Okie Miata Folks Ponder Hill Country Road Trip...

[Mike Wheat]

Miata Friends,

I'm just not happy unless I'm planning another road trip, and spring, alas, is just around the corner.

Don't know much about Texas, except for the Piney Woods and tourist stuff in San Antonio. But I keep reading about Hill Country and scenic drives and great greasy cheeseburger joints and barbeque. Did I mention scenic drives?

So I'm working on a road trip, perhaps a week or ten days, down to Hill Country. Probably in late March or early April.

Coupla questions: When does top-down weather start? Who has some suggestions as to nice little towns with great diners, classic family-owned motels or B&Bs, modest but proud local museums, and scenic drives.

Got lots of time to plan, and we really like to just take off with no specific destination or agenda to a broad area that has interesting possibilities.

We are members of the Northeast Oklahoma Miata Club.

Thanks for any information that you may be able to provide.

Regards,
Mike and Judy Wheat
Pryor Creek, OK
'96 black and tan

[lbader]

Mike -

April will definitely have you in top-down weather.

There are a wealth of small towns and eateries to choose from. If I was coming from out of state, I would seriously consider finding a B&B in Fredericksburg or Kerrville and take day trips to the other towns and 'villes, sampling the goodness along the way.

Some of the towns to visit:
- Hunt (Stonehenge II)
- Medina (Love Orchard)
- Medina to Camp Wood via Vanderpool and Leakey (Top 10 Road in TX)
- Lukenbach (Morale Imperative)
- Austin (Music, The Continental Club and Stubbs BBQ)
- Fredricksburg (Antiques and the Batcave)

I expect the other club members will chime in with their favorites...


- L

[Mike Wheat]

L,

Thanks for the input. I think we might homestead at the Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg. Sounds like a whimsical place to stay, and probably safe to park a Miata there. Maybe you can recommend some nearby eateries for us to enjoy...

It just ocurred to me that the name of your club refers to "Bluebonnet" and I'm wondering when they might be in bloom. Perhaps the first week or so in April?

The general plan is to spend the first night from Oklahoma in Wichita Falls and then drive down Highway 16. I've been researching scenic trips around the Hill Country, and it looks like there are some interesting places to visit. We should be able to spend about four days touring Hill Country highlights.

As a side-point, the Southeast Missouri Miata Club is planning on hosting the annual Miatas in Eureka Springs (Arkansas) event next June. I know there were many folks from Texas there last year. Perhaps we will see some of you in the Ozark Hill Country next summer.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Coolhand]

Mike,

You will get a plethora of suggestions from our club members as we run these roads all year long. I won't bore you with run names or even places to go just yet. But, when your vacation nears, I would be happy to supply you with run sheets, maps, whatever you need to enable you to go on some really fun roads. I don't mind saying we are blessed with not only gorgeous hills and even mountains, our roads are well maintained and some will give you a thrill that will make your toes tingle!

We look forward to you visiting us and again, let us know when you want more help.

[lbader]

Mike -

The Hanager might be a good place to rest. I've not been there, but someone else in the club might have. - A Fredricksburg favorite of the wife's and mine is 2 Wee Cottages ( http://www.2weecottages.com/ ), it is a small, off the main drag establishment. Skip and Kate go out of their way to make certain your visit is perfect.

For a "top notch" dinner, visit the Cotton Gin. ( http://www.cottonginlodging.com/restaurant.html ) - They took the Shiner Bock Beer Battered Onion Rings off the menu, but still have the "Chicken Fried" Pecan Pie for dessert.

Otherwise, there are a wealth of German-influenced restaurants in Fredricksburg. (Although most of Main Street closes about 6pm...) A 20 minute drive will put you in Kerrville, which has all the "chain" restaurants, Billy Gene's ( http://www.billygenesrestaurant.com/ ) and the Cowboy Steakhouse. - In under 2 hours you can visit either Austin (via 290) or San Antonio (via SH-16 and I-10). Take a drive to whet your appetite, eat in the "big city" and enjoy a nighttime cruise back to the B&B.

Bluebonnet emergence greatly depends upon Spring rainfall, but April is a good "safe bet". - Take George (Coolhand) up on his offer for runsheets. Be sure to ask him for the "Seed Farm" directions if you really want to see some wildflowers.

Cheers!

- L

[Mike Wheat]

Texas Friends,

We're just a week away from our legendary Texas Hill Country Road Trip.

If y'all happen to see a '96 black and tan motoring around rather aimlessly, ya might wave!

Got loads of internet places to visit and roads to navigate. Thanks for the input and advice.

Regards,
Mike

[windwalker]

Since you are coming from northeastern Oklahoma be sure and visit the Talimena Parkway if you can as I am sure it is really nice this time of year.

The wildflowers are really popping out everywhere this year so I think you won't be disappointed in seeing all kinds of flowers. It is a great time of year for a trip. Let us know what you are interested in and we may have all kinds of run sheets available based on your interest.

Don Privett
Bluebonnet Miata web master

[Mike Wheat]

Don,

Our local club has their annual Spring Fling later this month and it usually includes a pass through the Talimena Drive, with lunch at Queen Wilhelmena Lodge. It is an especially nice drive in late October.

But we're coming down through Wichita Falls, and will drive Highway 16 south to Hill Country, just to take in some Texas atmosphere. Hope it's not too windy!

Regards,
Mike

[windwalker]

We hope to go to the Talimena Parkway April 23 if all goes well. The springtime is one of our favorite times to run up to Talimena to see everything in bloom and enjoy the cooler weather.

As far as the weather here, if it doesn't change the weather is perfect just about 80 degrees with 5-10 mph winds occassionally. Normally the days are quite sunny but today it is partly cloudy. Be sure and bring some hats and caps to keep from burning.

I read that you are heading westerly and figured being so close you got to see Talimena quite often.

Have a safe and relaxing trip. The hill country should be a lot of fun right now. There are lots of wineries there if you are interested in wines.

Don Privett

[Mike Wheat]

Texas Friends,

Sun rise tomorrow we're on the way to Hill Country! We plan to visit the Fredericksburg museums on Monday, then drive the Sisters on Tuesday.

If y'all see a coupla old Okie folks with big grins in a '96 black-and-tan, give us a wave.

Film, and trip report, at eleven.

Regards,
Mike

[Mike Wheat]

Texas Friends,

Just got back from our Texas Hill Country Road Trip. Just over 1,600 Miata miles with visits to the Three Sisters, the Willow City Loop, stops at various restaurants, the Nimitz and Bush Museums, the LBJ Ranch and the long haul home.

Had a great time. Saw a number of Miatas in Fredericksburg, and evidently they were having some kind of BMW event. Parked next to a classic BMW 2002 with a "targa" roof. Never seen one before.

The evening before we left there were a number of Cobra replica roadsters, and a group of Corvettes, all with Iowa tags that we ran into on the Willow Springs Loop.

The morning we left there were a couple of absolutely gorgeous Austin Healey 3000s going down Main Street in Fredericksburg, probably some folks getting in early for the Healey event this weekend.

I can attest to three things that I know:

One. Pioneer Porter at the Fredericksburg Brewery is great.

Two. The Hangar Hotel is a wonderful place to stay. They let me take my Miata out onto the ramp to take pictures of it in front of the C-47 Dakota parked in the grass.

Three. Y'all got some damned hard headed bugs in Texas, and I will spent what's left of the weekend getting them off the front of my car.

And Four. We're just gonna have to come back.

Regards,
Mike and Judy Wheat
Pryor, OK

Here's the '96 in front of the Knot in the Loop Saloon on the Willow City Loop


http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt208/pryorcreek/DSCN1441.jpg

[lbader]

Mike -

Glad to hear the trip was a success and you plan to return to our stompin' grounds.

Imagine how much harder it is to get them pesky "hard headed bugs" off the front of a Miata driven hard for 300+ miles in August... (Remember, no matter how bad things get, they can always get worse!)

If you (and the missus) get an itch to visit the Texas Hill Country sooner than later, we are hosting our annual Texas Round Up in early November. Details can be found on this site, with a link to the events website as well.

Cheers!

- L