Three Rings of Heaven - Texas Style

[SixFiveOh]

Feeling quite the pair after our adventure a few weeks back to Bellville, Joyce and I decided to tackle a bit longer drive up to Brenham. Now, anyone from Texas knows what Brenham is famous for – and I suppose many of you from other lands do as well. But for the “uninformed” Brenham is home to the happiest cows this side of Heaven.

Why are they happy you might ask? Because Brenham is Blue Bell country – and Blue Bell is some of the best tasting ice cream in the country. You may not have ever had a chance to try our ice cream, and that’s understandable. Blue Bell says it’s because they eat all they can and then sell the rest - and sometimes there just isn’t enough to go around. But enough of the commercial messages - on to the ride!



We leave the house at 8:15 am and head to Simonton - the starting point for today’s journey. Simonton sits at the intersection of 1093 and 1489 and from here we headed north on 1489 toward Brookshire. FM 1489 is a beautiful Farm to Market (FM) road with nice sweeping turns and smooth blacktop. Horse farms abound in this area and the lush green pastures are stunning in the early Texas summer. Especially after several days of rain!



Once into Brookshire we make our way to 359 and headed north to Pattison; where we pick up 1458 for the run to Sealy. Now, FM 1458 is our Texas version of the twisties and a road we lovingly refer to as Racer’s Road. While not a mountain road by any stretch of the imagination, it does have its sweepers. On any given weekend it’s not uncommon to see several dozen sport bikes at all different speeds along the route.



At the end of Racer’s Road is Stephen F. Austin State Park. Just outside the entrance to the park is an area where one can relax under the shade of 100 year old oak trees and catch up on some good bench racing. Joyce and I packed a sheet, some fluids, and trail mix for a brief layover in the shade. From here you can watch the wide variety of bikes as they exit Racer’s Road on their way to into Sealy for fuel – both bike and human!






After our picnic brunch, we set off toward Sealy where we pick up 1094 for a short piece. From here we take 2187 and headed west to Cat Spring. This stretch of road is the beginning of the rolling hills we would enjoy for the rest of the day. Not many curves to play on, but the road is smooth. All along the way into Cat Springs we are treated to the beauty of Texas farm land, with acres and acres of golden grain swaying gently in the warm southern breeze.

At Cat Springs we turn north on 949 (Mill Creek Road) and follow the rolling terrain all the way into Bellville, where we wind our way through the tiny downtown and head out on Highway 36 toward Brenham. Along the way we stop off in Kenny for a breather and to replenish our fluids. Now Kenny is your typical one horse town, defined entirely by the little post office where time appears to have stood still for the past few decades.






Once rested we continue on our way up 36 and into Brenham, motoring into downtown - the destination point of our ride. We stop at the courthouse to cool off under the shade trees and determine our next move.



Deciding that food and a rest room are high on our list, we mount up and head up the street to a find local eatery called “Must be Heaven”. We park the bikes across the street and check out the air conditioned public restrooms right on the square – to which Joyce gives a top rated 10.



With the bikes bedded down and hunger on the rise we head in to eat, and what a feast it was! Must be Heaven is the perfect name for this little eatery – the food was fabulous and inexpensive too!






After having our fill, its back on the bikes for the ride down 36 south to 109. We take 109 east to 159 and then turn west toward Industry. We relax a bit and enjoy the gentle terrain and smooth back roads. Not many curves here – but after having our fill at lunch perhaps that was a good thing.

From Industry we continue out 159 toward Bellville, stopping at the small picnic park at the intersection of 109 and 36. We rest for a bit and talk to another rider named Smitty who arrives just as we do. His stead is a beautiful flamed purple Honda cruiser. We shoot the breeze and watch the many bikes ride by on their own adventures. Smitty tells us of a town a bit further north of Brenham called Somerville, which he says becomes bikerville on the weekends. We’ll have to give that a try on another ride.

Leaving the picnic park we hook up with 36 and ride into Bellville. I know we are getting close to the time we will need to refuel, but 36 is too busy with traffic today so we opt to take 529 west to 331. We take 331 south back down to 36 again where we can pick up the busy road just a mile or two outside of Sealy.



At the fuel stop we are surrounded by other bikes, this is without a doubt the most bikes I have ever seen in one day. Once refueled we take 90 west to 1458, and from there ride south through Frydek to begin the last leg of our journey home. At 1093 we turn west for the final time and are soon back at Simonton – our start and end point. From there it’s a gentle 15 mile ride back to the house and a cold shower. We roll up the driveway to the house at 3:15 pm - total trip length is right at 175 miles!

[Zrexmark]

Great ride report and I have to say Blue Bell ice cream is the best I've ever had! I used to ride through Brenham on my way to the WERA races at Texas World Speedway. This was back when Doug Polen was a club racer. I was living in Port Lavaca at the time, working at the nuke plant near Bay City.

Texas has such a varying landscape that good riding can be had by doing a little exploring. I used to take off from PL and run Farm to Market roads, using state highways only to get to the next FM road. I found that the FM roads tended to run along property lines and offered some of the best riding in Texas.

[JimmieS]

Great ride report and awfully purdy pictures too. Lynda and I will be riding through Texas in July on our way back home - Wouldn't mind a tip or two on some of those excelent back roads Texas has.

Cheers!!

[SixFiveOh]

Thanks guys.

Mark - Spent many a weekend at TWS with the Porsche club (my "other" toy is a 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo). When TWS first opened (back when it was TMS) I went to the Twin 200's - a combination USAC Championship race and USAC Stock Car race. That was way back in the late 70's early 80's. Got to see AJ Foyt and the Unser boys (Bobby and Al) duke it out on the high banks.

I'm looking forward to taking in some moto action the next time the bikes are out to play!

Jim - Let me know where you plan on entering and exiting Texas and I'll see if I can generate some Farm to Market routes you can ride.

[motowriter]

Great write-up, Keith and really nice pics! Looked like a typically excellent day to be on the farm roads. Love the little towns out there. So... you went to Brenham and didn't get your Blue Bell fix??

Thanks for the report, Keith!

[SixFiveOh]

Originally Posted by Gary

So... you went to Brenham and didn't get your Blue Bell fix??

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that...



I just thought the photo wasn't up to my standards.

You should have seen the pies they had there!