Texas - Wounded Warrior/ Soldier Ride - DFW to San Antonio to Corpus - March 2008

I'm riding with the PBA. We're doing a 45 mile route, but I'll be adding about 45 miles to it by commuting to and from it from Irving.

Here's a link:
http://www.planobicycle.org/pba/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=118&year=2008&month=01&day=01&Itemid=27

Dang, that is WAY east from me. I may have to see about making a run out to Cleburne State Park, or Mineral Wells State Park. Panther City did one to Miserable Wells last year, but I've heard nada this time around.

I am hoping to make a 50mi run from my house down to around WRL and back up to Allen. Not sure what time as I know I have honey dos to do. Hoping for late morning or early afternoon. I will probably be running half full panniers on back. The knee seems to be iffy but it is holding up. Keep you fingers crossed for me.

Ray and I are planning to take a short training/camping ride next weekend (Jan 12th-13th). It will be just a one night stay-over at Lake Lavon, camping at East Fork park. It's only about 12 miles from my place, but I'm sure we'll make a longer loop of some sort, we haven't done any route planning yet. The real purpose is to go through setting up the hammocks and give our packing lists a good rundown without getting too far from home. Anyone that's interested just let me know.

Steve

Good idea - I hope you get good weather for it... I may be able to schedule something for that weekend as well.

Okay, I'll have to come up with a different plan for next weekend. I rode out to Lavon today and was turned away. Apparently, they don't allow hammocks. I was just going to set it up for an hour and tear it right back down.

So I did a little stealthing on the way home. Pretty ghetto, but at least I got to set it up and check it out.

Steve

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii145/stevejbarlow/bike%20camping/HPIM0076.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii145/stevejbarlow/bike%20camping/HPIM0078-1.jpg

I assume you got in it... how was it? Pretty comfortable? I'm still trying to decide if I want to get a hammock or tent. I'd prefer a hammock, but I'm wondering if I'll run into the same thing you did and not be allowed to use it.

Yep, sure did.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii145/stevejbarlow/bike%20camping/HPIM0079-1.jpg

It was very nice. Very comfortable. I've read that they can be tough in the cold, but plan on getting a pad to sleep on. On the thing about not being allowed in the park, I'm fairly sure that the state parks allow them. I'll be doublechecking this week though, so can post it when I check.

Steve

Hows teh flyer coming? I got with the local recruiting battalions, they said they will put them up in their stations....they also might be interested in "helping" haven't got that defined yet though

Flyers: I've been waiting on some specs, but I'll see what I can 'gin up this week.

Barlows put up some good route suggestions at the blog linked in my sig

Anyone training yet for the tour? There's less than 8 weeks left now. I'd like to set up a couple of camping trips if anyone is interested. Ray Roberts is a good destination, Cooper is another, Dinosaur Valley too. We should be able to put together a 75 mile route each way without much effort.

Anyone up for it?

Steve

Cooper? What's Cooper?

I am trainning by commuting, but it seems almost every weekend I have something preventing me from doing a camping trip...Maybe in Feb.

Cooper State Park, it's about 82 miles NE of Dallas. Starting from Rowlett, it's about 60 miles, a good potion of which is on US-66. It's a pretty nice ride, I've riden out there a couple times, once on the way to Paris. The State Park has a couple of campgrounds, on the North and South side of the lake.

Steve

I don't know if any of you listen to the Fredcast (www.thefredcast.com), but I was listen to his podcasts from Interbike and he had an interview with someone with the Wounded Soldier project. It's all information I'm sure we know, but if you'd like to hear it, here's the url to the actual podcast, http://media.libsyn.com/media/thefredcast/The_FredCast_84.mp3. The interview is about 38 minutes or 80% of the way in.

This is an awesome idea. I am a former 1st cav soldier that was stationed in Ft Hood for a number of years. I have lost some close friends in the sand box and have been in Iraq since 2004. I will be back in Tx around mid April and look forward to participating in this awesome event (what is the start date?). I also have a large back yard that will fit many tents, new hot water heater for plenty of hot showers and just bought my beautiful wife new pots and pans for making a large dinner and a good breakfast. Send me a pm if this is something the trip would be interested in.

Who's still in for the ride? Answer up at the blog here: http://soldierride.blogspot.com/

If you still need gear, camping, clothing or bike stuff, Sun 'n' Ski at Grapevine Mills has offered a 20% discount on whatever we need to get moving.

for what ever reason I can't add/edit on the blog spot? But dad and I are still in. Flyer's?

for what ever reason I can't add/edit on the blog spot? But dad and I are still in. Flyer's?

your comment is posted on the Blog.

Flyers - I'm on it. I need the information about you guys, names, hometowns, military service, reasons for participating, yadda yadda. Pics of you/your bikes would be great.

New news from Soldier Ride Director Woody Groton on the soldier ride schedule, once we get to San Antonio:



• For the actual Lone Star ride we will be riding on Thursday March 13th from Brooke Army Medical Center to the Alamo then down the Mission trail through San Antonio.

• On Friday we will ride from Beeville to Corpus Christi

• On Saturday we will ride from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi west into town and return. This day is now a full fledged open to the public registered fundraiser ride. (The DFW) group will ride for free as part of the official Soldier Ride group as you will have been with us for the previous two days of riding.

At this juncture, I see nothing scheduled for Sunday, so I'm planning that to be a travel day back home.

Definitely still in, blog updated.

According to the info from Woody, at the end of Thursday it looks like we'll be a little over 80 miles away from Friday's starting point. Did he provide any specific times? We may still be able to ride the miles. We could try to make Kenedy Thursday night, camp and get up early to make Beeville before things start on Friday, depending on the times. Plus, there's always night riding if you guys aren't opposed to it. I love night riding, depending on the weather.

Otherwise, had we planned on hitching a ride with them on Thursday evening?

Steve

I figured we'd just hit the road to Beeville from the Mission Trail. I'm not sure what that is - hopefully it's close to the route, bivouac somewhere between Kenedy and Beeville, depending on how the ride goes, then hit the difference in the morning to be in Beeville before the show there.

If we get behind, we can bypass Beeville and make tracks for Corpus. Or we can get on the trucks, but I hate to do that unless it's just really necessary.

Edit: The Mission Trail is 9 miles - we just need to route from the end of that to the Beeville route and peel off East. I suspect the Soldier Ride will return to the Alamo.

Cool, sounds like a plan.

I'm up for the ride from Mission trail to Beeville. I plan tohave my lights as a "just in case" anyway

I'm playing cautious due to the knee trouble I'm having. If all it's holding up at that point, Beeville's fine with me.

If you're wiped by then, we'll scoop you up and throw you in tate's Bob Trailer for the ride to Beeville!! ;^)

so far, it's looking good. gonna do a longer ride on Sunday to see what's up.

Poster's up at the blog.

Nice job, I've posted it several places at work and have had a lot of comments.

double post...

tate, take the return out of that signature code so it's all on one line,

Any of you guys still want author access for the blog, especially leading up to the departure, please let me know and I'll send you the author invite.

Jump in, you guys. Things are heating up and I want to make sure nothing gets left out.

Any of you guys still want author access for the blog, especially leading up to the departure, please let me know and I'll send you the author invite. Please, what do you need? I have left several comments on the blog.

Should we have another lunch or evening meet?

tate65, just pm me your email address, and I'll send an invite so that you can post directly to the blog. crdean1 at sbcglobal dot net.

Should we have another lunch or evening meet?

You bet. Friday still good for peeps?

Yep. Friday's good for me. I'm free for a Friday night through Saturday morning campout and dry run if you guys are interested. Any of the State Parks within riding distance would be a good bet.

Steve

Friday would be good for me.

There are several camping areas 2 around Grapevine lake, and cedar-hill Sp.

Any of you guys think of a place around Irving that would have seating and be quiet enough? That barbecue place wasn't it.

Spring creek and golden corral if food isn't an issue, both have back rooms I'm sure we could use.

Spring creek would work for me - pass on Golden Corral. Location?


FYI, I'm looking at the route with an eye toward going through Crawford. That would seem like a likely spot to see some media coverage, especially if Dubya's in town then.

Spring creek is Beltline and 183 SW corner.

Barlows? How say you, sir?

Can we stay closer to the grapevine area for the meeting? I will probably have to go to work that afternoon and would rather not have to travel too far east.

Whatever you guys decide on location is good with me. I'm off on Fridays (after 8am), so just give me the details and I'll be there.

Steve

I forgets what's at McArthur and 653 but there is most likly somthing....there is a springcreek at Main and 114 in grapevine.

Cedar Hill SP looks pretty good to me. The weather is supposed to be kinda crappy, but probably better to check everything out in less-than-great conditions anyway. Anyone interested in a quick overnight gear shakedown trip? I don't really have a specific start time or place in mind, but wouldn't mind getting in a couple hour ride each way.

Steve

I can't do a Friday night trip.

How about a Saturday night trip? I can do either.