What's this, a post about riding?!

I finally got a decent amount of seat time in today. I hopped on the super-slab toward Comfort, TX to get the hell out of town and to the good riding as quickly as possible. I tend to stay on the major roads when I'm flying solo, so it wasn't the biggest adventure ever. I exited and headed into Fredericksburg, which is a big tourist destination. Beautiful country, decent shopping I assume, and plenty of food. For a town of 9k, it's a happening place with B&B's everywhere. A little ways into town, I cut off and headed to Enchanted Rock State Natural area as I heard it was a cool place. It's basically a big barren rock out in the middle of nowhere. If I were craving a hike, and it were this time of year, I would probably go. I couldn't imagine hiking up it in the middle of summer. Just after I passed the rock, my stomach informed me it was time for lunch. I headed back into town the same way I came. A nice stretch of road with a few twisties in it. It also has a feature that may be unique to Texas, cattle guards. Fortunately they are well taken care of and easy to navigate. I've certainly came across more treacherous terrain around town. At one point the 9er popped while I was off the gas which made me a little nervous, but I didn't hear anything out of it for the rest of the ride home. It's nice having a bike you are confident in!

I stopped at the Fredericksburg Brewing Company for lunch. It's apparently the oldest micro brew in Texas. Unfortunately, no room on the bike for a growler and I don't drink and ride. They have a good Reuben, but I'm not a fan of the dressing they serve with it.

On my way out as I was juuust ready to pull out (I had pushed back from the curb) an older rider turned around and walks up to me. He noticed I was sporting the GoPro on my helmet and was asking about it. I think it blew his mind when I told him it can record in hi-def. A nice guy, but I think he was lonely as he was talking my ear off for a good minute.

After our wishing each other safe riding, I fired the bike up and headed out on 290 headed towards 281 and was happy to see that it was a road I had ridden before and wanted to ride again. It's a nice big 4 lane road, but there was a sculpture I wanted to get pictures off. Before I got there though, I checked the trip meter and found I was soon in need of gas. I don't like riding with the idiot light out when I'm out in the hill country so I stopped at the first place I came to. It quickly reminded me I was in the damn sticks and should be carrying cash. The pumps don't take plastic. Fortunately the station on the other side of the road did, and I was soon back to it.

A few miles down the road I ran into the sculpture I was after and quickly dismounted and pulled the jacket and helmet off. I was getting thirsty and figured I would take a quick pooter. I cracked open the can of soda I had with me and thought about how I wanted to 'shoot the bull' if you will. I rarely take pictures, and those I do are not known to be of quality. Having looked at the photo on my computer, had I squatted down for the picture the contract of the blue sky would have helped show a lot more of the bull. But, I digress as I'm not a photographer and certainly don't blog about my failed attempts at picture taking.

The rest of the ride was pretty smooth sailing. There was one jackass in a Kia doing well over 90 in a 65 that passed me as we were coming in to town. He came up behind me while I was in the fast lane, and as I was about to react he jerks the wheel to the right where there is a car going slower than me. I start to panic not knowing where he is and as far as I can tell, is about to kill somebody. Fortunately he cut over in to the merging lane and passed everyone. I laughed later when I caught up with him in traffic, still driving like Rémy Julienne and not making any progress through traffic.

A short while later, the 9er was parked in the driveway and got a quick scrub down. Plenty of bugs on the forks, and while I am more than capable of replacing the fork seals on my own, I care to not do it again.

I have a couple hours of video that I shot during the ride, but not sure I'll post any of it. Nothing exciting really but then again, maybe someone can critique my riding (probably better done by following me, but who knows what people could point out!)