Christmas Letter 2012

To read this letter on the web, go to http://tayaratravels.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-letter-2012.html
Dear Friends, 

30 December, 2012

We hope our Christmas letter finds you agreeing along with us that it was a good year (better than 2011 for us!). More travel, new experiences, time with friends, and good health. I do somewhat feel the poverty of source material relative to letters past. Our interests have been focused on bluegrass bands and motorcycles. A joy for those personally involved, but less compelling to a general audience. Well, we have to make the best of it.

Blanco, Nov. 2012

A busy 5 days. Rode about 1000 miles, counting to/from Houston. Cold but mostly clear weather. We explored some very obscure backroads through beautiful Hill Country terrain. Makes me want to return in wildflower season.

Boooo!

xxx

MSTA Hill Country ride

The Motorcycle Sport Touring Association ride in the Texas Hill Country. Based in Kerrville. With Kamy and Carol.

The Nun Run

A charity ride, supporting a Catholic foundation. Also more Harley's in one place than I ever want to see again.

Coming up: Two days in the Hill Country, based at Blanco. We'll be seeking out some of the smaller, one-lane backroads.

Photos from William Whalen Service

Remarks in Memory of William Whalen

Remarks  in Memory of William Whalen

by Leigh Anderson

11 October 2012, Boston

When Melody asked me to say some words about William, I thought about how important words are to him. I will illustrate that point with a story from his undergraduate days at Rice University.

Scouting BMW club poker run

Today I helped with fieldwork for the Houston BMW Club "poker run" (google it). First time for me and I learned a bit about what makes good check points. Went to places around Schulenburg, where the club rally will occur in October. Here are a few photos.

Colorado impressions (video)

Here is a video of portions of our ride. Sigh, when can we go back?



Berthoud Pass, Independence Pass, Georgetown, Leadville, Rocky Mountain National Park, et.al. in no particular order. I'm still learning how to take good video from the bike, so this is just a rough cut. Best watched in 720p High Def.

Ride, she said

Leaving Steamboat today we ran through some rain an cold; now back in Georgetown as I post this. GT will be out base for 3 days as we do independence pass, Estes Park loop, and Squaw Pass. We seem to have propitiated the weather gods and anticipate cold but sunny days.

Best day of all. Long (200+ mile) loop from Georgetown to Estes Park and over Trail Ridge Road. Stretch from Central City is one of the best motorcycle roads I've seen. Great finale to our trip; tomorrow starting back to Houston. — atRocky Mountain National Park Trail Ridge Road.

Steamboat Springs

We've spent a few non-riding days with friends in Denver and Steamboat Springs. We parked the trailer in Georgetown and rode to Steamboat in a glorious sunny day over Berthoud Pass and highway 40. Visited Vail, Beaver Creek, and other parts by car.

The Dalrymple Estate, Steamboat Springs

Sightseeing at Vail et. al.

Georgetown

After a stop in Denver to visit friends, we make Georgetown our base

Colorado, one more time

We try again a Colorado adventure: Manitou Springs, Denver, Georgetown, Steamboat Springs



We purchased a Kendon motorcycle trailer, thinking to escape the heat and tedium of riding out of Texas. This idea worked out very well, although we had to rent a pickup to tow it (owning only a Prius).

Here we are hangin' with our bros at a truckstop in Amarillo.

Made it to Manitou Springs, a pleasant resort town near Colorado Springs

Manitou Springs

Some great restaurants there:

Hungarian Goulash

Polish Pieroges

So far we've trailered about 1000 miles and got the bikes on and off the trailer without dropping them or incurring skeletal fractures. Looks like we are getting the hang of it. 

We warm up with a curvy but easy half-day ride and sightseeing in mining towns Victor and Cripple Creek.


"Goin' down Cripple Creek,
Goin' on the run;
Goin' down ' Cripple Creek,
Have a little fun."

Overlooking Cripple Creek, CO — with Bettie Anderson atCripple Creek Historic District.

The Devil You Say

We ride the "Devil's Highway" along the eastern border of Arizona. One of the most sublime motorcycle roads in the world.

At Hannagan Meadow

Hannagan Meadow Lodge

Green chile cheeseburger at Hannagan Meadow lodge.