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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 01:47 am: | 
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Gotta round everybody up for a group photo before dinner!
Our erstwhile official Fuell photographer. I've forgotten his name, but that's O.K. because he didn't get ANY action shots of my heroic displays of riding! 
Corraling the horses. Cosmic Carl may try to make a break for it, now on one of his S2s!
Waitin' fer slowpokes...
Almost ready...Smile! (Peggy looks like she's 'bout to slap somebody!) "This is like herding kittens!"
Hold it! I gotta get one too!
Part 1:
...aaaaand Part 2. O.K., thanks everybody!
Here's the OFFICIAL version, mailed out to all participants:
Here's the same photo, except it was taken of all our great-grandparents over 100 years ago!
Thanks Peggy and Mary! Twisted Texas ROCKED!
Snake says, "Enuf 'o this crap. Let's go eat!" Cosmic Carl agrees:
Left to right:
Somebody; Cosmic Carl, Scary old man hiding behind the chuckwagon; RoyX1; Rick-who-eats-Rice; BuellieDan (back to camera); Sir Chadley; Rick's wife:
Robert "Special" K is pi$$ed!  He just mi$$ed the photo! Here, I'll take one of ya Robert!
Sadly, about half the 45-or-so people didn't make the pic (What were they thinking? O.K., Denny "da Bomb" Bahm had an excuse...a minor heart attack!  Don't worry, he's alright now  ).
(Message edited by buellerthanyou on March 25, 2005) |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 02:42 am: |
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Next we had a nice dinner  with prizes and I got as many people as I could strong-arm into it, to sign one of the Twisted Texas banners:
Don't worry Mary, I didn't steal it! Peggy gave it to me!
or was it...
Don't worry Peggy, I didn't steal it! Mary gave it to me! 
(Mary really did give it to me, with Peggy's blessing. Thanks Mary!)
The BRAG crew did a bang-up job  and I think most everybody had a great time. Nobody crashed (except the bus driver at the Y-O!) and only 3 or 4 folks had any bike trouble (couple broken belts, worn out tires...imagine that!, etc. Unfortunately the nearest place to get replacement parts was back in Boerne at Javelina and they were (typically) understocked on necessary Buell parts, specifically belts. It would be cool if either BRAG or any Adventure-Sponsoring dealer could pre-order a pre-determined list of common "wear items" in anticipation of possible breakdowns. Let's suggest that to BRAG!
Now comes the part where we leave our Twisted brethren and head West to Leakey and Thrills In The Hills! Cosmic Carl had already made tracks because he had some dastardly (just ask Dawg sometime if you don't believe me) frozen tangerine margaritas to deliver to thirsty folks at Camp Live Oak. Blazin' Shane had to head back to San Marcos for some kind of wife-requirement thing called an anti-adversary, (or something like that). Sir Chadley and I said our goodbyes and with smiles on our faces and gas in our tanks, roared out into the gathering gloom...straight toward a solid, towering front of lightning streaked clouds stretching from horizon to horizon.
Tune in tomorrow for the exciting conclusion of Twisted Thrills! |
Dino
| | Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 10:38 pm: |
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Great pix, great read! I do get the impression that y'all had yourselves some fun. |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 12:40 am: |
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O.K., I'm back with more of this lovely tale...and every word of it is true!
Our erstwhile heroes (Sir Chadley and myself) were headed toward certain destruction as we made our way from the Twisted Texas Adventure in Kerrville to Thrills In The Hills IV in Leakey ('bout 70 miles). The sun had just gone down, deer were lurking in ambush behind every roadside bush and a HUGE storm front was directly in our line of travel. Ever seen one of those fronts coming that literally looks like a black wall streaked with lightning? This was one of those; clear skies above and then as our eyes travel toward the horizon, impenetrable darkness! As we rode westward and got closer, I noticed Sir Chad occasionally throwing his clenched fist into the air. Then it dawned on me that every time he did this, a streak of lightning would shoot across the sky.  He was controlling the weather! I took my cue from him and, a couple of seconds after each of his lightning strikes, I'd do the same as a peal of thunder rolled over the landscape. I felt like we were Zeus and Thor striding across the land and I'm convinced that the fact that he was on a Lightning and I was on a Thunderbolt saved us! Our route turned from the West to the South and the storm slid past us to the North-East. Whew!  |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 12:52 am: |
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Here is the scene as we arrived, safe and dry, at Camp Live Oak on the Frio River just outside of Leakey:
These images might look a l'il blurry, but I assure you that this is exactly what it looked like! You see, everybody but Sir Chad and I had been imbibing Cosmic Carl's Mystical Frozen Tangerine Margaritas for a couple of hours, and they can have these kinds of effects.
See what I mean?
Here you can see them beginning to take effect on Sir Chadley (far right with big grin!):
Just don't have too many or this  can happen to you! |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 01:11 am: |
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El Jefe (Jeff Brooks, chief organizer of Thrills  and manager of Ducati Austin) is beginning to feel the presence of the giant bats swooping down on him from above! 
Left to right: Jeff, Kosmik Kay, Cool BMW Guy, can't tell, can't tell, don't know, Mike "Ole Bloody Bastard" Ronalter, Sir Chadley, J.C. (Jeff's son) and EvilJay.
Gettin' a l'il chilly. Let's check out the campfire! Ole Bloody smiles benignly as 'Nesa and J.C. prepare to throw themselves into the fire...left to right: Mike "OBB", Sportster Dan, El Jefe, Hemi-Lloyd, Mike S.(?), 'Nesa and J.C.
More campfire. No fatalities yet! 
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 01:25 am: |
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Let's hit the hay so we can ride tomorrow......
O.K., it's tomorrow!  Let's ride!
Mike S. gets an early start 'round the camp on his BMW dual-sport:
Here he goes bravely into the woods, and...
...Oh CRAP! Something is chasing him out of there!
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 01:36 am: |
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Lootenant Dan and Crashin' Chris taking a break while EvilJay gets into position for some video shots:
EvilJay working on his vidcam:
Lootenant Dan says, "Hurry up already!" 
O.K., back to the road for more riding:
Obligatory visit to Stonehenge to make sacrifice to the Gods of Torc see what I did there?
Read all about it...
I feel like a Druid!
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 01:58 am: |
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Now let's roll on over to the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum http://lonestarmotorcyclemuseum.com/ to hang out with Allan Johncock and his machinery. One of the truly amazing things about this place is that it is literally out in the middle of nowhere! Vanderpool, the nearest "town", has a population of 20! Don't believe me? Go here: http://texas-on-line.com/graphic/vanderpl.htm
Allan is a vintage bike racer from Australia and a friendlier man you could not meet. His wife brought us samples of Aussie meat pies and gave us the (careful) run of the place. Here Chris talks racing with Mr. Johncock:
Cool blasts from the past:
Matchless G50 racing special
Norton with the tiniest saddlebags ever!
JAP flat tracker (under restoration)
Admiring a Norton Manx 350 
Exposed valve springs!
Matchless G50 cafe' racer
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 02:10 am: |
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Here's a quick overview of the various marques on display. I got most, but not all, of 'em:
Alphabetical, no less! 
If you want to see more pics of the bikes, go to the Thrills In The Hills II heading in the archives of the Tale Section.
(Message edited by buellerthanyou on March 29, 2005) |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 02:20 am: |
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EvilJay and Crashin' Chris take one final, drooling look at the Manx, and we're on our way.
At a fuel stop in nearby Hunt, I discover this:
It's late Saturday so it looks like I've had more than my fair share of Thrills! I'm well satisfied, thankyouverymuch!  |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 02:29 am: |
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As I toodle slooooowly back to Camp Live Oak, Dan, Chris and EvilJay go for one more fast dash down TX336. Jay gets some spectacular footage of the riding with his helmet cam, including Crashing Chris almost living up to his name. Il Mostro slid in some roadside dirt and got ALL sideways and stuff, but he brought it back under control for a miraculous save (he really is a good rider and even a track day instructor). Hopefully I'll be able to post some footage from Jay's video soon, if we can get a copy burned to DVD. Next will be my artistic photos of my sloooow ride back to camp....tomorrow. Good night! |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 05:20 am: |
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Most cool ! |
Blake
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 29, 2005 - 04:16 pm: |
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And definitely twisted, in a good way.  |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 12:58 am: |
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Since I had to take the shorter, slower route back to Camp Live Oak, I stopped as the sun was setting and took many soulful, artistic  shots of the Nazgul. To wit:
(pikachu says hi!)
(there's that Western flashback thing happening again!)
(and again!!!) |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 01:09 am: |
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Arrived back at camp to find that dinner is awaiting me. Homemade spaghetti! Yum! 
When you're as beautiful as my 'Nena ,  you get served extra!
Everybody dig in!
Uh-oh, EvilJay has had too much! He's starting to list to starboard! 
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 - 01:20 am: |
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Now back to the campfire...and s'mores for dessert! Yeah, baby!
Sir Chadley attemps to show J.C. the correct way to immolate a marshmallow...
...but sadly, can't resist the gooey, delectable goodness long enough for a proper lesson...
( he made me promise not to post this photo, but after my earlier "full moon" pics...well, sorry Chad!)
Ahhhhhh...the age old tradition of telling tall tales (read "lies" around the campfire:
Oh well, a few more margaritas, a couple shots of bourbon and off to...HOLY CRAP! IT'S THE FRIO RIVER MONSTER!
Oh wait, it's only Nesa
...as I was saying, off to bed....
(Message edited by buellerthanyou on March 31, 2005)
(Message edited by buellerthanyou on March 31, 2005) |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 02:00 am: |
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Morning again (WAY too early!).
OHMUHGAWD!  'Nena meant it when she said she needed her "beauty rest"!
(not really. she's just makin' a goofy face and is really quite fetching, even early in the morning. there; now my testicles will remain intact after she sees this...)
Recovering revelers  slowly meandering up to the breakfast table...
Hemi still seems to have a margarita glass at his elbow. Did he move from this spot at all last night?!? 
Mike S. says he saw a sasquatch run off into the woods with my breakfast tacos!
The wicked smirk on Carl's face says it all..."My revenge is complete! Mmwuahahahahaha..."
Butch takes a head count to make sure that Bigfoot got away with nothing more than my breakfast. Left to right; EvilJay's back, Sportster Dan, Butch (proprietor of Camp Live Oak).
Splashdown! J.C. seems unaffected by the margaritas. He doesn't even have a s'mores hangover (maybe 'cause he's only 9)!
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 02:32 am: |
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Since I have a toasted back tire and it's the last day anyway, I'll just grab a few photos of Thrills participants' bikes at rest:
Parking lot overview; One of Cosmic Carl's S2s, Aprilia Falco, 3 or 4 Ducs:
Niiice Monster, goood Monster (slowly backing away):
Duc, Beemer, Beemer, Duc (is it beemer or bimmer?)
Sporty!
Fly Ho Silver upstaging a bunch 'o Europeans and one l'il Jap (will the P.C. police get me for saying that? i think europeans know they live in europe )
Uh-Oh, this could get ugly...looks kinda like wolves circling a helpless fawn...
'Til the l'il fawn hauls a$$ into the woods, that is!
The Nazgul, on hiatus 'til we get back to Austin.
Chris' Monsterous Duc, in all it's heinous glory...
Mike S.'s sweet S4R:
Startin' to think 'bout heading home (say it ain't so! ):
Oh dear! Broken front race exhaust mount. That's what you get for being evil, Jay! Carl and Chad commiserate:
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Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 02:59 am: |
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GROUP PHOTO TIME! Everybody gather 'round!
Hey! HEY! I'm over here!
FINE! I'll move then!
Front view:
The Hole In The Wall Gang (how'd that picture get in here??? )
For some reason, at both Twisted and Thrills, only 'bout half the folks got in the group photo. Boogerheads! Thrills was probably half it's usual size as well. I suppose lots of people couldn't commit almost a full week for both Twisted and Thrills, so they chose one or the other. I met a lot of nice people during these events and hopefully many of them will return for Thrills V which should be in September '05 (we haven't started planning yet, so I don't know exactly when).
An enormous Thanks to Peggy and Mary  and all the BRAG folks for their work on Twisted Texas, to Javelina H-D/Buell and Reg Kittrelle for BattleTrax and to Jeff Brooks at Ducati Austin www.ducatiaustin.com/ (home of Hodgson and Bostrom this year!) for organizing Thrills In The Hills IV! |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 03:11 am: |
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Thrills In The Hills IV commemorative, limited edition, can't get one anywhere else, sleeves (short) included, T-shirt:
(so limited even I couldn't get one in my size...and I designed the dam thing!)  |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 03:20 am: |
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...and Sir Chadley say that you'd better be there this year...or he'll use his trademarked Bad Voodoo Kung Buell on yer monkey a$$!!!
Thanks for listening. Hope you enjoyed the story! Sorry if I ran on a bit...
Buellerthanyou (aka HellBuelly J)
"On the road to Mandalay,
Where the screamin' Firebolts play,
An' the X1s come up like thunder outer China 'crost the bay."
--Rudyard "Maddog" Kipling |
Honu
| | Posted on Thursday, March 31, 2005 - 07:54 pm: |
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James,
Great Pics and commentary, thanks so much. Hope to make it again this year, and not break a belt..
Craig |
Philip
| | Posted on Saturday, April 02, 2005 - 12:52 am: |
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nice photos and story. i was at thrills III but could not get off this time. hope to make it to thrills V.
philip |
Buellerthanyou
| | Posted on Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 04:09 am: |
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Oh yeah! Also a BIG thanks to Sir Chadley, Blazin' Shane and ToddToo, who took many of these photos and kindly gave me access to them.
HBJ |
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