Kevin has semi-convinced me that summer rides are better in the morning. I rode the street bike to Wimberley for breakfast Monday, now I'm thinking about riding the XT to Dripping Springs this Sunday, then either CR301 past Cypress Mill, or some dirt roads between DS, Blanco, and Wimberley. I probably won't be able to cross the Blanco or Pedernales rivers on 2 wheels, but does anybody know if the creeks/low water crossings in those areas are reasonably passable? I bypassed Creek Rd. last Mon because I thought it would be way wet (street bike). Two weeks ago I had to turn around twice on the XT because of big time flooding west of Lockhart. Has all that H2O gone to the Gulf yet?
And where do I eat breakfast in DS? Been thru there a million times, eaten there maybe twice.
Thanks,

147 miles, breakfast in Wimberley, great weather, civet cat in the cemetary outhouse. Saw one D/S bike, on SH150.
What did you guys do today? Please don't tell me you curl up with the remote and hibernate all summer.

Funny, but it's too hot for me to want to street ride on the KLR but not too hot to go play in the dirt on my DRZ. Was out at the DBSA lease from 8 to 5 yesterday.

I just got the plate for my DRZ and am looking for a good dual sport ride from the west side of town near Spicewood. I am not finding a lot of dirt roads out my way, but a lot of really cool and twisty paved roads.

I am looking for people out my way to meet up with and ride as much dirt as possible. I know that east of I35 there appears to be more dirt roads to explore and looking for good riding on my side of town.

Does anyone have any suggestions on loops out my way that combine more dirt roads? I took 71 out to 303 (Fall Creek Rd) and 302 down to 962 (Hamilton Pool Rd). I didn't continue on 301 to Johnson City - is that a dirt road?

I know there is some good stuff down by Blanco and Wimberly - can you give me the good routes there as well?

Ideally I would like to connect up a 100-120 mile ride and get at least 50% of that on dirt roads.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Doug Mohr
Storm #815
2002 Honda CRF450
2002 Suzuki DRZ400E dual sport

CR301 out of Cypress Mill is paved for less than a mile, then is dirt all the way to 281. Wimb., Henley, DS, Blanco area: CR410 (Middle Creek RD) is combo p&d, has a limestone bed creek crossing at the far north end. CR 407 (Chimney Valley Rd) & 408 also combo, CR113 (Red Corrall Ranch Rd) is all dirt. Cr 219 is all dirt. CR 405, 406, & 411 are mostly dirt, I think...
Crabapple Rd southwest of Blanco was mostly dirt. Althaus Davis Rd (CR 310) between 1323 and 962 is dirt. CR 203 is paved, I can't remember 204 & 205. Fisher Store Rd (CR 181) is paved, but fun. CR 213 doesn't go across the Blanco River anymore (private landowner), and is paved.
Caldwell and Bastrop counties are chock full of dirt roads. My fav is Sand Hills Rd (the little dirt dead end part off to the left after the long straight paved part), behind Red Rock.
Get the South Central Texas map from Lone Star BMW or Mapsco- It has all the CRs, unfortunatly doesn't say p or d.

Thanks for the tips - I was guessing that 301 was dirt, but as you say the map (I do have that exact map) doesn't let you know if it's asphalt or dirt. I got to 963 and saw the pavement and went another direction...next time I will know.

Sounds like you have done a lot of the roaming I am about to embark on.

Let me know next time you are planning a ride in the Wimberly/DS area. The best way to reach me is e-mail at doug.mohr@clearorbit.com.

It doesn't sound like there are a lot of Dual Sporter's around. Last year I moved from Southern Calif. and we had organized Dual Sport rides about every other week with 50-200 people on each ride. I know that public land is pretty much non-existent here and I guess that has something to do with it, but now the the Hare Scrambles series has a little break I want to get out on the DRZ and do a little exploring.

I would also like to explore some of the backcountry roads in Bastrop/Caldwell areas so next time I am coming that way I'll let you know.

Don't miss Payton Colony Rd, CR409, off SH163. Dead end, interesting. There is a rest area on SH163 between CRs 409 & 410- great place to take a break.
I do Pvt Rds (red/white signs) if there are multiple mailboxes, sometimes ride slow in the bar ditch for fun (no traffic).
Ride your D/S to the next AMSA Family Fun Day. There are a lot of dirt rds from Lockhart to Rockne/Bastrop. That paved bit between Spicewood and here might be a little long...
I'm a (married) old chick, I ride slow, I'm not sure I'd be much fun to ride with. And I took my carb apart and intake manifold off Mon, so my bike is down for a couple of weeks.
There are real guy D/S'ers out there, I think they just hibernate in this heat. Steve Smith is probably out of town, working or playing. Terlingua (Big Bend) and Cloudcroft NM (Lincoln Nat For) are often mentioned as great, both a 1 day haul from here. I rode my street bike to Nacadoches (east TX) in May, they had so many dirt rds thru the piney woods, AGH! That's a bad itch I can't scratch right now. There's always the Lost Pines around Bastrop (Bastrop/Buescher St Pks, etc.). Also, CR179, NE of Bastrop, runs thru a big ranch- no fences on the rd.
You are right- TX is a pvt property state. Stay on the graded rds and the law will be less likely to visit you during your stay in the hospital to remove those pesky little lead pellets from your posterior. (I will admit to following old rds w/grassy middles if I can see the end)(Bad Dog!).
I forgot to mention I met Cujo on my last trip. I was stopped at a CR intersection, checking out the map, heard a dog barking behind me. Looked around, saw a black lab jumping around on top of a hill behind me, obviously fenced or tied. Look back at the map, all of a sudden there is a Great Pyrenees next to me, all teeth and flying slobber. Stab it into first, he runs around to my left and stays with me. I've got it revved out in first, and I can't bring my leg back to upshift without giving it to this beast! I'm screaming "BAD DOG!!! GO AWAY!!!" I wasn't outrunning him, he only quit because he made his point!