"Run with the Big Dogs"

Event check-in and on-site registration starts at 8:00 am at the Y.O. Ranch Hotel in Kerrville. Click here for the event schedule.

We have a block of rooms at the YO Ranch Hotel that can be booked now at a discount. Reserve your room before they sell out.

Chapter U's Ride to Big Bend

Article by Tom Hendricks (flag 293).

Pictures were taken by him and Wade Wells (flag 1054) and Debbie Hay (flag 443).

Every time I tell folks I’m going on a longish motorcycle ride, I get those “why would you want to do that” look. Normally, I just let the conversation slowly die away. Every now and then, someone answers with “I wish I could do something like that.” That type of answer is what keeps me riding and looking for new adventures and challenges. I do not want the rear view of my life to be a bucket list to be filled. I want a bucket full of fulfilled wishes and completed journeys, with twists and turns around numerous corners, filled with new sights and thrills. I love the line spoken by Mame Dennis in the film Auntie Mame, where she states, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!” I like to think I am keeping my life well-seasoned.

Many members of Chapter U of the Gold Wing Road Rides Association signed up to participate in the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas.

It's 6:50 a.m., on September 15, and we are gathered at Kent Power Sports in Selma, Texas, ready to start our engines. The Road Captain and overall ride coordinator for our trip is Pat Wall. Other Riders going to Big Bend today are myself (Tom Hendricks), Wade Wells, Scott and Debbie Hay, Ron and Maria Morales, and Ron and Shonale Perry. Our plan for the day is to get on Interstate 10W, twist the throttle to the high end of the speed limit, and hopefully make good time a little beyond Ft Stockton, and then take 67S to Alpine, Texas, where we will spend the night. Reservations have been made at the Reata restaurant for our evening meal and most of us will be spending the night at the Big Bend Biker Hotel. (Would you believe me if I told you the Big Biker Hotel has indoor covered parking for motorcycles? Pretty much guarantees no hail damage or bird poop hitting your bike while you are snoozing it up.

Part of the Big Biker Hotel is the Old Gringo, which serves coffee, cocktails, and food, and provides nightly entertainment for locals and visiting bikers. We’re looking forward to some relaxing music and a few cold drinks before dinner after our day of riding. 

Upon reaching Presidio, we turned onto FM170. What a pretty ride it was, mostly paralleling the Rio Grande River. River Road is a “Must Ride” if you are going to this part of the world.  In our case, Mexico was on our right and the drive was twisty, with some steep grades and we rode slow or fast as the terrain dictated.

Big Bend National Park is the highlight attraction of this entire region. The 800,000-acre national park contains three basic habitats: river, desert, and mountains. It encompasses the largest protected area of the Chihuahuan Desert in the United States. The ride through Big Bend National Park is always breathtaking. It is hard to believe on the other side of the US/Mexico border is another portion of this vast desert area.

Leaving Big Bend National Park, we headed North to Marathon, TX for the night. Some stayed at the Marathon Motel and RV Park, and others went to different establishments in the area to bed down.

We have some great tour sponsors in the lodging business. Click the button below to check their rates and availability.

When I had the crazy idea of creating a motorcycle grand tour of Texas, I knew that I would need some sponsors to make it work. The first business that I thought of was the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop / Bent Rim Grill. Bob and Robin Albright took a chance on me and sponsored the tour from the get-go. They have been a part of the tour every year since.

Bob aptly coined the name "Twisted Sisters" that we have all come to know as great riding roads in the Texas Hill Country.

Thank you Bob for all that you have done for the motorcycle community. May you be at peace and know how much you will be missed.

If you made all 50 tour stops and I have not yet updated your record, please contact me so I can review your pictures out of sequence and update your status.

When the tour ends, I will issue a Tour Update Newsletter that lists all tour finishers (25 or more tour stops).

Riders who submit 25 to 49 qualifying tour stop pictures will receive a rocker patch like the one shown above. If this is your first year qualifying on the tour, you will also receive the round logo patch.

As of September 29th, 195 riders have submitted 25 or more qualifying tour stop pictures. You can check your status with the button below (as of the review date indicated).

Be sure to save the following dates on your calendar for these events.

October 1 - Run with the Big Dogs fund raising event for Veterans Assistance Dogs of Texas in Kerrville, TX. Book your room at a discount while the block of rooms is available. Click this link for the schedule of events.

November 15 - Last day to submit pictures to the Picture Submission Portal.

In accordance with the rules for participation, submission of receipts from specified tour sponsors (up to 3) earn additional points.

Be sure that the name of the sponsor or non-profit, date of purchase or donation is visible on the pictures of receipts that you submit. Be sure to write your flag number (with a pen) on the receipts that you submit.

If a receipt for lodging or food is to be split by a couple, write both of your flag numbers on the receipt. The split receipt would need to be uploaded twice (one for each participant).

Sponsors whose receipts earn points are:

BONUS POINTS – For five (5) bonus points, take one picture of your bike at a tour stop with your tour flag and a copy of Ride Texas magazine. You pick the tour stop location, but only submit one picture. Submitting multiple pictures with the magazine in the picture will not increase the bonus points – just send one. The Ride Texas bonus points selection is right after stop 50 on the drop-down selector in the picture portal. To subscribe to Ride Texas, see this link.

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American Diabetes Association (Lone Star Rider's Mission)

To make donations to Lone Star Rider's Fund Raising page for the American Diabetes Association (ADA), submit a picture of the receipt you receive via email from the ADA. When you fill-out the on-line donation form, put your name in the "name recognition box" and in the personal note box, enter a note to state that you are participating in the Motorcycle Grand Tour of Texas.

Be sure to review the Rules for Participation, the FAQ (frequently asked questions) page and the reminders on the back of your tour flag. Many rider questions are answered in there.

Be sure to take your pictures and upload your pictures in HIGH RESOLUTION.

Be sure to enter your correct flag number, as pictures uploaded with an incorrect flag number will not receive credit.

Check your picture while still at the tour stop, as you may need to re-take it to get a good picture that will count.

If you lose your tour flag, use the Contact button on the 2022 Tour Riders page to let me know. I'll then send you an invoice ($4.75 + tax) that you can pay on-line so I can get a replacement tour flag in the mail to you.

If I notice a copy of "Ride Texas" Magazine in one of your tour stop pictures, I'll give you credit for the bonus. However, you should select "Bonus" (which follows stop 50 on the drop-down list) when you upload a picture with the magazine to receive credit. If you have a picture with the magazine and I did not give you credit, upload it as the "Bonus" picture.

Please do not reply to this newsletter email. Instead, use the "Contact Tour Director" button, if you have a question. Thank you.