybe this is indeed the original front and the road might have been in this spot.
a real time shift with someone's Boxer Cup replica parked there.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138476639-L.jpg
The entrance . . still standing.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138476839-L.jpg
Before going in, many gathered for a group photo. For those who don't know this, the Texas BMW clubs are known for the best looking riders in the entire country.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475830-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475984-L.jpg
Here's one of me and Don Mills our ride leader.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138476308-L.jpg
Let's go inside, shall we?
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477589-L.jpg
Great specials that day. And yes that's fried sausage.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477148-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477008-L.jpg
The guy next to me chose the buttered noodles for his side and the bisquit really works with the whole dish.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138478963-L.jpg
My friend Don chose to eat healthier so he went with the chicken fried steak and gravy.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138478781-L.jpg
They had some fan belts still on the wall from days gone by as well as many other things still remaining from the past
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477314-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477437-L.jpg
Finally out the back door getting reading to head home. Ride was over 400 miles yesterday.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477800-L.jpg
One of the draw backs to riding in a large group is you don't get to stop and take photos along the way without holding everyone else up or loosing the group. Hence no photos of the ride and only the destination. Our Tourmiester and ride leader has more track time than Collin Edwards (He's from Texas) as well as our tail gunner bringing up the rear so the ride was definitely brisk with a need to stay on one's toes the whole way. Next year I'm going back to plan A and riding there solo or with a friend to take more pictures.
The route from Dallas took us east of Waxahachie through places like Italy, Spring Hill, Kirk, and Ben Hur and yes we have a Italy, Texas and who knew we had a Ben Hur.
Surprisingly good roads having excellent surface with tons of sweepers and many tight 30 mph turns the whole way.
Below are some shots from Westphalia:
First few to show up at 8 am for breakfast in Dallas.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138474691-L.jpg
My friend Doc Hermon coming towards me after parking with the Dallas group. Trees down here are in bloom so Spring has definitely shown up down here.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138474831-L.jpg
Some of the other riders from other cities used the abandoned building back there for shelter. Not sure why since no rain in the forecast, just very cloudy. Looks like some old general store with a gas pump.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475020-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477988-L.jpg
The building on the left is where we meet to eat lunch. I'm not sure, but this may actually count for downtown Westphalia ?
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475386-L.jpg
This is confusing, but the front of the store is now the back and the back is now the front. You have to enter at the other end. This building turns 100 years old this year.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475541-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475686-L.jpg
Maybe this is indeed the original front and the road might have been in this spot.
a real time shift with someone's Boxer Cup replica parked there.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138476639-L.jpg
The entrance . . still standing.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138476839-L.jpg
Before going in, many gathered for a group photo. For those who don't know this, the Texas BMW clubs are known for the best looking riders in the entire country.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475830-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138475984-L.jpg
Here's one of me and Don Mills our ride leader.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138476308-L.jpg
Let's go inside, shall we?
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477589-L.jpg
Great specials that day. And yes that's fried sausage.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477148-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477008-L.jpg
The guy next to me chose the buttered noodles for his side and the bisquit really works with the whole dish.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138478963-L.jpg
My friend Don chose to eat healthier so he went with the chicken fried steak and gravy.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138478781-L.jpg
They had some fan belts still on the wall from days gone by as well as many other things still remaining from the past
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477314-L.jpg
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477437-L.jpg
Finally out the back door getting reading to head home. Ride was over 400 miles yesterday.
http://rpscott.smugmug.com/photos/138477800-L.jpg