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View Full Version : Ride to the Spring Fling


voyagerrider
03-23-2009, 08:38 AM
Kathy and I took off for the weekend to go south to Gatesville, Texas for a motorcycle rally put by a club called the CenTex Road Riders. This event is put on by them annually and called the Spring Fling. We have known many of the members since the days we lived in Austin and were members of a club called the Austin Road Riders Association.
I took off from work a couple of hours early Friday. Kathy came over to meet me at my office in Burleson and off we went.
We had to make a short pit stop in Grandview. Here we are with our bikes loaded with camping gear. I have the bedroom(tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pillows), and living room(Kermit camping chairs). She has the kitchen(stove, cookware). We each have our own clothes in the panniers.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3724.jpg

We planned on going straight down I-35 to Waco and then cut over west to Gatesville for the sake of time so we could get to rally site before too late in the evening. We were going well until we got the 35W/35E split just north of Hillsboro and everything came to stop. We don’t know if it was accident or construction because we cut over to 81, and came back on I-35 south of Hillsboro.
We stopped just north of West to grab a geo-cache on the side of the road.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3725.jpg

I think this was on 84 heading west from Waco.

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We made it to Gatesville by about 5 PM. The rally was setup in the Fauntleroy Park just south of the courthouse on the Leon River. It took us a while to get camp setup as we were visited by old friends while we were trying to do it.
Our home for next couple of days.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3733.jpg

Our new Eureka Apex 2XT tent.
Some views of the camp ground and rally site.

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I snapped a few pics the next morning as the sun was coming up and the moon still up

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3739.jpg

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The “Fun Run” as it was called had 1st bike at 8:00 AM. We rode with some friends of ours that were mounted on a 1500 Goldwing. I took this somewhere out on the run.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3747.jpg

Stopping at one of the check points.

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Back on the road again crossing the lake.

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Part of the route took us through Mother Neff State Park

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3756.jpg

The ride was a little over 70 miles and took us on some great backroads. There were wild flowers but no a lot just yet. Probable be another couple of weeks.
Back at the rally there was a bike show that Kathy and I entered. She won 2nd place in the 1-1200cc open class and I won 2nd place in the Metric Touring class. Sorry, I was to busy talking to folks and eating to get any pics.
There were off bike and on bike games afterward. I tried my hand in the “slow race”, and here I am winning this heat.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3768.jpg

And here I am losing in the next round.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3770.jpg

The guy on the Harley is a good friend of mine. He is also in CMA and a Area Rep also. He is a really good slow rider, he can stop the bike and just sit there balanced without putting his feet down. He ended up winning the event.
The next game was called “Honey I’m Home”. You had to sit in the chair until the guy yelled “Honey I’m Home!!”, the run over grab a shirt and pair pants, get on your body somewhere. Then run and climb through the “window” of the PVC frame, and then jump on your bike and ride across a finish line 15 feet away.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3774.jpg

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I lost, but had fun.
This rally is unique in that they have CMA (church) service on Saturday night. This was the group that did the music for the service.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3780.jpg

After the service they a awards presentation for those who had won something. Kathy and took off after to go Rancher Steakhouse for a great chicken fried steak dinner.
When we got back to the rally site they had country/western band going and we made a few turns around the dance floor. After visiting some of the vendors on site and visiting with more of our old friends we turned in for the night.
We rolled from Gatesville about 8:30 the next morning. Here are some views I snapped along the way.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3792.jpg

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We stopped Mosheim for geo-cache at this old school.

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In Clifton we saw this little plaza that we had never noticed before.

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At Womack we stopped for another geo-cache at his old cemetery.

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It had a neat looking church across the highway

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At another stop for geo-cache at the cemetery in Whitney we saw this.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3815.jpg

We rode on until we stopped in Joshua at Napoli’s Italian restaurant for a late lunch. I would be remiss if I did not post the required food pics.
The salad

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3817.jpg

I had Chicken Rossini I think it was.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3818.jpg

Kathy doesn’t remember what it was she had, but it was good and here is a picture.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj314/martywj/CentxSF09/100_3819.jpg

We made it home to Burleson by about 3:30. It was a great weekend visting with old friends and going to the rally. We had good ride down there and great ride home. It was a bit windy on Sunday, but not too bad. If you have never been to one of these small rallies like this I urge you to go. They only had a little over 100 people there, but we had a great time. These things always remind us more of family reunions then any thing else.

Marty

Black and Blue
03-23-2009, 10:16 AM
Very nice.P^

Ironheadziggy76
03-23-2009, 11:29 AM
Marty, looks like you had a blast. Thanks for the great ride report! P^

Trailace
03-23-2009, 12:37 PM
Nicely done. :D

Mellow
03-23-2009, 04:10 PM
You must have missed a lot of the weather.. guess you were too far south.. Looks like a great weekend.

voyagerrider
03-24-2009, 07:01 AM
You must have missed a lot of the weather.. guess you were too far south.. Looks like a great weekend.

Was the weather bad up in the DFW area? It was wonderful in Gatesville. Temps in the mid 70's I would guess during the day, and down into the 50's at night. Sunny during the day and clear at night. it was a bit windy coming home Sunday, but not to bad.
Marty

Mellow
03-24-2009, 07:07 AM
Was the weather bad up in the DFW area? It was wonderful in Gatesville. Temps in the mid 70's I would guess during the day, and down into the 50's at night. Sunny during the day and clear at night. it was a bit windy coming home Sunday, but not to bad.
Marty

It was very windy in DFW. I'd rather ride in snow than wind..

Temp wise it was a nice day.. heck, I wish I was out in it anyway.. have been on call for a few weeks and can't get too far from the house.

wwells
03-24-2009, 11:55 AM
Great report and pics. We are from Waco. This was a treat to read. Thanks!

Mr. Guy
03-24-2009, 05:13 PM
Great report and pics. Thanks, Guy