My first stop was at a gas station in Waller, Texas. I got some gas and then went inside the station store to use their facilities. I noticed they were selling fresh bar-b-que which had been cooked minutes earlier in a smoker outside the building There was a long line of people waiting to order the bar-b-que, so I imagine it was very good. However, I had a Zone bar packed with me and some water so I didn't try it. The next time I pass through this area though, I will definitely stop here for some Texas Bar-B-Que. I did, however, buy one of those cold bottled Starbucks coffee drinks and then went outside, sat near my bike and made some phone calls while I ate my Zone bar.
Next to, or connected to the station is a biker bar/hang out. It was fun to watch the different bikes come rolling up to the Trails End. Apparently most of these bikes belonged to a group who were riding in a "charity ride". Seeing I had ridden up alone, I was asked 2-3 times, "are you riding solo?" Then they would ask "would you like to ride with us?" So I asked about their "charity ride". None of the 3 who invited me along knew exactly what/who the charity benfited. But they did know the route. Trails End was their beginning stop (which seemed a bit backwards considering the name of the place). Then they were traveling another 15 miles to another biker bar for more refreshments and rest, then another 15 miles to another bar for some more of the same. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), I had just come from the area they were headed and I was going the opposite direction, so I was able to politely decline their offers. Besides, I just don't know that I could handle a ride of that magnitude
They were nice guys though, and friendly and complimentary about my bike. One of them asked if my Givi windscreen helped much. I told him it worked pretty good, but that some bugs/wind still get past it. He said, "Yeah, it hurts when you get hit in the head with 'em big bugs." I just said, "Well, I wear a helmet, so it doesn't hurt." He seemed puzzled at the fact that I would wear a helmet. I was just as puzzled that he didn't......... You know, big bugs and PAVEMENT can really hurt your head!!!! But, they were all polite and friendly and they all seemed to have a conscientious concern for my fluid intake while in the Texas sun. 
I had my Starbucks drink though and some water, so I was fine and therefore, I declined their offer. I did enjoy the different conversations with them and was glad to be able to add the experience to the texture of the day.Trails End and the Harley's (my bike is the outcast)
After chatting with the Charity Riders I headed west from Waller, Texas and intended to fly right through Bellville without a stop. HOWEVER, while rolling past a sidewalk cafe, I saw a couple of BMW's and one was a very old one. So I turned around and pulled in beside them. It's the people you meet along the way that make the trip interesting, afterall. The bikes belonged to a couple of guys sitting outside. I asked if I could take a picture of the bikes and they didn't mind at all. We talked for about 30 minutes about BMW's and I think they were a bit surprised at my ability to keep up with them in the BMW and bike "lingo". I didn't let them know about my r1150r.net resource (sorry, Doug) because I wanted them to assume it was just my inherent knowledge. The guy who rode the older bike (I think it was a '72 or '74) told me he is the original owner of it. And, he has just written an article for AMA magazine about a ride he took several years ago from Ohio to Florida this very bike. I am not a member of the American Motorcycle Association, so I've not read the article, but if you get the magazine and see the article.....well, the guy in the greenish colored shirt is THE guy and the older R75 is THE bike! They were both very nice guys and a cut or two above the last group I met at Trails End.
These guys were heading in the same direction I was, but I knew I would be wanting to stop and take pictures along the way, so I didn't wait around. I took off while they finished their meal.
I've always loved old buildings and enjoy photographing them. I find, however, that the country churches across the areas I've traveled are usually some of the oldest standing buildings and they are the easiest to photograph because they are usually unobstructed by other buildings or cars or billboards. So I've started a collection of my bike in front of old churches. I don't actually know why I have,.......but it gives me something to aim for when I ride through the countryside. I'm getting quite a collection as I travel too. Here are some of the churches I added to the collection on this ride. I've also collected some stories from members about their church's history or about themselves as well. I suppose I should do something constructive with this some day as well as the stories I am collecting from all the people I meet along the way. I need a book deal. The lady I met at the church in Welcome, Texas told me she has been going to that church since she was one week old and that was 66 years ago. Her daugher plays the organ there and then she told me about a new liturgy for the church. We talked for about 20 minutes and then I was off again with a stern word of caution from her. All, but two of these churches in the following pictures, are surprisingly from all different denominations. Not done on purpose. It just happened that way. I'll leave the denomination names off the pictures - I'd rather you just see the buildings.
Nelsonville, TX church
Welcome, TX church
Sommerville, TX? Along 390 overlooking Lake Sommerville
Gay Hill, Tx church
Church along William Penn, Road - William Penn, TX??
Navasota, Tx church
Highway 390 is designated a Scenic Highway in Texas and it is listed as one of the top 10 motorcycle roads in Texas, so I picked it up in Burton, Texas and rode it till it ended at 105. It is a nice road with rolling hills and some twists, but it seems to be much more populated than the roads I had just come from which ran through Industry and Nelsonville. It has a nice little picturesque railroad bridge on it, however.
Then in Independence, TX, I found the church where Sam Houston was converted (from what, I'm not sure) and baptized in the creek near it. I didn't get a picture of it because of a crowd milling around there, however, around the corner I did find a little sign pointing the way to a historical cemetery and since it was Halloween weekend, I decided to go searching for it. I went down an unmarked, one lane, tree lined road to the Independence, Tx graveyard. It was kind of spooky way back in the woods in the graveyard. It was surrounded by a barbed wire fence and fields - no house, no sounds, no buildings. Just me and the tombstones in the graveyard. Very OLD tombstones. There was a sinister and an eery silence back there. Not that I was expecting anyone to say something in the midst of the silence. In fact, I'm glad no one did, since I was alone in there. But the silence was deafening with mystery.
My bike among the graves:
The fence surrounding the graveyard
Leaving there, I was completing the loop by heading east again on 390 to 105 which leads into Navasota, TX. Needing another break for water and a restroom, I stopped in Washington, Texas. The Declaration of Independence for Texas was signed in Washington. I had intended to visit the site, but was running out of time and there were a lot of people already there, so I stopped just outside of the historical site at Stolz's Grocery Store. From there I could see the back of the building. This is where the declaration was signed while Col. Travis held off Santa Anna as long as he could at the Alamo while waiting on reinforcements......who never came.
The Building where the declaration was signed
I pulled up to Stolz's grocery and parked next to a couple of Harley's.
I went inside the grocery store, but as soon as I stepped my foot in there, I realized it was more of a bar than a store.
I walked in and asked to buy a bottle of water. "Pumpkin", one of the women behind the bar (that's what the Harley guys called her) said they were sold out of bottled water. So one of the guys says, "That means you'll have to drink beer with us." Before I could answer, the other Harley rider saw the camera over my shoulder and said, "Are you a photographer?" I answered, "Well, I guess...... of sorts." Curious, they got up to go look at my bike outside.
In the meantime, I told the ladies that tap water would be fine with me and I would be happy to pay for it, and could I have refills, and where is the restroom, and then excused myself. While I was away, the four of them had discussed among themselves and concluded that I was some sort of professional photographer (like Taosport, I suppose) and since I was riding a bike, I must be a photographer for a motorcycle company or magazine. I was overwhelmingly flattered and since they were already very "lit", I decided to let them believe whatever they wanted, while I capitalized on the benefit and had some fun. I took pictures of the building and because I am curious, I asked about it. One of the ladies wanted me to see the side storage room. She told me it use to be a separate entrance and seperate area of the grocery store during the days of segregation. It was smaller than the area for the "white folk" and in it there was a sign she wanted me to see. It was painted by an old indian who use to paint murals on the walls of homes in the area back in the 1800's (that's what she told me, anyway). After removing a stack of things, this is the sign she wanted me to see. Well, I was expecting a landscape mural, but nevertheless, it's historic and it was important to these folks to show it to me, so I took a picture to share with you, but secretly, I was taking a picture of my favorite food right under the sign. Peanut Butter!
The "Grocery" side of the store:
I quickly drank down two glasses of water, had my empty water bottled refilled, and then went outside to take pictures of the building. Pretty soon, the Harley riders and the two women came out as well, and stumbling to their bikes they said, "Hey, take a picture of us and put it on the cover of your magazine." I laughed to myself and played along. So here they are and I guess this will have to serve as the cover of a magazine for now. One of the men said, "Don't you want to move that cheap BMW out of the picture first?" I let the comment go at first, but since I was on my way out of there, after getting their picture, I walked up to my bike and as I was packing up my camera and getting my helmet and gloves on I slowly and wily said, "If the BMW is not in the picture, then they won't want the picture on the cover of the magazine. In fact, the graphics guys will crop the picture anyway so that the Harleys don't detract from the beauty of a BMW in the picture!" Then I gave a sly smile, thanked them and rode off. They were pretty drunk - they won't remember anything.
It was getting close to 6:00 p.m. by now, so I needed to hurry through the rest of my route. I had to cut off one of the other designated top 10 motorcycle roads in Texas because of time and because of flooding a day or two earlier. It is 3090 which goes from Navasota to Carlos, TX where, I am told, another popular bike hangout is located. In Navasota, I turned south and headed back toward Houston. There are rolling hills south of Navasota and a lot of ranch land. Cattle were everywhere as were hay trucks. Hay trucks are no fun to be behind on twisting roads without a chance to pass. Thankfully, I was wearing a leather jacket rather than a mesh jacket this day. (Sorry, Vann, but I had to wear chaps because my new motorcycle riding pants were be cleaned from all the grasshoppers and butterflies/moths I encountered on my last ride. I think there is some sort of bug migration going on!!!) I stopped to snap a couple of quick pictures of the cattle grazing before the sun dropped too low in the west.
I was out about 7 hours and only went 243 miles. But the miles were marked with memories and good conversations with nice Texas people along the way. I think I need to start carrying a voice recorder with me though. Some of the stories I am hearing as I travel are really worth being recorded. It's amazing how a camera can often open up opportunities and conversations. I can only imagine the stories I would hear if I had a recorder as well. I finally arrived back where I started - kind of windblown and weary, but happy to have seen what I saw and to have met the people I talked with along the way. Everybody has a story, and most of them just want someone to tell it to. I'm having a blast listening to the stories along the roads I travel.
GypsyRR
They came over and sat near me. A voice calls out 'Hey, BMW!'. I turn around and he says 'nice bike'. 
. Hopefully, I'm done dropping for a while.
