Ride report - Fredericksburg,Tx

Well we went to Fredericksburg,Tx over the weekend and had some pretty
good riding on Saturday and Sunday. My sister-in-law and i went down
Thursday and hit town about 8pm. We checked into the hotel and unpacked
and hit hay to get some sleep and woke up about 5am Friday morning to
drizzling rain. It rained off and on all day and had high winds so we
didnt get to ride all day Friday so we drove the car around town and
went to some of the caves and the museum there in town. We ate alot of
german food. Good stuff it is.
Saturday morning was clear with no rain and about 15 other people had
shown up by then. Alot rode in Friday night and some arrived real early
Saturday morning. We had a ride scheduled to leave the hotel at 8am and
everyone that was supposed to ride was there and on time. We rode about
300 miles all down thru the hill country and saw lots of deer. The deer
were thick as flys. On one road alone we counted 65 deer either in the
fields or on the side of the roads. As far as excitement, one of our
guys had a deer run into the side of him and almost knocked him off his
bike. He was doing aprox. 75 mph when a large doe ran across the road
in front of our lead rider and a nubbing buck was right behind her. The
buck hit the 2nd rider in the left front side and caught his leg and
almost knocked him off his bike. The deer then hit his hardmount
plastic saddle bag and the bag exploded. The bags on his bike are made
to come loose if they are hit and it did. It scattered all the contents
of the bag all over the road and it killed the deer. He was very lucky
because he didnt crash his bike.
On Sunday we rode about 100 miles around town and alot of the
backroads two up with our wifes. We all had to go pretty slow because
our wifes were all freaked out about the dude hitting that deer and
there were deer out all day. We all rode over to enchanted rock and all
but a few climbed to the top. That is some climb, i was wore out when
we hit the top. We left there and went back to the hotel and loaded
everything up and checked out and headed home. We stopped in Lanno,Tx
and ate at some BBQ resturant there. We made our way back thru
Goldwaith and then on to highway 377 thru Grandbury and on to Ft.Worth.
At Ft.Worth, all the riders split off and went there seperate ways
home.
In Summary, It sucked. We all were wishing that we had went to
Mena,Ar. Thats where we normally go each year but decided to try
something different this year. If it wasnt so far and we were short on
time, we would have all loaded up and went there but it would have been
about a 11 hour ride and them women didnt want to make the trip.(next
year, no women..lol) We did ride some roads that had some pretty good
twistys but nothing compares to the Talimena highway. I think that one
spoiled us.
I am sure i will think of more stuff and will add later. This is just
a quick run down because i have to be in a meeting in 5 more minutes.

Safe Riding,
Redshad

 

‘‘Well we went to Fredericksburg,Tx over the weekend and had
some pretty good riding on Saturday and Sunday. My sister-in-law and i
went down Thursday and hit town about 8pm. We checked into the hotel and
unpacked and hit hay to get some sleep and woke up about 5am
(redshad)

(BJAY here)First I wanna say, nice bike report, very interesting.
Now, you and your sis-in'law, checked in to a hotel, and hit the hay?
And, I'm assuming you trailored the motorbike? Bjay


  ‘‘Saturday morning was clear with no rain and about 15 other
people had shown up by then. Alot rode in Friday night and some arrived
real early Saturday morning. We had a ride scheduled to leave the hotel
at 8am and everyone that was supposed to ride was there and on time. We
rode about 300 miles all down thru the hill country and saw lots of
deer. The deer were thick as flys. On one road alone we counted 65 deer
either in the fields or on the side of the roads.’’ redshad!
BJAY here): Lots of deer, wow! I guess so, my god, 65 deer or
more? Lawdy, I would have rode another direction, or something? I have
never hurd of anyone ever reporting seeing that many, even truck
drivers, that I know? That is incredicbly amazing to me. bjay!

‘‘As far as excitement, one of our guys had a deer run
into the side of him and almost knocked him off his bike. He was doing
aprox. 75 mph when a large doe ran across the road in front of our lead
rider and a nubbing buck was right behind her. The buck hit the 2nd
rider in the left front side and caught his leg and almost knocked him
off his bike. The deer then hit his hardmount plastic saddle bag and the
bag exploded.’’ redshad!

BJAY here): Excitement, thats quite an understatement, above!!
Golllyee, the deer, that could weigh, what, 200 lbs, hits the guy,
squarely, and the talented/lucky rider, doesnt panic and loose control,
and crash into the grassy ditch and be slung off, and hurt badly,is
amazing. I reckon the bags exploding was the key factor, maybe?
Excitement, I should say so!! (grin) bjay


‘‘The bags on his bike are made to come loose if they are hit
and it did. It scattered all the contents of the bag all over the road
and it killed the deer. He was very lucky because he didnt crash his
bike.’’ redshad !!

BJAY here): yes, very lucky, I'm sure he thanks his lucky
stars!!

  ‘‘On Sunday we rode about 100 miles around town and alot of
the backroads two up with our wifes. We all had to go pretty slow
because our wifes were all freaked out about the dude hitting that deer
and there were deer out all day.’’
Redshad!!

BJAY here): Wives, hell, I imagine half of the riders, were leary,
and still spooked, the rest of the day, I know I would. I have never
encounter even seeing a deer, in all these lucky years of riding, I
recollect, thankfully speaking!


‘‘We all rode over to enchanted rock and all but a few
climbed to the top. That is some climb, i was wore out when we hit the
top. We left there and went back to the hotel and loaded everything up
and checked out and headed home. We stopped in Lanno,Tx and ate at some
BBQ resturant there. We made our way back thru Goldwaith and then on to
highway 377 thru Grandbury and on to Ft.Worth. At Ft.Worth, all the
riders split off and went there seperate ways home.’’

BJAY here): Thank goodness, ya'll were able to salvage a nice
time, on yalls annual ride event. BBQ always simmers a Biker down,
somewhat. Heehee bjay


  ‘‘In Summary, It sucked. We all were wishing that we had went
to Mena,Ar. Thats where we normally go each year but decided to try
something different this year. If it wasnt so far and we were short on
time, we would have all loaded up and went there but it would have been
about a 11 hour ride and them women didnt want to make the trip.(next
year, no women..lol) We did ride some roads that had some pretty good
twistys but nothing compares to the Talimena highway. I think that one
spoiled us.’’ redshad!

BJAY here): I would imagine. We've rode the Talimena Ride about
15 times, I bet. BTW, the only wild animal we ever saw on that ride, was
a brown Bear. He was in the road, maybe 100 yards a head, and we eased
up, but he bolted. The Ranger at Wilamena lodge, said He'd been working
the area for a few years, and never saw a Bear. Bears, are not as quick,
as deers, so don't think they would ever jump out in front of a vehicle.
(grin)


  ‘‘I am sure i will think of more stuff and will add later.
This is just a quick run down because i have to be in a meeting in 5
more minutes.’’

(Safe Riding,)
(Redshad)

BJAY): Well, hopefully you'll think of more stuff, and share
again with us fellow motorcyclist on this great group! bjay

'Ya'll take care'' --BJAY--

 

Yes me and my sister-in-law got a room with two queen beds because my
wife was comming down friday with her parents. My sister in law is a
cheap wad so she wanted to split a room with us to cut down on her
cost. She rides motorcycles also and it was her idea to leave a day
early.

We did trailer down there because we carried alot of luggage. I carried
my wifes luggage as well as my own and my sister in laws. I have a
little ninja 250cc bike that i wanted to bring as well as my V-Star
650. I have a three bike trailer so it makes it real simple. We did
ride the bikes back home and i loaded up the ninja 250 and my wife
pulled it back home.

Man i have never seen so many deer in my life. I guess the deer were
all stired up because bow season is open now. We saw a ton of hunters
getting there blinds and feeders set up and running the fields on four
wheelers. It was cool all day to so i am sure that cooler weather had
them all frisky and ready to move about also. One thing i also noticed
was in alot of places they had high fences on BOTH sides of the
road.(game ranches) That was a problem in a few spots because we saw
some deer running that fence on the road side because they cant jump
the high fences. The couple we saw were freaked out and running all
over the place looking for a place to cross.

The deer that hit the guy was a small nubbing buck. The one that ran
across the road first was a full size doe. Her neck was stretched all
the way out and she was hauling tail. If she would have hit him, he
would have lost control for sure. He did have a some tank slapping but
he said he just nailed the throttle and the bike straightned up. He was
riding a Honda ST.

I have been up to Mena,Ar. alot and we have seen about 3 bears and a
few deer. We saw a mother and a cub in the middle of the road last year
and like you say, they were up quite aways in front of us and when we
got closer they booked it into the woods. It was cool seeing them in
the wild. I can ride that Talimena highway over and over. That is a
road it would be hard to get bored on.

Redshad

 

We did check the weather and it was only supposed to have light showers
in the morning and clear up. It was supposed to be sunny and about 72
degrees by noon. My sister-in-law wanted to go to the caves in the
morning so we figured by the time we finished the cave deal that the
rain would all be gone. The weather man sure screwed us on that one.

We saw a few buzzards on the roads also because of the dead deer in the
ditches. We always watch for buzzards. Those things could knock you off
your bike for sure and those are one of the most stinking birds i have
ever smelt.

Man i was wore out when i reached the summit of that rock. I had to go
all the way because my 74 year old father in law wanted to go to the
top and i couldnt let him show me up..lol.

The occassion of the ride is my brother in law and some friends of his
that he went to school with all get together once a year and go
somewhere to ride. We usually end up with about 15 to 20 riders. There
was all kinds of bikes there from Harleys to Metric cruisers to crotch
rockets. Its kinda neat because those boys on the crotch rockets want
to switch up after about 150 miles so we all kinda get to ride each
others bikes. We normally always go during the month of September and
we usually go to Mena. They mentioned next year about going up to
Colorado. There were two guys on Honda Goldwings. I was shocked at how
well those things do in the twistys. Those ole boys had those wings
layed over big time in the corners. Kinda got me wanting one.

I had a map somewhere of the route we took but i think i deleted it off
my computer. I will e-mail by brother in law and see if he will resend
it to me. This was my first time there so i was pretty much lost the
whole trip. I will post the trip next year when we go and if anyone on
the group wants to go, they are more than welcome to come along.

Redshad

 

That's the way it is in hill country and the deer population increases each
year. Also, the deer are spreading out and are in places where they haven't
been seen, in years.

I'm glad he's alright. I know all about getting hit by deer while riding.
Got the scars to prove it.

Aside from the deer, sounds like you had a most enjoyable ride. Thanks for
sharing.

Sunny
'02 XVS650A (Deerslayer)

 

Redshad, you said there were some dead Deer in the ditches along the
fence lines? I've never seen dead deer lying on the side of roads,
never. huh?? I reckon I have, that were apparantly hit by an vehicle.?
Is this what you meant?

Talking about buzzards, goodness, they could cause a rider to loose
control, they must have a 4 ft. wing spread. I've often wondered if a
rider has been confronted by one of them dudes. I've had smaller birds
to fly up a little late,and clip my windshield. Our Daughter was riding
in front of us, 2 up, with her husband and a fairly small bird flew up
quickly from the grassy shoulder and hit her on her right arm, and
feathers busted off, like an explosion. It didnt effect either of them,
but was a site to see, from our vantage point, heehee BJAY

 

I had a buzzard out in West Texas come about 6 inches from the top of
my windsheild. Had to duck on that one. I get nervous coming up on a
herd of them grazing in the middle of the road. I am going around 70,
and you have no earthly idea when or where they'll fly off to.

Raymond

 

well, i did go to mena ark, camped at ceder lake in oklahoma.
awsome place never seen a restroom/shower that clean and kept.
and it was awsome! ate at queen wilimena sat morn.
ate in heavener ok, saw alot of bikes all around the area all weekend.
cant wait to go back.
j

 

There were dead deer on the sides of the road and we saw a few in the
ditches as well. When that deer hit the motorcycle, the deer wound up
in the ditch. You must not have deer where you live. When we go to the
hunting lease we see dead deer on the side of the roads almost all the
time. Most are hit by cars and trucks i would imagine.

Redshad

 

Isnt that place awsome. We always stay at the Queen Wilhelmina and we
eat almost all our meal there also. They have really good food and you
cant beat the price. Did you ride the whole Talimena highway from one
end to the other?? If you didnt, you missed a awsome road. I am trying
to get some of these bikers here at work to make a trip up there in a
few weeks.

Redshad

 

Good ride report, Redshad.. Sure wish I'd been able to make the trip.. Good
times were had by all, it seems.. hmmm... I feel bad for not warning you
about the over population of deer in that area.. I am surprised they were
moving that much, because normally they kinda shade up during the heat of
the day and commence feeding and moving at night.. Sure glad no one was hurt
in that close encounter.. Sometimes you get to play with the livestock,
whether you want to, or not.. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving

 

let me know if you go, i may tag along.
j

 

‘‘Bjay,There were dead deer on the sides of the road and we saw
a few in the ditches as well. When that deer hit the motorcycle, the
deer wound up in the ditch. You must not have deer where you live. When
we go to the hunting lease we see dead deer on the side of the roads
almost all the time. Most are hit by cars and trucks i would imagine.
(Redshad)


‘‘Redshad, Yep, we have a lotta deer here, in NE Bowie county,
and SW Ark.
I am not a deer Hunter, but there's a few 100 hunters around these
parts, I imagine.

Rode many miles around this area, for many years, and ain't never saw a
dead deer, in no ditch (grin). I know folks that have hit deers, but
they told me, they stopped and took the it home. I have heard of folks,
getting killed hitting deer, when it flew thru the windshield. This area
is densely populated with Pines.

This time of year, you can bet, I ride with caution, thru the rural
roads, that barely have shoulders, and the pines are thick along side
the roads. Never know when any kind of varmit might jump out and cross
my path. I don't even wanna encounter a squirrel, and darn sure would
hate for an Armadilla to mosey out in front of me, grin! Just been
lucky, I reckon. (BJAY)

 

‘‘Bjay,Isnt that place awsome. We always stay at the Queen
Wilhelmina and we eat almost all our meal there also. They have really
good food and you cant beat the price. Did you ride the whole Talimena
highway from one end to the other?? If you didnt, you missed a awsome
road. I am trying to get some of these bikers here at work to make a
trip up there in a few weeks.
(Redshad)

‘‘Redshad, rode that 40/50 mile trip to Talihina, Okla, about
a dozen times, I suspect. It reminds me of Colorado. The ride is across
ridges. One can see out into the landscpaes from both sides, many a mile
of the ride. It is simply worth, making the trip to mena, from anywhere.
I hear of Riders trailoring their bikes way across Texas, to make the
ride.
About the Lodge, we stayed there, on our honeymoon night, on our way to
Branson, 17 years ago, (smile)