My 70-something crazy uncle has 2 street bikes and we had 4 people so we decided to rent a couple bikes. The only thing we could find to rent were Harleys, so Harleys it was.

We left Dude's house with our usual late start (hey it WAS vacation!) around 8 or so. Ok 8:30. After a complete cluster-&^%$ at Central Texas HD (despite the fact that I arranged it all weeks in advance and paid for it with my credit card), we finally got out and Jamison and I rode the 2 hogs back to Dude's house. Mike and Rod were ready to go.

Our plan was to take a "Lake Loop" and throw in Luckenback also, but that plan was cut back when we got a late start and I realized that it was just too much to do. I've done it, but it's a long ride and we had a lot more moto to do yet and needed our strength.

By the way, it's called the Lake Loop because you circle Lake Travis, which is northwest of Austin. It's out of Cedar Park to Bee Cave on 620, a short jaunt north to Hamilton Pool Road, west from there to Round Mountain and stop for gas and a break. Then it's up 4-lane 281 for a GREAT lunch with homemade pie at the Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls. This saves the best for last, 1431 back east to home at my uncle's place in Cedar Park. 1431 has been mentioned in the AMA magazine as one of the great rides in the country. It winds around and up and down through the heart of Texas Hill Country and the scenery is awesome. It's about 120 miles or so, but a lot is major curvy and big fun. We took a detour off 1431 on the way back, taking a 'long-cut' down Lime Creek Road. Lime Creek is littered all along its length with sport bike fairing parts, it's VERY tight and the price of a mistake is high (cliff drop to lake, or solid stone wall). I let the guys know up front that the pace here would be slow and it went well and we made it home in one piece, tired but happy.

Dude's 750 Honda Magna, Rod rode this.


Dude's Viffer, aka 94 Honda VFR Interceptor, my ride for the day.
I've ridden this bike many times and IT IS SWEET.
It's got a D&D pipe (made in Ft Worth, thank you very much)
and custom paint, it sounds, runs and rides great.
Needless to say, I could run away from anyone, due to my familiarity
with the roads and the fact that I had 2 times the bike of anyone else.
Oh yeah, Dude put brand new rubber on it, just before I got there!


One of the rented hogs, a 1200 Sportster
Mike rode this and really liked it.
The saddlebags came in handy and the windscreen helped on the highway.
I rode this home and it's a nice bike, when cruised.


The rented Fat Boy that Jamison rode.
I KNOW Jamison was disappointed in this bike, he's more of a sport-bike guy. He said it wouldn't spin the tire off corners!
Talk about the wrong tool for the job.


Loaded up and ready to rock.


Quick stop off 620 to do a timer picture overlooking Lake Austin.
I would have framed the pic better, but the photographer was a rock I set the camera on.
Me, Rod, Jamison and Mike


I have a motorcycle family. 3 uncles ride, my brother and I have taken multiple long trips (many to Austin) and we always stop at this little wide spot in the road called Cypress Creek for pictures. It's just an old abandoned gas station, but it's a tradition.

That's Rod on foot and Jamison on the bike.


From left to right, me, Rod, Jamison and Mike.
Don't know what that strange gas can thing is, wasn't there
when I was there in October on my Bandit


This is what's known as the Low Sport on Hamilton Pool Road
It alway floods in Texas Hill Country because it's basically rock everywhere.
The bridge has been as much as 80 FEET under water!


A couple more views of the Low Spot








After the long ride, including multiple stops for gas, food, pictures/breaks, we stopped at the Oasis. The Oasis must be seen to be believed. It's a bar that hangs over a cliff with a sheer drop to Lake Travis. As you approach it from the front, you enter through a magnificent flower garden with statues everywhere. There's a neat gift shop where everybody bought something for their wives. Did I mention it that at this point, I realized it was Valentine's Day, I was in Texas having the time of my life, my wife was working a 12-hour shift and I forgot to send flowers until it was too late? Can you say "OOPS!".

Anyway, you walk in and it's a nice bar/restaraunt, but your eyes are immediately drawn to the back wall, which is solid glass facing west. It was late afternoon and beautiful Lake Travis was about 100 feet directly below. There are decks off the back, hanging on the side of the cliff, about 20 of them at various levels. We sat down for a drink (soda, no alcohol, we were on bikes, remember?) and stared out at the view, which was breathtaking, to say the least. I should have taken more pictures, but I was 'in the moment'. There we were in Texas, it was 85 degrees, the sun was shining, and back in Illinois, it was snow up to their azz. Yeah, it was good. Anyway, here's one picture that really doesn't do much justice to the place. I ran back in as we were leaving and stepped out and snapped this quick picture.



Anyway, we went back to Dude's house, ate some steaks on the grill and crashed, resting up for a big day the next day. Unfortunately for me, the next day would be my last day riding.