The Fort Worth StockYards

Note: I've been a little behind in updating the website. This information is from before I left for Mexico on approximately June 16th.

Before going to Mexico I spent my last few days doing a little bike preparation and checking out one of the attractions that I wanted to see; The Forth Worth Stock Yards. I had a great time there.

A few days leading up to the Republic of Texas Biker Rally in Austin I had a sudden misfortune. I lost my cell phone. Now, I realize that bunch of people would think this was not a big deal but on my Blackberry 7105t I had wireless internet that helped me a great deal since it was very time consuming and difficult for me to get to my laptop while traveling. In fact, it was impossible without removing everything from my bike and going through my clothes. I also had googlemaps on my phone, which helped me with mapping when my tomtom gps (frequently) gave me trouble. It had contact numbers on it for important people whose numbers I may have lost forever, and lastly, all of the additional features are normally not available on a prepaid phone, but due to a configuration issue at T-Mobile I had them on MY phone. Surely you can understand how distressed I was when I lost this phone. About the same time there was another event that impacted things as well. Everything together, when I found out that there was a $60 fee to get into the Republic of Texas Biker Rally unlike any bike week event it seemed better that I conserve that money for my adventure rather than spend it on an entrance fee. I had been to The Fort Worth Stock Yards once but I didn't get to see the Cattle Drive. I decided to go back to The Fort Worth Stock Yards to partake of this event rather than go to the Republic of Texas Biker Rally. I also used this time to get my front tire installed to get me ready for the road. Unbeknownst to me, The Fort Worth Stock Yards have both cultural and entertainment value. The classic western styled saloon, The White Elephant was frequently featured in Walker Texas Ranger as CD's Bar. Additionally, the most famous Fort Worth Shootout happened in front of the saloon when it was located a short distance from its present location in 1887. In 1976 the current saloon was built where it stands after a fire destroyed the previous saloon. Since 1906 this spot has always had a saloon standing on it.

Twice daily there is an actual real life live Cattle Drive through the streets of The Fort Worth Stock Yards. It's a sight to see! Real cowboys in both name and job function drive cattle from one end of The Fort Worth Stock Yards a few blocks to just shy of the other end of the Stock Yards. I wanted to get a picture of my bike with the Herd but unfortunately I didn't know how far they were leading them through The Fort Worth Stock Yards, and parked just shy of the photo-op. The Fort Worth Stock Yards also houses the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, a small shopping area; The Stock Yards Station reminiscent of the old west with an old fashioned vintage train that runs to it, The StockYards Hotel, Fincher's White Front Western Store and many other unique places to visit. W.M. Bill Pickett, the first black Cowboy to be inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame has a statue in The Fort Worth Stock Yards. He originated a unique style of Bulldogging today known as Steer Wrestling. His unique method including leaping from his horse and grabbing the steer by the horns and twisting its head until he could bite the steers lip. No, I am not making that up. BITE THE STEERS LIP. Wow.

Lastly, and completely unrelated, if you were to make a wrong turn on your way to the Stock Yards and get off the highway an exit or two early you would find yourself at two motorcycle shops side by side. A BMW shop and a Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, etc... shop. It was only fitting that I took this opportunity to go inside and fondle one of my dream bikes! The BMW R1200GS Adventure is an amazing machine. It is right at the top of a short list of candidates for my dream bike. With it's 8-gallon fuel tank, significant luggage, and style and comfort it looks to me like it would be plenty capable on the road or off the road in mild terrain. This machine is a BEAST! I've always thought of it as too heavy to be easily handleable offroad in any significant capacity but to my surprise it only weighs 564 pounds wet. I was quite surprised indeed. I don't know how big a fan of the boxer engine I am though and wonder if people ever get caught between cars splitting lanes, lol, or between trees in the rough. I've seen pictures of people cornering fairly aggressively with them in the mountains but in the back of my mind I still wonder if anyone's ever scraped the cylinder heads going through a corner or worse pivoted the back tire off the ground. Though vastly different and significantly differently priced, currently my dream bike list includes the following: The BMW R1200GS Adventure or the new F800 if I indeed deem the boxer engine too wide, The Buell Ulysses, Kawasaki KLR650, The Suzuki DR650SE, The Ducati Hypermoto, or one of the KTM Adventure or Supermoto bikes.