22 November Ride to Johnson City
1st Ride led by a female rider and 1st ride led without a CB in Chapter U!!
Great Job Cindy!!!!
Pictures by Skip Surre and write-up by Cindy Hicks-Edmonds
We headed out from YOSA promptly at 9:00 am. We were sort of patting ourselves on the back for not being wimps and riding in the cold temperature elements. We meet up with Charlie & Candy and Mike McDonald . So this was the line up heading out: I led, then Mike Mills, my Mike, Gary (no CB), then the Gary Skorman (also no CB), Charlie & Candy, and Skip Surre was a pleasant drag, er..sweep! Leaving our 281/46 pick up point we headed up to Sattler near Canyon Lake and made a "shopping stop" at TJ's Kustom Motorcycle & Gift Shop. After a few purchases and thawed fingers, we headed toward Purgatory Road which delivered us to Wimberly. We took Hwy 12 up to Dripping Springs. Hwy 12 was beautiful. We actually saw various colors of foliage that proved that there are more than two colors in Texas (green or brown) and that fall/winter was upon us.
Cindy, Mike Mills & Mike Edmonds Pick-up at 281 & 46
All the bikes at YOSA
John Henry with Charlie Mike McDonald and Sandy Correa out to say hi!
Gift shop Cindy wanted to stop at!
Inside the gift shop. Cindy at the Silver K
The further north we headed, we noticed that the temperature was also colder (as to be expected in the Hill Country). The road was also beautiful in that it had pleasant turns and curves that I know I enjoyed and hoped everyone else did too. It kept my mind stimulated and my level of alertness heightened. We took 290 into Henly and then I made a couple of diversion that eventually took us in to Johnson City and lunch at the Silver K Café. The food at the Silver K Cafe was to die for. I had the absolutely best chicken fried steak ever... and it didn't land in my stomach like a lump of bricks!
Gary, Cindy & Mike in the Silver K Charlie & Candy
Mike McDonald with Mike Mills & Skip Odd car at the LBJ Ranch
We then headed west on 290 to the LBJ Ranch & Historical Site. We went into the headquarters where we received information about the various things that could be seen and done (the buses were not running however). The HQ also has a wonderful gift shop with all types of things: books, clothing & hats, dishes, memorabilia, as well as wonderful restrooms done in the LBJ period (I thought that some of the fixtures looked like they came from the old BAMC?!) I was delighted just to stay in the gift shop where there were ladies that were pulling out Christmas items and decorating the shop for Christmas. Then, all of a sudden, one of the Park folks announced that there was going to be a movie in the theater in 5 minutes. They opened the doors to a very nice amphitheater with extremely comfortable seating. None of us hestiated to go in to see the movie, and soon after the movie started, with Lyndon & Lady Bird's southern drawl.... I found myself drifting off to sleep. But I kept telling myself " I am the Road Captain.... I must remain awake to watch over my flock of "wings". Once I confirmed that everyone else had fallen asleep, I gave my permission to doze off as well.
Outside the Texas White House. Inside the office!
The next thing I remembered were bright lights coming on and the other folks getting up to leave the theater. After we had a group confession that we had all fallen asleep, and contemplated building in a "nap time" on future rides... some of the group mounted their winged steeds and headed off to see the various sites that were accessible to us. Mike and I, and Charlie and Candy stayed behind to view yet another building which seemed to focus more on the accomplishments of Lady Bird (the mammy taking care of baby Claudia gave her the name "Lady Bird"). We stood to watch part of the video about her, but then left to rejoin Charlie and Candy. Charlie tried to call the others up on the CB but he didn't get any response. So we took off across the river to see if we could find them, and eventually they responded to Charlie's CB call and we grouped up and headed back into Johnson City and took 281 South back into San Antonio. Of course we had to make the obligatory stop at the Dairy Queen in Blanco where we indulged in whatever our sweet tooth desired. As we ate our delicious ice cream, we had a great time talking about the ride... and all agreed that in spite of the weather, a good time was had by all.
Of course there was a DQ break! Cooling off with ice cream at 50 degrees outside?
I am pleased to report that hand signals and turn signals were utilized by all riders. And as you can tell, the CBs came in handy too!
I want to thank everyone that went, and I want to thank God for the protection and safe round trip.
Respectfully,
Cindy Hicks-Edmonds
© Copyright 2007 Chapter U, Texas District, Gold Wing Road Riders Association, Inc.