It was a great day for a ride from Houston to San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston).

Depart 7:20 from Park and Ride west of Houston on I-10. with police escort. My guess is about 400 bikes.

Nov. 9 update: "Quick count" from the Texas Honor Ride website is 600 bikes, 830 attendees, $86,000 donated.
http://www.texashonorride.org/



The sign up fee of $25 is donated to help wounded soldiers where government compensation doesn't cover the financial losses from being wounded while serving their country. Commemorative t-shirts were for sale for $25. The insert at the top right of the above photo is taken at the Interstate 10 Rest Area about 60 miles east of San Antonio. It was the final re-grouping area before entering the military base.

There were trikes (big and small, regular and reverse), but mostly bikes.



The police escort was good, but completely absent in San Antonio at the messy lane changes from I-10 to I-35 and the exit to Fort Sam Houston. I think we pissed off some regular folks. I noticed some cars illegally driving on the shoulder of the interstate to get past.

After entering the base, we were directed to a park with a short gravel road and lots of grass parking area, as in the photo below.





There was a small paved parking area for those who were squeamish about driving on gravel, or didn't want to get their bikes dusty.

My Rant for the Ride:

For a police escorted group ride of 100's of bikers on a staight and open Interstate, I was surprised by the number of times the group changed speed from 40 mph to 80 mph. This happened constantly thoughout the 190 mile ride. It's like some of these dudes don't know how to hold a constant distance to the bike ahead. When you are 200 bikes behind the leader, the speed changes come up at you fast. Not just back off the throttle, but hit the brakes!

The constant speed fluctuations pissed me off since I was trying to use the 6th gear on my new '09 Street Bob. Most of the ride was 45 to 65 mph and changing all the time. I used 4th gear more than I used 6th. IMHO, 6th gear on this bike is NFG below 65 mph.

On the positive side, it was a good ride with no incidents and it was for a worthwhile cause. The weather was excellent. And the barbeque lunch (catered by Rudy's) was the best. The live band was OK.

I took my own route home, taking a detour to ride the River Road between Gruene and Canyon Lake. Looking at the map, one would think this would be a kick *** biking road.



The problem is, the road is infested with river rafting and resort cabins along its entire length. Driveways are around every blind curve, and almost all the curves are blind. Not a good road for testing your cornering skills. Population density and/or tourists is the problem.

I rode some back roads home to try and wear off the square tread that the Interstate put on my tires.



487 miles for my day trip.

Would I do it again? Ask me in about a year's time.
I wouldn't ride the Street Bob if there is a next time. I would ride my '03 Road King for sure. It's only a 5 speed gearbox, so I won't be having to use the brakes all the time.

 

SailorDon...... +1 on the escort issue. Leaving the MM619 rest area, our group road the right lane ALL the way, except to take the IH-35 South exit off of 410. I tried real hard to stay off the brake...but it was impossible. Decelerate..downshift...BRAKE CHECK.... 30mph then HARD THROTTLE... Our escort missed the turn onto 410 north, and hung a U-turn and drove against traffic on the frontage road to get back with the group. I looked for a Black Harley with lots of chrome...and found a few. I knew there were lots of OTHER bikes, but until I looked at my pics, I didn't realize how many. It is a worthwhile cause....and I guess, trying to manage that many bikes is a difficult task at best... would I do it again?? Like you, ask me in 11 months. The missuz and I had to wander off near the creek, to find a place to sit to eat. As a result, we missed the presentation of the check. So we had an ice cream, and we headed out. I have added a link to my pics. The guy on the swingset with his OL, was having fun, until he saw me taking his picture...So I guess it was like riding a scooter.... it's fun until someone see you doing it. Most of my pics of the bikes, were taken with the creation of a panormic view in mind.... I promise, I was not focusing on the other brands.... PS the beauty in the patriotic jacket, is my Missuz.

http://s953.photobucket.com/albums/a...r%20Ride%2009/

Edit: Don I was looking at your route home....looks like your home is near Deckers' Prairie and Pinehurst. I spent my elementary years in those pine woods.

 

Hey Harpoonman,

I thought you were an Arizonian.

I rode FM 1774 to Hwy 249 through Pinehurst and Deckers Prairie. I stopped plotting my route at Tomball where I cut through back residential streets to avoid the abortion of an intersection they created at Hwy 249 and FM 2920 since they built the bridge (about a year ago). It takes 10 minutes to get through there. I can rip through the residential streets in 5 minutes if there are no LEO's gunnin' for me. Almost got hit by a deer last year while making that run. Damn deer ran out of somebody's yard without signalling.

I live in NW Houston near FM 1960 and Steubner Airline Rd.

 

Now that looked like a lot of fun, nice pictures and that route covered some territory.

 

Nope, but I have met several of them. Went on the 4th annual green chili run with them. I was born in Conroe, and lived in Texas all my life, with exception for a short term in Mississippi as an infant (Late 50's). The first burning cross in the Neighborhood, and Dad moved us back home.

Deer and Bikes...never a good mixture....LMAO... "without signaling" you are a comedian... If not for the houses 250 yrds out my back yard, I could hunt from my back patio. There is a small herd (dozen or so) that graze almost every day, in a 15 acre lot behind my house.

I had an Aunt and Uncle who lived in Blue Bell Manor, near there.

 

I aspire to be a comedian, but I'm still going to keep my day job.

It took me a minute to figure out how my nimble mind made up an Arizona connection for you. Very simple. "The Phoenix" and moving to Gonzales in the 80's (from another thread). Well, it made sense to me at the time.
Have another beer and it will become clear.

 

Ok, I can see where I created that.... The Phoenix....as in "rising out of the ashes"....cuz of my major crash in march of 06.... I was FUBAR-ed, and blessed that I'm not a real bad dinky ..dink. I spent 13 days in BAMC ICU

 

Not to hijack your thread Paul. Friday on the way to work. I was hit by a doe. Little damage to bike. Buggered up my right leg a little. Better today. TTYL

 

Hope you and the bike have a full recovery. Just supports my statement.....never a good mixture...

 

I was there.

Hey Harpoonman, I don't remember signing a release to have my picture published.