Thanksgiving 600

Thanksgiving 600, central Texas hill country, Nov 29 - Dec 1, 2024

I'm organizing a three-day, 600-mile, Texas hill country adventure ride Thanksgiving weekend, Nov 29 - Dec 1 (black Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) and am extending an invitation to anyone who wants to join.

This ride will consist of a mix of pavement and dirt, suitable for dual sport or adventure bikes with riders of average abilities. The route was created to include a mix of county roads, twisty pavement, and fun dirt while keeping highway miles to a minimum wherever possible (though some highway miles are inevitable).

Overview of the route

Day 1: Dripping Springs - Comfort - Bandera - Vanderpool - Kerrville, 222 miles: day 1 is mostly pavement (sorry about that) but it does have some great twisty and back roads on the way to the dirt near the end of the day. (I'm a dual sport rider, which means I like riding great pavement about as much as I like riding dirt.)

Day 2: Kerrville - Leakey - Barksdale - Rocksprings - Junction, 225 miles: day 2 will have more dirt as we ride two of the Three Dirty Sisters (three dirt roads around the Three Twisted Sisters) and other great dirt roads in the middle of the hill country. There will low water crossings and bump gates galore.

Day 3: Junction - Llano - Dripping Springs, 164 miles: day 3 will have the most dirt as we ride cross country from Junction to Llano (lunch at Cooper's BBQ) and then two crossings of Sandy Creek after leaving Llano on our way back to Dripping Springs

Lodging: Here's where I'm staying on this ride

Super 8, Kerrville, Friday night

Motel 6, Junction, Saturday night

There are multiple other hotel options if either of the properties are sold out or don't meet your standards.

Make your own reservations

Range: You will need a 200-mile range on your bike. If your stock gas tank won't get 200 miles, then carry some extra gas on the bike.

Meeting location: Meet at the Highway 290 General Store, 1301 US-290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620, at 7:30 am on Friday, Nov 29th. Stands up at 8:30 am.

Rider meeting: 8 am, Hwy 290 General Store - please don't be late

Organization: We will divide ourselves into small groups of 4-6 riders.  My advice is to organize your group ahead of time. For those who don't have a group to ride with, I will organize you into groups at the riders meeting on Friday morning.

For riders that choose to join us mid-ride (instead of starting with us on Friday morning at the Hwy 290 General Store), please coordinate amongst yourself to create your own group. This will help prevent one group from growing too large from picking up riders along the way on day 1. Post your plans here so others will know and can reach out to you to coordinate.

Navigation: Tag me with an email at [email protected] and I will send you the gpx file.

I am planning on having dinner at Isaack Restaurant in Junction on Saturday evening and invite everyone to join me.

Cost: There is no sign up or cost to attend. Make your own lodging arrangements.

Weather: Typical central Texas November temps are mild. But, just in case, a weather decision will be made on Wednesday, Nov 27th. If there is significant rain or freezing temps in forecasted, I will likely cancel (I don't care to ride in the rain or in freezing temps).