San Antonio?

[the1mavin]

I may have the opportunity to move down to San Antonio. Just looking for opinions about the area. Good, bad, or ugly...

Scraping pegs in the canyons here in Colorado is my favorite past time. So, good day rides in the area are of a particular importance to me. 3-400 miles all back roads a day for "lunch" are my standard trips. I generally don't mind the rain, but don't want to have to mount pontoons ;-)

So let me have it guys. I am sick of the snow!
Thanks
Tim

[Lonewuff]

The Texas Hill Country has some of the best rides in Texas. Areas around Leakey, Kerrville, Bandera, Camp Wood, and Taylor are all fantastic day rides. The Three Twisted Sisters (FM 335, 336, & 337) are great for getting after it. Then you can run up towards Austin for more great day rides. San Antonio is one of my favorite spots in the state for fun, food, and great rides. So, what are you waiting for...come on down!!!

[LostAlmost]

Living in Ft. Collins and are considering moving to San Antonio? Imagine being in Denver, raise the temperature 20-30 degrees, and erase the Rockies. Snow isn't a problem. The riding season is a lot longer, but the summers are tough, especially if you weren't raised in the heat. When I used to take my kids back to Dallas to visit the relatives in the summer, they would start to wilt in the high 80s. They were raised at 7000' in the Northern New Mexico mountains.

That said, San Antonio is a fun town with a lot of history. The hill country is close for rides and Austin is close enough to enjoy.

The title derives from a Union general stationed in Texas after the Civil War who is (mis)quoted as saying, "If I owned Texas and Hell, I would live in Hell and rent out Texas". Of course, that was before air-conditioning. Run down on your bike and visit for a week in July before you close the deal.

Doug

[dwsdad]

We do have a year 'round riding season....if you can ride in 100+ days. It will get down into the teens here in Jan/Feb, but I've also seen it hit 100 in Feb. This year was the second year they completely shutdown I10 due to ice. We don't get snow, but we do get ice. I'm still cleaning up my place (http://dwsdad.com/Gallery/Icestorm-Jan2007) from all the tree branches.

Lots of history in San Antonio and the surrounding area - after all, it's the birthplace of Texas. Lots of German communities down this way, too.

And their right. Head northwest out of San Antonio and you have some really beautiful hills. Head south about 2 hrs and you're at the coast. Head northeast about 7 hrs and you're in the piney woods of East Texas. Head East about 3 - 4 hours and you're in the Big Thicket National Forest. Head west about 7 hrs and you're in the Big Bend State park area. North of that is Ft. Davis and the McDonald Observatory. Head way northwest about 9 or 10 hrs and into Amarillo. Palo Duro Canyon area. Second largest canyon in the US only to the Grand Canyon.

AND we have the World Champion San Antonio Spurs!

[katnapinn]

I may have the opportunity to move down to San Antonio. Just looking for opinions about the area. Good, bad, or ugly...

Scraping pegs in the canyons here in Colorado is my favorite past time. So, good day rides in the area are of a particular importance to me. 3-400 miles all back roads a day for "lunch" are my standard trips. I generally don't mind the rain, but don't want to have to mount pontoons ;-)

So let me have it guys. I am sick of the snow!
Thanks
Tim
Tim. I would sugest that you come down for a few days to see for yourself. We do have some great ridin in these parts but it do get hot :eek: In the summers I try not to ride between 12:00 noon and 7:00 pm as that can be a bear with the heat and I have lived here all my life.

[grifscoots]

Mexican food!!! Big Red Soda!!!! Lone Star Beer!!! The Guadalupe River!!!! Port A!!!! My front yard!!!!

[katnapinn]

Mexican food!!! Big Red Soda!!!! Lone Star Beer!!! The Guadalupe River!!!! Port A!!!! My front yard!!!!
Well ifin that don't scare him off nutin will :eek:

[Dick]

Mexican food!!! Big Red Soda!!!! Lone Star Beer!!! The Guadalupe River!!!! Port A!!!! My front yard!!!!
Hey, you forgot the Blanco Bowling Alley Cafe and Pie Conglomerate. And Luckenbach. Plus right up his alley with the day rides for food - the Hard 8 BBQ and Brothel in uhhhh... Brady, and uhhhhh.... Stephenville, and uhhhh...now Coppell. :thumb:

[davemoore]

Hey, you forgot the Blanco Bowling Alley Cafe and Pie Conglomerate. And Luckenbach. Plus right up his alley with the day rides for food - the Hard 8 BBQ and Brothel in uhhhh... Brady, and uhhhhh.... Stephenville, and uhhhh...now Coppell. :thumb:

And Lockhart (4 BBQ's). And Taylor (Louie Mueller's BBQ). Did someone mention Llano (Cooper BBQ)? How about the Shell Station BBQ right here in Boerne?

Hey, from central Texas, it's most of a day to get to the state line in any direction. But why would you want to go elsewhere?

Finally, Tim, you gotta watch the video on this post:
http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23494

Yee Haw!

[loansumrider]

fellow riders ( and you eaters ): triple A puts out a texas hill country map.
when i ride i like to add one or two roads that i have not been on yet. some of the roads need knobie's, but i try them any way with my LT. glad i have reverse.

come on down and lets ride.

Jim

[grifscoots]

fellow riders ( and you eaters ): triple A puts out a texas hill country map.

JimWhat's a map?

[Lonewuff]

What's a map?

You know...the colored toilet paper.

[ibbones]

What's a map?I still have a map. It's even got Governor Ann Richards picture on it.

[grifscoots]

I still have a map. It's even got Governor Ann Richards picture on it.I sometimes miss that hard drinking, chain smoking, Harley riding woman. Sometimes.

[the1mavin]

Thanks for all the info! I do love to eat so BBQ is great incentive. I just went thru a couple phone interviews and probably will be down to San Antonio for a final interview soon.

I was in Austin a few weeks ago 95 degrees w/ 95% humidity when I got off the plane! It was definitely hot. We had such a long snow covered winter here this year I was going thru motorcycling withdrawal. I lived in Las Vegas for eight years or so before moving back to Colorado, so I can handle the heat - yeah I know it is a dry heat in Vegas...

Since it finally warmed up I have been on the bike every day. One of the primary reasons I am looking around is to move somewhere that I can ride year round.

I do have some time off early July so I may be able to ride down. We'll see...

Thanks again everyone.
Tim

[grifscoots]

Tim, Let us know and we'll throw you a RTE. I live out in the hill country towards Canyon Lake and have extra room if you'd like.

[Dean_BMW]

Not to hijack this thread, but just wanted to tell Tim that his avatar pic motivated me to add an avatar to my profile :)

[ibbones]

Not to hijack this thread, but just wanted to tell Tim that his avatar pic motivated me to add an avatar to my profile :)That picture was not taken in OK.

[Dean_BMW]

That picture was not taken in OK.
Your right about that! I like that picture though... because I took the lift up on top of the mountain while I was there and really enjoyed the view. One of my fav parts of the trip.

[ibbones]

Your right about that! I like that picture though... because I took the lift up on top of the mountain while I was there and really enjoyed the view. One of my fav parts of the trip.SWEET!!!:thumb: I really like that area. Incredible views and roads.

[McRuss]

I just returned from a 7 day trip to Colorado from San Antonio so I can speak with some authority (but not much....) As a native of Durango, I can truly say "you cannot go home!" Someone has stolen Durango, replacing it with a plastic and fiberglass replica of a town that combines all the bad of Southern Calif with Aspen! Nuff said.

I rode from Durango to Delta via 550/Million $$ Highway, then Cedaredge to Rifle via Grand Mesa. Was downright chilly on the Mesa, 102 in Parachute when I touched down there. Talk about not being able to dress for a ride! Then a day in Denver, broke heat records each day, and I was ready for TEXAS! Never would have thought I would say that! Rode straight through to Lakehills, 18 hours including a number of rest stops, meals, etc. Cooling vest saved my life in Parachute, again in West Texas. The Hill Country, where I live, has great roads but they dont compare with Colorado's. But even though it is growing, you dont see a multi-million $$ house on EVERY hilltop (yet) like SW Colorado! If it were not for family, I doubt I'd ever go back to Durango.

Alll said and done, the Hill Country of Texas is my choice (and coming from Colorado, you will find it affordable!)

Oh, and for those who follow such, the trip was done on my FJR. No heat issues in 102 temps, a little buzz but I'm used to it. Super riding position (for me). Haven't checked my overall mileage yet but it must be close to 50 (and lots of 75-80 mph runs.)

[the1mavin]

Well, it's time for my move finally! Time to revive this thread. I've got a couple weeks to find a place in San Antonio. I am looking for a place between San Antonio and New Braunfels... If anyone knows a real estate agent in the area that likes to work very fast PM me!

Anyone live near New Braunfels? Would it be worth the longer ride to San Antonio to live outside of the metro?

After a couple weeks I will be ready for some RTEs and some good spring rides in TX!

Tim

[Dick]

Well, it's time for my move finally! Time to revive this thread. I've got a couple weeks to find a place in San Antonio. I am looking for a place between San Antonio and New Braunfels... If anyone knows a real estate agent in the area that likes to work very fast PM me!

Anyone live near New Braunfels? Would it be worth the longer ride to San Antonio to live outside of the metro?

After a couple weeks I will be ready for some RTEs and some good spring rides in TX!

Tim
Hi, Tim. What area of San Antonio are you gonna be workin' in? The commuting traffic around here is getting to be rather congested, due in part to an influx of new residents, and in part due to what seems like road construction on every road. Depending on your work hours, and where, there will be several locations that should fit the bill.

Grif <grifscoots> prolly knows a good New Braunfels real estate agent, or one that works the northeast quadrant of the metroplex. Up and down IH-35, 'tween S.A. and N.B., there are quite a few developments for choosing. Two lane road, FM 3009, running west from IH-35, you'll find some well established areas, as well as some new subdivisions. I would quiz the real estate agent about the tax benefits, or non-benefits, of Bexar county (S.A.), versus Comal county (N.B.).

Sumpthin' you might wanna play with just a bit, is either Google Earth, or Virtual Earth (http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=44.023938~-99.71&style=h&lvl=4&tilt=-89.875918865193&dir=0&alt=7689462.6842358). Can give you bird's eye views and some idea of the populated areas and the growth corridors.

Good luck, Tim. Lookin' forward to having you in the 'hood. Hope your move goes smooth.

[McRuss]

Well, it's time for my move finally! Time to revive this thread. I've got a couple weeks to find a place in San Antonio. I am looking for a place between San Antonio and New Braunfels... If anyone knows a real estate agent in the area that likes to work very fast PM me!

Anyone live near New Braunfels? Would it be worth the longer ride to San Antonio to live outside of the metro?

After a couple weeks I will be ready for some RTEs and some good spring rides in TX!

Tim

WooHoo! Come on down! I agree with Dick, plan your homesite to correspond with the area of town where you are gonna work. I love it out where I am but would not live here if I had to drive to the s/e side of town.