Caveats

The 2005 MTF Poker Run From Hell

The Ride Around Texas - The RAT

This is sort of a catch all page to put the things that might be of interest to you.   Some of this may be redundant.  If you think it is redundant it is probably because we think it is important.

Long Distance Riders must provide a completed trip log and include gas or other receipt showing date, time, and location for each of the designated locations.   This ride is somewhat unlike the 50CC/100CCC rides.  While we have validated that there is a suitable receipts available at each of the locations, we have not made any attempt to validate gas stops between these locations.

We have not made any attempt to reserve hotel rooms along the way.   This is up to the individual rider.   You may really want to spend some time planning your route and thinking about where your going to stay.

The routes shown are one possible way of completing the ride.  You are free to use any route you see fit as long it includes all the locations shown, in the order shown.   You can not deviate from the locations or the order.

If you are planning your route and see a road labeled Avenue F you can expect two things.  First, there probably won't be a street sign.   Second, Avenue F is probably a gravel cattle road.

It gets cold in the panhandle at night.

It gets hot in south Texas during the day.

You will get rained on somewhere.

It can rain unbelievably hard and still be 90 degrees outside in south Texas.   

It's been known to snow in the Panhandle in October.

Think about where your going to stop and plan accordingly.  Once you get much south of Van Horn, the options are very limited.   There is lodging in Marfa, Alpine and Sanderson.    As far as I know, there is no lodging available in Marathon and the place in Marfa is pretty high dollar.

You could face a similar dilemma in the Panhandle although lodging is general more available.   However, I would count on getting a room in Follett or Perryman, etc. 

Be careful if you decide to catch some sleep in any of the small border towns.   They have pretty high crimes rates and a good bit of petty larceny.    You can avoid stopping along the border altogether with a properly planned route.

The rest stops on the route are not recommendations, but only what Microsoft Streets and Trips inserts.   You will notice that they are generally in the middle of nowhere.   It is up to each rider to develop their own ride plan and sort out where and when to stop.

If you get to a location and there is no receipt available showing date, time, and location, then the following will be acceptable.   A signed receipt from a commercial establishment showing name, phone number, date, and time with an employees name and signature.   A log entry signed by any law enforcement officer, fire fighter or park ranger showing time, date, location, officer name, badge number, phone number, and signature.   Note that many of the locations you will be visiting have volunteer fire departments and are not normally manned 24/7.  These alternative receipts are only available if no other receipt if available.

It is the intent that this ride be done solely on Texas roads.   We ask you NOT to take the "short cut" though Guymon, OK, for example.   Obviously, we can not monitor this, so we leave this to you to ride the ride within these guidelines.   We will mention that while scouting this ride, that someone from that area got lost for several hours in the Grasslands National Park while taking the "short cut".  Apparently signage is not very important up there.  

If your used to places with more or less orthogonal roads, there are many places in Texas that navigation might become an issue.  Avoid "short cuts" unless you really like seeing new and different places - many want have people or signs are not on any known maps.

The best map we know of is "The Roads of Texas" published by the Aggie's at A&M press.   It pains me deeply to admit this.

A word about gas is in order.   This is mainly for those that are volumetrically challenged.   If you need gas and you see gas, get gas.   This is especially true going south of Hereford and west of Kermit.   Do not count on the Mentone gas station being open or having gas.  It is intermittent at best.   We mention this because if you get there and need gas, the closest gas is in Pecos which is a long walk from Mentone.  This is the main reason we are riding this ride CCW.  At least if you get to Mentone and need gas, you can hopefully make it the 20 miles or so down to Pecos.

Note that IBA rules prohibit carry gas in containers not attached the motorcycles fuel system...so, aux tanks good, gas bottles bad.

A word about Ranch Roads, RR's, is also in order.  This applies mainly to the Panhandle area.   Avoid them.  The problem is that the signage is very poor and often these roads are not that well maintained.   Also the Panhandle is cattle country and there is still free range cattle up there.    If you think deer pose a problem wait until you encounter a 1500 pound cow at night.

RR170, also known as the River Road, between Study Butte and Presidio is a great ride.  It does however, have a number of blind turns, steep hills, and almost always has some gravel on the road.  When doing your ride planning it would probably be best, if possible, to avoid this at night.  If you do ride it at night, then be very, very careful.

Does anyone need warning about Houston rush hour traffic?  How you get to Galveston is your business, but you might want to detour around Houston if your going to be there during the rush hours.

South Texas is agriculture and cattle.  Both are hauled by trucks that are known for pulling onto the highway suddenly and without much regard for oncoming traffic.

Don't be surprised if you stop in South Texas and no one speaks English.  Smile and pay your bill.  This is not an issue.

East Texas makes a lot of revenue from traffic tickets.

Hwy 82 across N. Texas has a number of odd speed limit changes which are almost always rigidly enforced.  This is especially true between New Boston and Sherman.

Be aware that the speed limit on many Texas roads is reduced by 5 mph at night.  This too, is rigidly enforced.

Most small Texas towns make an appreciable portion of their revenue by changing speed limits in an unexpected manner.  

SH87 is closed indefinitely in the area of Sea Rim State Park, just west of Port Arthur.  This is mentioned only because Microsoft S&T (2004) does not show this road as closed.  Use SH73 and SH124 as an alternate.  This and other useful road information can be found at  Texas Department of Transportation web site.

Texas counties and cities with the same name are usually not anywhere close to each other.  For example, the city of Sherman is due north of Dallas close to the Oklahoma border.   Sherman county is in the panhandle.   The city of Houston is down on the coast.   Houston county is in central Texas. 

Cattle haulers have the right of way.   At least they think they do.   They are paid by the trip, so guess where their priorities lie.   Same holds true for rock haulers.   You will see a lot of both.   The difference is that if you follow a rock hauler you will be pelted by small rocks and ride in a cloud of dust.  If you follow a cattle hauler you will be pelted by other things and be immediately recognizable by the odor you emit.  Neither strategy is recommended.

You are going to ride in a lot of places where the nearest services are miles away and you may not see another vehicle for hours, especially at night.    Be prepared for minor repairs and carry a cell phone.  Hopefully, if you need it there will be cell service available.

Big Bend N.P.  has a fairly low and rigidly enforced speed limit.  Slow down and enjoy the scenary.  Watch for tourist and deer as there are a lot of both in October.

Several MTF'ers have made contributions to the general revenue fund of the great state of Texas in the stretch of I-10 between Boerne and Comfort.  You should probably be careful in that area.

The speed limits in Texas reduce to 65 mph at night.  This is rigidly enforced in some areas.

Don't take for granted that the road will continue to go straight over that big bump in road just ahead.

Gravel often occurs where you least expect it or desire it.

Deer are big.  Cows are bigger.

A twenty foot drop off is a long way to fall, especially at 40 mph.

If you should encounter a Texas Highway Patrol person, it is best not to make fun of their hat...especially if it is a woman.   The proper salutation in all cases is "Sir".

Radar detectors are allowed in Texas.  So are Instant On Radar and Lasers.

If your not from Texas, don't try to act like a Texan.   It only makes us irritable. 

Grits count as a vegetable.

Ordering your egg sandwich on wheat toast may be taken as a sign of an alternative life style in East Texas.

For the RAT Rider's, you can get a receipt at the Lajitas Hotel 24 hours a day by purchasing something on your credit card.  Minimum purchase is $5.  This is likely to be the only receipt available in that area.

There is gas at Marathon but only p @ p with a closed store. 

Presidio has 24 hours gas p @ p with a closed store.

This is a fun ride.  Take care of yourself.  Stop when you need to.  Ride your pace.  If you don't finish, you don't finish.  It is better to have a next time than not have one.

Nothing else ........ so far