Max's, Colorado City, Colorado Review

Topping of a good ride with a good meal seems appropriate if not necessary.  Colorado is not lacking for great roads with twists, curves, ups, downs and impressive scenery.  Discovering local eateries which serve up outstanding food is not as easy as finding a great road, but when it happens the combination is worth sharing.

The 36 miles of Colorado 165 running from Colorado 96 near North Hardscrabble Creek to I25 in Colorado City is a road worth riding and enjoying, especially if you end at Max's in Colorado City.  Colorado 165 features a good combination of sweepers, tight curves and elevation changes.  Bishop's Castle sits on the northwest side of the road 24 miles out of Colorado City which is an interesting place to stop and explore.

Photo from TripAdvisor

Riding east into Colorado City Max's is on the north side of the road.  There is a good amount of parking and it is in decent shape.  Max's has both inside and outside seating.  Outside seating faces southwest with a good view of the mountains.

The service was quick and friendly and the atmosphere is welcoming with country hospitality.  Although the sign says Breakfast, Burgers and Dairy Treats I opted for the Green Chili (something that is difficult to find in Texas).

Max's Green Chili - photo by Oz

The bowl of Green Chili was topped with shredded cheddar and served with a flour tortilla.  It arrived hot (but not too hot) and gave off an appetizing aroma.  Before adding anything to it I tasted a spoon full - wow!  No need to add anything.  The ground meat, beans, spices, tomato and green chili's mixed to create a flavorful meal with just a little "heat."

The tortilla complemented the chili.  Enjoying the view, the atmosphere and every spoonful made for a great lunch.  To top the meal off I ordered the fresh baked blueberry pie a la mode.

A great way to complete a meal - photo by Oz

The pie was served warm with soft-served ice cream.  Flaky crust and berry rich blueberry filling makes for a great homemade pie - this was one of those pies.  The pie without the ice cream would also be great.  The pie could stand on its own.

The kicker to the meal was the overall value.  The old fashioned service and cooking was matched by some old fashioned pricing.  There is not many place in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex (if any) where one can get this quality and quantity for less than $10.

So when you are in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains check out Colorado 165 and grab a bite to eat at Max's in Colorado City.

Connect and follow Biker Oz on the following:

              

 

Please visit the following great companies:

THE ESSENTIALS FOR MODERATE SELF-IMPROVEMENT

 

Awesome gear for every rider!

Ordinary Biker Oz YouTube Channel has video reviews and more

* I have personally ordered from and/or visited these businesses and based on my experiences I recommend this company.  I have an affiliate relationship with the businesses, which means if you follow this link and purchase, I will receive a small commission and will get to ride more!
 

Feedback on these businesses is appreciated.  You may comment below.

HOME

Great road & destination west of Austin, TX

It gets really hot here in Texas but, sometimes the road is worthy of some discomfort.  One such road I recently found is northwest of Austin on the eastern edge of the Texas Hill Country.  It was really by chance that I took the road but I am glad I found Farm to Market 1431 (FM 1431).

Cedar Park is a growing city 20 miles from downtown Austin and about 10 miles west of Round Rock and Interstate 35.  I checked into a motel on a hot (102 degrees) Sunday afternoon.  Once in the room I looked at the map and saw that I wasn't that far from the famous Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls and its famous homemade pies.  Homemade pie sounded great.  The most direct route was FM 1431 and it looked like it had some nice curves so I decided to take it.  I am glad I did.

FM 1431 has plenty of curves and elevation change

It was about 3:30 in the afternoon and the temperature on the FJR read 103 degrees as I headed west.  For the first five to six miles from I35 FM 1431 is a six lane city street with plenty of traffic lights, but after passing Anderson Mill Road things get better.  It comes a 4 lane road with nice sweeping curves and several hills.  There is one more traffic light in Lago Vista (about 20 miles west of I35) and then the road narrows to a two lane stretch of asphalt just waiting to be ridden.

Recently repaved FM 1431 is in great condition

The road had numerous curves, but down shifting was not needed on most of them.  They were big sweeping curves with elevation changes frequently.  I was able to enter the curve at a good pace and acceleration through the turn.  I really enjoyed the hills.  There is very few stretch (and those are short) in which there was no curve or no elevation change.

Of course riding in the Texas Hill Country at dusk or dawn can be a dangerous situation due to the concentration of wildlife, especially Mule Deer.  I did not see any on the way to Marble Falls (100+ temperatures tend to keep Bambi in the cooler shaded areas), but I did pass a couple 20 feet from the road on my way back to the motel around 6:00.

 This photo is from a different trip about 35 miles from Marble Falls, but it serves as a great example how deer sightings are very common in the area.

Once I got to Marble Falls I was disappointed to see that The Blue Bonnet Cafe closes at 1:45 on Sundays (yes, the sign on the door says 1:45).  I drowned may sorrows of missing out on a great piece of homemade pie with a Blizzard from the local Dairy Queen.

I decided to take the same road back even though I was headed to Georgetown to watch my son at basketball camp and there were other routes.  I had enjoyed the road and I knew that I could take it at a crisper pace this time.  It was great!

The following day I decided to ride some before heading to camp and watch my son and his team play games.  I checked out the map and decided that I had enjoyed FM 1431 so much and I did not get my pie - I would ride out to the Blue Bonnet Cafe for lunch, but on the way I was going to take a side loop off of FM 1431.

About 12 mile east of Marble Falls FM 1174 intersects FM 1431 and heads north.  I took FM 1174 to FM 243 to Oatmeal, TX.  Oatmeal is a tiny community with a community center and pavilion including a large grill to use during the Oatmeal Festival.  Yes, there is an Annual Oatmeal Festival on the Labor Day Weekend.

 Documented proof that somewhere someone will celebrate anything.

Hopefully this isn't the community's waters source.

I continued north on FM 243 to Bertram, TX where I turned south on FM 1174 riding it back to FM 1431.  The loop to Oatmeal, Bertram, and back to FM 1431 added 31 miles and it was well worth it.  The loop was not as curvy, but quite enjoyable and scenic.  

FM 1431 crossing over Cow Creek

I pulled into the Blue Bonnet Cafe ready for lunch and some pie.  I actually enjoyed breakfast for lunch (breakfast served all day) and yes I had a piece of German Chocolate Pie after my breakfast/lunch.  I forgot to take my camera in so no pictures, but I was very satisfied with both the meal and the dessert.

Once more I consulted my map to decide how I would get to Georgetown and basketball camp.  No other road heading to Georgetown could match the squiggly line I had already ridden three times in less than 24 hours - so I smiled and headed east on FM 1431 with a goal of push the FJR through the curves and over the hills.  I also had time to take a couple of side roads to look at Cow Creek and the Colorado River (not to be confused with the much longer and bigger river that flows from Colorado to the Gulf of California).

Cow Creek.  Cow Creek Road is a paved county road that has some great scenery.

Muleshoe Bend of the Colorado at the end of Turkey Bend Road

The fourth time riding the road was just as enjoyable as the first and second time.  I really enjoyed the road, the scenery, and the side roads.  If you are in Central Texas and have the time you will not be disappointed riding FM 1431 and you might as well stop for pie in Marble Falls.

On a different note - during my ride from the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro-mess I had to stop by the Czech Stop Bakery in West and then I purposefully set out to find a church that I had seen on a previous ride.  The sign to the church is like none other I had ever seen so I wanted a picture of the sign.  Just thought I would share it with you.  Let me know if you have ever seen a church like this.  

Read the sign carefully

The Feedlot in Leakey, TX

The Hill Country of Texas is an awesome place to ride and work up a good appetite.  If you take the time to ride the famous "Three Twisted Sisters" (FM 335, FM 336, & FM 337) you ride through Leakey and past The Leakey Feed Lot (547 US 83).

The three FM roads make up "Sisters" along with the north connecting Hwy - TX 41 and a short stretch of TX 55 between Camp Wood and Barksdale make up a 100 mile loop through some great Texas landscape.  The roads a full of twisties, hills, and a variety of Texas scenery.  (Photo take on FM 335)

This is not a loop for inexperienced riders.  The roads follow canyons and at times there are some steep drop offs which little or no guardrails.

There are several exotic ranches along the way.  One ranch on FM 335 even had giraffes.

On two separate occasions I have ridden the "Sisters" in the morning and returned to Leakey for lunch at the Leakey Feed Lot.  At first glance I did not think the place was open and if you get after 2pm and before 5pm it is closed!  Actually it is open only on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11-2 & 5-9 and on Sunday 11-2.  (Photo from www.leakeyfeedlot.com)

On both occasions we sat outside in the front of the restaurant and watch the bikes go by.  I ordered the cheeseburger and fries.  The order came out hot, fresh, and on a paper plate - kind of surprising, but did not damage the burger.  The fries were hot and cooked just right (for me).  The veggies on the burger all seemed fresh.  The meat was lean and seasoned well.

The burger hit the spot and filled me up.  Although I did not have the chicken fried steak I have heard it is really good.

So go enjoying the Three Twisted Sisters and then fill your stomach with some good food at the Leakey Feed Lot.  You will greatly enjoy both uniquely Texas experiences.