Comanche Campout 2009

Can't remember if this is my third or fourth year to attend the Comanche Campout. Anyway it's lots of fun and I always have a great time.

Day 1 Friday:

Sherri and I headed out of Houston Friday afternoon around 1:00 PM. We stopped in Katy to have brunch at Snappy's Cafe & Grill. Always a great breakfast!

After a great brunch we headed West on I-10 to Sealy and took the back road the rest of the way to Smithville at our hotel Americas Best Value Inn. No we did not campout, maybe next year.

After checking in we ran over to the campsite in Buescher State Park where Comanche Campout was being held. We said hello to everyone and had some white chili for dinner with the Cypress Creek SCRC.

After eating some great chili and visiting with friends, we called it an early night (10:00 PM) and we headed back to the hotel.

Day 2 Saturday:

We woke up late and headed over to the campsite to get the details for the Scavenger Hunt. We got our list and headed out and immediately got turned around and end up back at the park entrance. We were hungry so we headed to the cafe (Elm Creek Cafe) on the Scavenger Hunt list. Both of us had the Chicken Fried Steak, we should have shared one plate. It was huge and a great Chicken Fried Steak.

If you are ever in the Giddings area, the Elm Creek Cafe is a

must stop and come hungry!

After stuffing our selfs we followed the Scavenger Hunt map back through Giddings to the Court House to find stuff on the list. We went down highway 71 to La Grange and stopped for gas. We collected some more stuff and found out that we were running out of time and we had to be back to the Campsite by 4:00 PM.

We made it back to the Campsite at 4:10 PM and tuned in our small finding. We did not win, but we had a great time riding around the country side Scavenging. Headed back out to the hotel to rest and get cleaned up before the party later that night.

After our short break we headed back to the Campsite had some gumbo for dinner with the Cypress Creek SCRC. Great gumbo!

The costume party started at 8:00 PM, great costumes this year.

My favorite was Kill Santa, dressed up as Elfs that had santa's head in a shopping bag and yes they won the costumes contest. No, Sherri and I did not dress up this year.

The party continue on all night and we headed back to the hotel around 1:30 AM.

Day 3 Sunday:

Head over to the Campsite around 9:00 AM for the group photo. We had a small breakfast and helped with the packing and clean up. After saying our good byes, headed back to the hotel and packed up our gear, checked out of the hotel and headed down the street to downtown Smithville for some lunch at the Pocket Grill. We had there hamburgers which were good.

After lunch we headed back home through the country side back home to Houston.

The weather was great for the weekend and I had a great time. Put some more miles on the wonderful new Victory Vision.

Photos • Route Day 1 • Route Day 2 • Route Day 3

Star Riders Chapter Ride

What a great day for riding! The friends, weather, route, & food was great!

We started out at Kelly's, once we got out of Houston we hopped on FM 521 South to Sandy Point Rd (CR 42), then West on FM 42 To Cow Creek Rd (CR 25). These two roads are one of my favorites in the South West Houston area. After a spirited ride on CR 42 and Cr 25 we rode in to

West Columbia for a gas break at the local Buc-ees.

We ran into the Southern Cruisers at Buc-ees as they were getting ready to continue their ride to Mikeska's BBQ in El Campo. It was nice to have a quick hello with them.

After our gas break we headed South on Highway 35 to FM 1459 through Sweeny and turned on to FM 524 to CR 16. My first time to ride on FM 1459, FM 524, and CR 16, very nice roads. After hopping on FM 2919 we ended up at 2J's Cafe & Marina on the intracoastal waterway near Lake Jackson.

2J's Cafe & Marina is a great restaurant, it's worth the trip down there.

I rode my new Victory Vision and finished the break in (500 miles) today and I will schedule it's first service this week.

Photos • Route • GPS File

Riding Tomorrow Sunday

Leading a ride tomorrow with the Star Riders. You don't have to be a member to join us, so come out for some great riding weather.

Starting From (KSU 9:00 AM): Kelly's Country Cookin 8015 Park Place @ Gulf Freeway. Houston, Texas 77087

Info: http://kelleysrestaurant.com

Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/kellyshouston

Gas/Break: Buc-ee's #6 105 E Brazos Ave, West Columbia, TX (979) 345-6660

Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/Buc-ees6

Destination: 2 J's Cafe & Marina, 5100 CR-469, Brazoria, TX 77422 - 979-964-3233

Info: http://tinyurl.com/ygmeg4v

Location Map: http://tinyurl.com/yge33zy

Route Web Map: http://tinyurl.com/yfoya6v

Route GPS File: http://tinyurl.com/yju7a8d

New Motorcycle

Pick up a new 2010 Two Tone Ocean Blue & Sandstone Metallic Victory Vision From Team Mancuso Power Sports off Highway 59 South. Ask for Roy Zirpoli, he did a great job selling me the motorcycle and tell him Rex Covington sent you.

Yes I still have the Harley Road Glide and it is still in Vegas being repaired. I have not decided to to sell or keep the Harley yet. It should be ready to pickup soon.

I have been asked why did I get another motorcycle? I wanted the Victory Vision when it first came out in 2008, but I did not want the first year production model with the problems and bugs that come with a first year production motorcycle. I happen to be at the right place, time, year, color and price, so I bought one.

The only mod that I have put on this motorcycle so far is a Lo-Jack.

Photos

Rip's Bad Ride III

This my third year to be involved with the Rip's BAD Ride and their third year in Texas.

Despite the weather there was a fair turnout for the ride this year. The rain hit hard in the morning and about 25 motorcycle beared the rain. Most folks showed up in their cars and trucks for the great cause to fight Diabetes.

The Star Riders took parking duty and I was the official photographer.

Photos & Videos

Helmet Damage

I was taking photos and a video to show the damage to the helmets from my accident for the insurance company for reimbursement.

The helmet that Crystal was wearing belong to Sherri, A Scorpion EXO-100. It had some road rash on the right side and down the brim and some on the visor.

My helmet A Harley-Davidson Hybrid Ultra-Light Classic Half Helmet, received the most damage on the right side and the front of the helmet. The front right side was grind down to the fibers of the helmet and the sun visor was ripped off. Just looking at the my helmet, I could see my head with all that damage. A good reason to always wear a helmet!

Check out the Video & photos.

Spot Satellite Messenger

I was looking at my web site to see if I need to do any up dates and I found the Where Is Lone Star Rider page had me marked when I had my motorcycle accident. The site is automatically marked from my Spot Satellite Messenger (Spot).

One of the reason I bought Spot was that it tracks your location and your family and friend can track where you are on a web page and a check in feature to let them know that you are okay.

The other reason is that Spot will request help from friends or family and/or alert Emergency Responders to your location for a 911 emergency when you are out of cell range.

I have been using Spot for almost a year now and it has been by my side on all of my trips and the tracking & check in feature have been working great. On August 3rd 2009 in Death Valley the 5th day if my summer trip I had a blow out on my rear tire and I crashed my motorcycle. After I checked to see if my daughter (Crystal) was okay and I accessed our accident I decided it was time to use Spot and push the 911 button only to find out that Spot was no long clipped to my belt. I did a search and found it in a bush about 20 yards from the motorcycle. I push the 911 button and about 30 minutes later the U.S. Calvary came, well the California Highway Patrol (Chris) and the Death Valley National Park Ranger came to the rescue. They all were great!

Spot cost $99.00, one year subscription $99.00, and $49.99 for tracking. I think the $250.00 is worth every penny and I will never leave on trip without my Spot.

You can buy one at http://www.findmespot.com/