Original publication: BikerTrash.com
Original byline: Not confirmed
BikerTrash Bandera Biker Retreat
Next Retreats: If you couldn’t make the July retreat don’t despair!
We are planning more Bikertrash Bandera Retreats in 2003.
Riding. It doesn’t get much better than this. Our report in May concerned the route from Bandera through Utopia to Leakey and across 337 to Lost Maples. This time we rode the loop Bandera – 16 to Medina – 337 to Vanderpool -187/470 to Tarpley and 470 back to the Twin Elm Ranch. The total ride was about 75 miles and included long flat, sweeping curves along the Medina River, the incredible views and hills along 337 and a nice run through tall cypress trees following the Sabinal River south out of Vanderpool. Once back on 470 the challenge was choppy hills with sharp turns at almost every crest. Sure need to be on your toes if you are going to push the speed in this area.
The weekend of July 26 saw the first of many (we hope) BikerTrash Biker Retreats. Not promoted as a “Rally” these retreats area more laidback, ride and have fun with other bikers type of event.
How laid back was it?
Well, you could qualify for the poker run by tubing the river instead of riding the roads. It was about doing what you and your friends want to do when you want to do it.
The weather was outstanding. Even though the thermometer said it was in the “90’s” there was alway a cool breeze blowing across the tree-shaded hilltop where the Twin Elm Ranch is located.
Although this was a weekend to allow everyone to ride the Texas Hill Country – the Ranch fosters such a laid-back attitude that many people took advantage of the opportunity to sit in a comfortable chair, enjoy a cold beverage and contemplate to what extent they wanted to exert themselves. In other words this was a great opportunity to be lazy. But you couldn’t be too lazy with so many things to choose from – riding the hill country roads, tubing the Medina River, or enjoying a real rodeo with working Texas cowboys and cowgirls. Even the young cowboys 12 and 14 were riding the bulls and steers.
One other note on the rodeo. One of the “civilian” guests at the ranch was Jim Lilly of Pennsylvania. Jim (although he had not been near ranch animals before this week) decided to ride a 1500# steer in the Rodeo. Gotta’ give the guy credit that tooks lots of guts – he took a real hard spill and busted his nose as well as his butt!
Bandera is a quaint western-style town straight out of the cowboy movies. The shops offer a variety of western wear, jewelry, leather, jellies, salsas, BBQ sauce and other memorabilia. Try the General Store for an old-fashioned Ice Cream counter complete with real milkshakes and malts hand-made with real ice cream.
Entertainment? Most of the bars in town offer live entertainment and many have dance floors for people who still have the energy left to party at night.
The Bandera area was recently hit by massive flooding after receiving over 40″ of rain in three days. The evidence of the magnitiude of the flood was everywhere – trees uprooted, homes washed away, roads and bridges gone and canoes jammed into trees 25 feet above the river.
Like many people I have indulged in the common sport of joking about the laziness and non-productivity of public employees especially in the Public Works. Never again! The amount of repairs, cleanup and road building that has taken place in the Hill Country in the last 30 days by Public Works is nothing short of incredible! Everywhere you looked there were either people working on roadways or evidence that repairs had already taken place. Great job, people!
The Twin Elm Guest Ranch has about 20 rooms or cabins and can accomdate about 100 guests. Although the appearance of the buildings is quite rustic the air-conditioned rooms are well-maintained, clean and attractively decorated. Don’t worry about TV reception in the rooms – there are no TVs and no phones. This is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, kick back and just enjoy.
And enjoy we did!
The ranch cook really knows his stuff. The BBQ brisket on Saturday night was the most tender I have ever tasted – it was much more like Prime Rib than what we normally expect from Brisket.
Breakfast? How about fresh made biscuits hot from the oven served up with the best cream gravy you have ever tasted! Scambled eggs with sausage, juices, cereals and coffee round out the choices. A couple of these biscuits with gravy and you can ride the Hill Country all day before you get hungry again.
Kerry and Brigitte Hearnsberger who manage the Twin Elm are the greatest of hosts. They get to know everyone and make everyone feel like part of the family. If you want to enjoy a great weekend or week anytime just call the Twin Elm Ranch (888-567-3049) and make reservations.
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