TEXAS Hill Country

[Rpbump]

I'm planning on riding to Kileen to visit a friend and his wife. The 3 of us are going to spend 5 days or so riding in the hill country. My schedule is flexible enough that I can go either prior to 16 May or after that date ( I'm a voluteer for the annual Ride into History on 16 May). Is the weather in May better early in the month, later in the month, or fairly consistant during the month?
Ride Safe :usa :usa

[Manfred]

Early welcome to the state!:burnout

I lived in Killeen for a couple years 25 years ago - it's changed a wee bit. But there are lots of good roads to ride near Killeen - you will enjoy your time here.

The weather in Texas in May is constant - constantly questionable. Nobody can count any weather - except the absence of snow.:jester

[henzilla]

I am no weatherman nor do I play one on TV....that said... I am west of Austin/North of San Antonio and here is our deal.

The weather has been so inconsistent the past few years. June is supposed to be our "wet" month and last year did not rain once . The fronts swing thru this time of year sometimes bringing t-storms, but they don't linger more than a day or overnight. I would go with the early May as some long term predictions actually say we may have rain by late May. The temps have been warmer than average, but fantastic nonetheless.
Other opinions may differ,so stand by!

[hlothery]

I agree with Steve.......the only constant in Texas weather is that if you hang around for a few minutes, it will probably change. However, May is usually a great riding month, with cooler temps (although you may have to dodge a thunderstrom or two). Have a great time in the Hill Country......several of us can suggest some routes if you would like.

[Rpbump]

I will be leaving FL for TX 02 May and plan on being back home on the 9th of May.
Special points of interest (scenic/historical) and good places to eat out in the country would be appreciated. Ride Safe :usa :usa

[henzilla]

If you are coming in I-10, I would swing NW in Beaumont onto TX 105, then on TX 6 and US 190 into Killeen. You'll get a taste of piney woods north of Beaumont and pass thru edge of Sam Houston Natl' Forest. Just a sane way to avoid going thru Houston and a more scenic trip.

The scenery picks up after leaving Killeen and headed SW near Burnet on US 281 nearing the Highland Lakes chain. Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls is home cooking and pie heaven. They also own a place on the river across the highway about a block south...River City Grill...kind of a Chili's knockoff, but the outdoors deck is nice.

South from there any FM or RR state road headed west from 281 is nice, and the spring flowers ought to be more abundant by then...we hope! Fredericksburg has the Nimitz Museum downtown, LBJ National Park, Enchanted Rock State Park nearby as well as some excellent back roads ...Depends on how much riding you want to do as there are lot's of options. The Three Sisters loop of RR 335,336,337 west of San Antonio near Leakey is a top rated destination and is about an hour or so from F'Burg if you head down Hwy 16,which gets really fun after Kerrville towards Bandera...Check out some of Beerteams Ride reports in his thread OldSchooling on the LoneStar Trail...he has ridden a lot of these areas the last month or two and something may catch your eye...his last few posts were from Big Bend, so start near the first post to see him work his way south from Central TX. PM me if you want more food/historical options as well...

Enjoy the trip!

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32967

[TexanRT]

Fredericksburg has the Nimitz Museum downtown, LBJ National Park, Enchanted Rock State Park nearby as well as some excellent back roads

The BlueBonnet Cafe in Marble Falls is known for its Pie Happy Hour and good food. Also near Marble Falls is Park Road No. 4 connecting 281 and 29 -- its not nearly long enough, but it's lots of fun. There's also a the Longhorn Caverns State Park along Park Road No. 4.

http://www.longhorncaverns.com/

There's a famous Texas Bar B Que in Llano called Cooper's (?) just west of 16 along highway 29. Java Ranch in Fredericksburg is a good place for a meal or coffee -- but pricey. Between Llano and Fredericksburg is the Willow City Loop -- a favorite slow meandering ride through the countryside with some interesting scenery. Lots of people visit Luckenbach, TX near Fredericksburg. There's the "Old No. 9" road or the "Old San Antonio" road running between 290 and 473 where the "Bat Tunnel" park is located. "Old No. 9" is one of our favorite runs in the area.

http://www.fredericksburgtexas-online.com/ftobattunnel.html

Depends on how much riding you want to do as there are lot's of options. The Three Sisters loop of RR 335,336,337 west of San Antonio near Leakey is a top rated destination and is about an hour or so from F'Burg if you head down Hwy 16,which gets really fun after Kerrville towards Bandera...

Hwy 16 between Kerrville and Bandera is great. Stop in Medina for pie at the Apple Orchard Cafe -- recommended by a friend, we stopped by last weekend for some of the freshest apple pie around. The Three Sisters Loop is HIGHLY recommended. That's some of the best riding in the Hill Country. Despite the great riding weather, this past Saturday, the bike traffic was relatively light. I did see several groups of GS riders, though -- something we don't get lots of around Houston. Some other roads that we rode this past weekend were 470 connecting Bandera with 187. Hwy 187 from Utopia to Hwy 39 is a nice ride, too.

Check out some of Beerteams Ride reports in his thread OldSchooling on the LoneStar Trail...he has ridden a lot of these areas the last month or two and something may catch your eye http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=32967

Definitely check out Beerteams ride report -- I kept passing places last weekend that he'd photographed for his report. There are lots of places to stop and admire the scenery and lots of roads that follow or cross the creeks and rivers in the area. And you won't find friendlier people than in small towns like Medina and Bandera. Unfortunately, there hasn't been much rain in the area so there weren't lots of wildflowers blooming on this trip. (There were actually more BlueBonnets along FM390 near Houston) Otherwise, it was another great Hill Country run.

This was our first weekend ride on the 1200RT. Loaded down and riding two-up the bike performed great -- riding Friday through Sunday we clocked 1018 miles and averaged 46.1 MPG. And lots of fun in the twisties! :)

Edit: But I can't wait for my R. Mayer seat due mid-April. :)

[Rpbump]

Thanks Steve & TexanRT. Two friends, two wheels, great roads, scenery, history, and eats, what more can a rider ask for? Ride Safe :usa :usa

[henzilla]

Thanks Steve & TexanRT. Two friends, two wheels, great roads, scenery, history, and eats, what more can a rider ask for? Ride Safe :usa :usa

another linky...some of the rides are rated by cruisers which make me chuckle as I used to be one.Not that there's anything wrong with that of course! Some are not complete day loops as we do them since some folks make a several day ride out of it.

http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/SouthWest/TX/TX_index.htm

[Rpbump]

Only 2 more work days until I leave for the Texas Hill Country. Thanks for the input on places to visit, scenic by-ways, and of course places to eat. After sampling the Hill Country I will take the long way home to Jacksonville as I'm going to visit an Aunt in Tupelo, MS. Riding up the Natchez Trace from Jackson to Tupelo and then down across Alabama to Georgia and then Florida should be a fitting end to an eleven day 2 wheel vacation. Ride Safe :usa :usa

[firefly]

Have fun!! (like I had to say that!)

(I rode up the Natchez Trace a few years ago (in the rain). I plan on getting back up that way sometime in the next few years to enjoy it in the DRY weather. )

ENJOY!

[Rpbump]

Left Jacksonville 0830 Sat morning, stopped overnite in Beaumont Sat evening and got into Copperas Cove, TX about 1430 Sun. Great weather the whole time except for about 60 miles of rain just west of Houston. Went west on 190 today to Lampasas to the YUMM Factory for breakfast and then from Lampasas out 580 to 501 to Cherokee/Rt 16 up to Goldthwaite to 572 to 1047 to 581 and back to Lampasas. Had lunch in Goldthwaite at The Peabody. Perfect riding weather all day long, great scenery, and excellant roads. JR road his Triumph twin and was a more than capable riding companion / guide for my first foray into the Hill Country. Looking at a large scale map I can see that truly covering the "Hill" country will see me returning to TX yearly for at least 1 week over a period of many years.
Ride safe :usa :usa :wave

[PMonk]

In Medina visit the Cafe and apple store. http://www.lovecreekorchards.com/

Can't miss it even if I didn't get the name right. All the bikes will be there. The Jalepeno bun cheesburger is out of this world and finish it off with their apple pie, strudels, other pastries with apple flavored soft serve ice cream. My favorite stop in the hill country. Another great stop is the antique motorcycle museum at Vanderpool. www.lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com

[Rpbump]

Arrived back home in FL yesterday. Sampled many roads Mon>Fri from Hico, to Llano, to Marble Falls always returning to Copperas Cove. Many thanks to my hosts and riding companions James & Ingrid Ruble. After researching large scale maps of the hill country I know that I've only scratched the surface of places to see and memorable places to eat. In 10 days and 3215.6 miles there was only approx 60 minutes of rain. What a GREAT TRIP.
Ride Safe :usa :usa

[mcrenshaw]

Have to agree that the Hill Country has some great rides. My fiancee' and I mounted up in early April and left Fort Worth for our annual Spring Wildflower ride. Because of the continuing drought there were not many flowers west of I-35. We rode the Three Sisters near Leakey and and from Lampassas to Bandera I've never seen so many four legged casualties on the side of the road. Food and water have been very scarce this year and the deer were wandering the roadsides during daylight hours.

It wasn't until we got to Brenham, east of Austin, that we really got into the flowers. If you're coming again next year please check out the roads north of Hwy 290 in Brenham. Washington County was terrific and there is a really cool little 10 mile road that runs between Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park. April is generally the best time for the bluebonnets and indian paint brush.

Ya'll come back now.