Houston - New Braunfels - Wimberly - Buda - Gonzales - Shiner - Houston; and some points in between
Aug 4 - 5 2007
541 miles
2003 Aprilia RST-1000 Futura
Travel through US-90A is an experience for me that I believe parallels the experience of creating a custom paint job for a bike.  In the same way that the painter puts on layer after layer of paint, using masks, and tape, and clear-coats, to finally create a master piece, each time I take this road, I add a new layer to my memories.  So much has happened along this way.  From my first multi-day ride, to memories of painted churches, abandoned trucks, railroad museums, kolache shops owned by Asian immigrants, and of course, 17 hours during a hurricane evacuation.

I saw my favorite sights, like the old truck store at East Barnard, The Buckie's station ar Eagle Lake, and the grain silos just before Altair.  Soon I had made it to Halletsville and from there I jumped north onto 77.  As I hit I-10, I joined my least favorite piece of road and headed West.  I must confess, though, that this is not as bad during this segement and at this time of the day.  Soon, I had made it through Seguin, not without first stopping at the Bucckie's in Lulling for some good old buffalo jerky and some Red Bull.


Waiting at AF1

  • AF1 Racing
  • W San Antonio
With the aid of the GPS I left I-10 towards New Braunfels and rolled the Futura through the  doors of AF-1 Racing by 10:30 am.  I must confess that I was disappointed to find the door to the shop open.  The garage door is painted in this wonderful share of red and it provides such a great photographic back-drop, that I guess I will have to go get another oil change soon, and will just have to make it by the time they close.

They guys, and the lady, at AF-1 are such a tremendously hospitable group, that I really did not mind making the stop.  They took care of fluid changes and some basic maintenance while I waited.  In the mean time I was in Aprilia heaven, salivating over the Tuonos, RSV-1000, Caponords,  RXVs and even the SR-50 scooters.

  • Lights
  • Pirelli
  • Roll
  • Tuono
  • The Shop
  • Blue Steel
  • Spokes
  • Agip
  • Factory
  • Roll
  • Lion
Want an extra touch of community?  These guys ordered pizza at lunch time and everybody who was in the store and shop, customers and employees, joined in for the meal.  Now this puts the final touch on the "I do welcome your business" feeling that we rarely see this days.

After sharing on the irresistible pizza, I hit the road again.