Ok, we are on for an AMSA Family Day ride on July 26th at Rusty's Walnut Creek Ranch.

Parking

We will be entering the property from Hwy 20, on the Bastrop side of the bridge over Walnut Creek. That's because we'll be parking everyone under the trees in the bottom, below our usual spot. The goal is to have another ride day in the summer and continue to keep everyone as cool as possible.

Cost

AMSA members may ride for $10 each.
Guests may ride for $20 each.
Pee Wee riders may ride the kids loop for $5 each (our discretion).

Preparation

We will have two Sundays for preparation: 7/12 and 7/19. The 12th will be spent finding which trails we'll use, finding the kids' loop, finding where the easy/hard/expert lines are, and hanging ribbon on the whole loop. The 19th will be for cutting any face slappers that have grown across the trail, more ribbon, and hanging arrows where needed.

Some of you have said you'd like to help with setting up the trails - here are two chances. The more people we have, the earlier we can stop working and ride a little before we leave. It's interesting and fun to take it from being "the forest" to being "the loop".

If you'd like to help, just reply here and let us know to look out for you. We usually get there for work parties around 9:00 AM. We'll work at least four to six hours, then if we're done with what we needed to do we'll burn in the trail for a couple of hours.

You can bring regular pruning tools, like pruning shears, folding saw, and loppers. No chainsaws needed. I like to work in my riding gear. I just take off the helmet when I'm not on the bike. The gear and boots are good protection from the bugs, snakes and thorns. Some people like to dress more lightly, but I don't advise it.

Trail Loop

We will use mostly shaded areas of the ranch for the trail loop, with the "grass track" section marked as a Hard loop just because it's out in the sun and will probably be dusty. You'll be able to ride that part or skip it as you wish. The creeks are still dry, so you can count on having plenty of distance there. We will try to mix it up and not use the same lines that we've used in the past.

Map and Directions

Here is a map to Rusty's Walnut Creek Ranch:
http://www.amsaclub.org/maps/walnut_creek-RUSTYs.gif

The usual entrance was on Pleasant Chapel Rd, which makes a loop from 535 to Hwy 20. That gate will be marked with directions to the Hwy 20 gate.

This time, we will enter from Hwy 20, so you won't need to worry about Pleasant Chapel Rd. You will see markings on Hwy 20 on the day of the family day ride.

Should be fun!

Greg

Sounds like fun!

I cannot wait!

Maybe we should have a cow pie roosting contest?

Thanks,
-Larry

cow pie roosting contest?

Don't follow Larry.....

I am going to try to make it out to help put in the trail.

The best way to enter the property is through the gap in the fence along Hwy 20, between Pleasant Chapel Rd and the bridge over Walnut Creek. I'll try to get there early tomorrow and put some ribbon on the gap. Remember to close the gap if you open it.

DeeKay came out there with me today and we did some exploring and began marking the loop near the parking area.

Parking is under thick trees, so there is plenty of shade to park under. We're trying to use all the creek beds including some that the trail usually crosses instead of staying down in it. This will mix it up a little from the usual loop there.

We'll be clearing some of the sticks and logs from the new creeks Sunday the 12th, as well as putting ribbons up on the rest of the loop.

Greg

Thanks to DeeKay for helping me scout the new trail in the front of the property Saturday. Then on Sunday we had Val, Spencer and his son Jordan, and Bobby L. helping out. That helped a lot because we had enough people to get the loop ribboned and face slappers mostly trimmed. I apologize to you guys that we didn't get to ride more. After working in the heat, nobody felt like riding a few laps for fun. But thanks to your efforts, it will be ready to go for the Family day!

We're using all the creeks in the shady front part of the property, and the rest of the loop is running backwards. We've avoided the ruts from the mud race a couple of months ago too. About 4/5ths of the loop is shady and about 1/4th is brand new trail running in the shallow creeks. Sorry, I didn't do another loop to get the mileage. I'll get it next weekend.

Next Sunday we'll be back out there to put up arrows and signs for Easy/Hard/Expert splits. We'll also do a little more trimming, and then ride a few laps to get the trail burned in so nobody gets lost. Helpers are welcome to come.

Greg

Way to go Greg! I had fun setting up a whole loop..in the shade! You folks are gonna love it. We wound around the river bottoms and it was really comfortable riding till noonish.

On an additional note, Rusty came by and we had a good chat. He seems real supportive of the AMSA now and I think there is a good possibility of improving the relationship with him.

Remember folks, the land owner is your FRIEND! Treat him with respect and warmth and it will certainly be rewarded. For the vast majority of AMSA simply having a place like Rusty's to ride, camp and ride on Sunday is a great thing. There is plenty of challenge out there and it is really close to Austin.

I for one would like to see AMSA negotiate a good agreement with Rusty for more riding in the future.

We have a trials this weekend so Greg will be doing double duty. A few more hands would make the work go faster!

aloha,

deekay

Thanks to all who came out and helped Greg this weekend.

DeeKay, we are always, and will always, be supportive of Rusty.

We plan to work together and support Rusty in any way we can in the future.

Thanks,
-Larry

Jordan (15 year old B class racer) was out there double-jumping the "expert" double log crossing - going the right way and the wrong way on the trail! Now I know I'm a wuss! Each log is a good foot high and three to four feet apart. Yes, they are angled. If you drop a wheel in there, you'll drive up the ol' heart rate by the time you get out. Doubling it definitely looked like the easy way - but I won't be trying it!

The parking area is mowed and just as nice as the Powell's Ranch or Goertz Ranch pecan bottoms. We are so lucky to get shade and breezes like this for the summer rides.

Greg

To All AMSA Members & Guests:

I want to say how much I appreciate, and could not do this, without Greg Messer.

Greg is Vice President ... technically ... but I see him as an equal. We are a partnership.

I want to thank Greg for everything he does to make this club happen.

Without Greg, I am nothing, and so is this club.

Please thank him the next time you pull in the gate!

Thanks,
-Larry

Thanks Larry. We've been getting a lot of help to pull off the family days.

I haven't had a chance to thank all the people who showed up last Sunday to help with the trail at Rusty's. There is a good bit of brand new trail, and new use of old trail. Mark and Ed helped a lot with marking the course and helping figure out some reroutes. Marty pitched in with some ideas and helped mark the trail. Doug brought two friends who also helped mark the loop. Larry was there like always too. He acts like I'm doing it all but as I recall he was the last one to stop working Sunday. Everyone helped burn in the new stuff - it's hard to follow a trail when it's only ribbons in the trees and grass on the ground. It was a good, but hard, day's work that all these guys put in so that the trail would be ready for riding.

Because of the great turnout two weeks in a row, in the blazing heat, we won't need any more help on Saturday. There is only a little left to do to get the loop all marked.

You will get your creek bed and off camber practice with this layout for sure. There are good climbs and descents, and Easy/Hard/Expert splits so that no matter what your skill level you can have fun or be challenged, whichever you want.

Plan to arrive early Sunday and get all your riding done before it gets too hot.

Thanks again for all the help - hope to see a lot of you on Sunday!

Greg

Sounds like it's gonna be fun, looking forward to it. Thanks for everyone's hard work in the heat.

Paul

It never got hot under the pecan tree's with the cool breeze blowing. But we left around 5 P.M. before it got hot out.

Many people have asked about camping Saturday night.

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate this.

There are several camping places in the Bastrop area including Hwy 71 RV Resort (my favorite, full hook-ups with a pool, fishing pond, and very nice restrooms and showers), Bastrop State Park, and Buescher State Park. There are others but these are the most reasonable.

Thanks,
-Larry

I live 10 min or so from Rustys... since 6:30 have gotten 1/2 inch of rain today.. along with a 10th of a inch on both Sun and Mon each day.

perhaps rides at rustys are the key to breaking the drought .. at least in Bastrop co. Torcs race = 3 inches ... amsa day = ?? LOL

well got just under 1.5 inches of rain tonight.. Best rain since that May downpour...

Good....I wish we'd had some..........

Excellent, we need some rain out there. Gonna make the creeks most awesome!

Do I need to attend with a member to ride as a guest? I plan to join in the next membership cycle. Bobby asked me to come but he has to work this weekend and can't come with me.

No, guest do not have to be with a member to ride as a guest. You are simply a guest of our club.

But you should not have said you know Bobby L.
That will cost you extra.

Hwy 71 RV Park

This is where some of us are camping for the night. I think sitting in the pool with a cooling beverage, a good nights sleep, and a nice shower in the morning before the 10 minute drive to the family day will be nice! Worth the $20.

you guys take good care of gary mercier and family.they are great folks and would make a great additon to our club.
ps don't let them ride with paley or terri deck.
bobby l

Gary....your more than welcome to come out.....

you can even save some bucks and sign up at the gate!!!

Blow Bobby off and bring your real friends....

We were out there yesterday finishing the markings and the trails are great. The rain gave us some traction for the weekend. It was just starting to dry out in some areas but we're in the shade and in creeks most of the loop and that dirt was still hanging onto the moisture. Should be fun!

Greg

4:50 am Greg, seriously.....

See ya out there........later

Steve

That was fun Pretty amazing that in the middle of July and in the midst of extreme drought the AMSA crew still set us up with a great place to ride. Thanks to everyone that came out and thanks to the crew (Larry, Greg and Kyle) that set it up and ran the show. Sure felt good to get out and ride a little.

Paul

Great job fellas! had a great time.. Trail was fun

some cool little alternative routes up some steep hills. I also like the double log crossing on the expert line at the start.. only messed up once and got stuck.

Just long enough to stop and get a drink to cool down and take off again.

think I did 10 laps today

think it was a good turn out for late July family day..

great ride!

thanks AMSA

Thanks so much for everyone that came out to ride today. Especially those of you who drove in from Houston, Dallas, Bryan, and Corpus!

The first people through the gate were from Houston! THANKS!

We spent allot of time trying to make a cool trail that was in the shade all day long.

We had another record turn out for the past three Family Ride Days and we were able to give Rusty (the land owner) an all time record fee for a ride day!

Thanks to everyone who supported this and AMSA!

This all goes to help us provide more of these family ride days!

Thanks!

Greg, Larry & Kyle.

Was that fun or what...!

Kan't wait for the next one.

Big thanks to Larry, Greg, Kyle and all who that make this stuff work.

tootles..

moto

It's Monday morning. The way I feel this morning, must have had too much fun this weekend? Maybe I should not have ridden those last two laps at 5??? Naaaa.

Greg, jumping in the pool for a swim was too nice before the drive home.

Ace, man that watermelon hit the spot after clean up. Thanks!

good times...

Had a great time riding yesterday, Creeks were fun and dirt was nice, I love it when dont have to ride on rocks! Many thanks to all who made this happen.

PS Larry, I forgot to ask you, heard any more re> that property up my way at Parmer Lane?

signed
Darrius in Georgetown

Had a blast on my new KTM out there.... until I got home and found a hole in back of the cylinder head

Thanks Larry and Greg and anybody else responsible for the good riding. Rusty's is always good. Just wish I could of gotten one of those hubcap chicken fried steaks for lunch. Oh well, no deal is perfect.

Steve, I had to get up early to get there before 7:00 AM - but it was worth it. I just got that optional back section (steep uphill and rolling terrain beyond it) put in between 6:45 and 7:05. It was much easier in the cool morning temps.

I am glad y'all had fun. It was a short loop without the grass track part, but I had fun riding every loop I did. We don't want to make a habit of 3.25 mile loops, but keeping it under the trees was good since it turned out to be 105 degrees in the area yesterday.

Greg

I had a great time on some good trails........but those kids riding everywhere make me nervous.

Dang Brad, what did you do to that new scoot??

me too. whose kids were they? they kept coming to my truck wanting food and water!

seriously though, i told them several times to stop. they didn't, so bikes were loaded up. i think they finialy got it.

Well, NEXT TIME we'll try to do a much better job for the kids. We had an idea where the kids would ride, but failed to mark it.

As for the open area in the sun, on the other side of the "road" by the parking area... I couldn't think of anything to do there. I believe pit riding is dangerous when it is done by children and they are going all different directions with intersecting paths. I just don't know what to do about it when it is an open area and they want to ride there. If anyone has any ideas better than a full-time police presence in the area, speak up.

But the "kids loop" was not marked until the middle of the day. That wasn't acceptable and it won't happen again.

Greg

Greg
One thing I had though about in the pass was to buy those cheep red cones to set out in the open area and some arrows on wood stakes just to get them going the right way. After two or three laps they all be going that same way... Could even drop in and out of the trees and back in the open again...

Ace not sure what happened. Got home and was raving to wifey about my b-day present and then when washing it noticed alot of oil on shock. Started looking around and saw this... Never even made a strange sound or anything..



20yrs of Red and Blue never a failure like this. KTM seems concered about it so will see.. not to happy though after 1 ride. Really like the bike so I hope they come through..

Thats too wild. Something broke that chunk of metal out of there. Doesnt look like there is anyway for something to get in there and punch a hole in it if you fell either.

KTM fixed a friend of mines 520 a few years ago even after the dealer would not. They are pretty good about it from what I know.

yeah it went outward.. bike never hit ground and its pretty protected on the back on engine with carb on one side, pipe and gas tank on other..

Oh well trying not to get too worked up about it... at least for today since its my 37th b-day... I'll stress more tomorrow LOL...

Ya have to wonder what part is missing inside the head now???

A little JB Weld and you should be good to go!

Funny you get a bike for your Bday and I get underwear .... and they both have holes in them already! Go figure?

Hope KTM fixes that and I am sure they will. I would be really bummed (nice way of putting it).

Happy Bday.
-Larry

Kids will be kids and it is hard to keep them focused on being safe out there. A couple of us could have set up a cool little course right there in the pecan grove in about 20 minutes, that way you can keep an eye on them if they stall or bail.

Who was the guy kicking that 4 stroke for 2 hours? Seemed like it didn't have any compression.

all those kids ride together on a regular basis. they have a "system" worked out. I did take them all on the the "kid loop" (that was marked later) when we first got there and they knew the direction and where to go.

The real issue was the bigger kids took the pw's with training wheels and where doing power slides on the road. that had nothing to do with course marking. it was boys being boys. but i solved that problem as i stated earlier.

Wick, that was my buddy, Wilson. The bike has been sitting for about 4-5 months. it does have a few issues, but he hasn't really learned the "4 stroke" starting procedure.

Brad, too bad about your new scoot. hope they get you hooked up.

Spermy, I wasn't complaining about the kids and I hope you didn't think I was. I didn't see the bigger kids doing the power slides and I'm glad you took care of it.

It sux he kicked on it what seemed 2 hours, did it ever start?

I have ridden VERY little in the past 5-6 years and it felt good to get out there again, thanks again for having us out.

He did get it started, someone came over and told him how to start the older KX250F's. It would light and then die. finially he was able to ride some, but worn out from kicking it.

The cones are a good idea Curtis.

Kids will be kids. Since it isn't a race track, we can't simply say "No Pit Riding", and we can't put arrows all over a whole ranch. I would like to do better, though. I've read a few pit riding horror stories this year already and I don't want anything like that to happen at a fun family event. Those kids are the future of the sport.

Thanks for the idea! Keep 'em coming!

Greg

all those little kids need is a few cones and some ribbon to mark off a little track and they will be entertained for hours.

I had a few adult riders cross in front marked trail while they were on other non-marked trail
with out looking. could of been bad if we both were not paying attention and collided.

well bikes at dealer they are going to try and get a complete new engine for me.... in the meantime they gave me a 505SXF to ride.. pretty cool

WOW.....PM me the dealer name!!!!!

wow! thats cool for sure. I bet that 505 is a hoot on the MX track

Well my 450XCF is back home. Got a new engine put in it yesterday from KTM. Called Brian Letzel early in the week and had a lil chat about the bike and what not. Very nice guy and A+ customer service. Chip Munn loaned me the 505SX while my bike was down and that was pretty cool too. Pretty bummed it blew on 1st ride but KTM came through with flying colors on the customer service end of the deal!