Ordinary Biker Oz: Hill Country Motorcycle Ride

Showing posts with label Hill Country Motorcycle Ride. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

First Ride of 2026 and First After Surgery!

The sheep in Tennessee country were curious when I stopped by

This may be a lot later than most riders in the southern states of North America, but I went on my first motorcycle ride in 2026 and the first after my aortic heart valve replacement. Wow, it felt great!

In August 2025 my family doctor heard a heart murmur. No other doctor had every mentioned hearing a murmur so it was new development. A echocardiogram was ordered. Two weeks later the doc is telling me I have stenosis in my aortic valve (stenosis is narrowing and stiffening of the valve) which is not good.

A trip to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee for more tests and consultation took place. We were told I had a bicuspid valve, which is a birth defect, instead of a normal tricuspid valve and it would eventually fail. A replacement was needed.

October 22 at 5:30am I checked in for a mini aortic heart valve replacement and later that day I awoke with a new bovine heart valve. Recovery was slow at first but in the last six weeks I have progressed well and have gained endurance and strength. So it was time for a ride!

A sunny day and an old country church made for my first 2026 ride photo stop

Fun ahead! No straight roads on this ride

February 2, 2026 was sunny and temperatures rose to the upper 40's. I geared up for a short ride after the longest period without riding since I first started riding motorcycles in March of 2004. I headed to a nearby road that I enjoy and I could not stop smiling. The Indian operated like it should and I enjoyed the curves with confidence.

Although it was a short jaunt, by design, it made me feel good about my recovery and now I am looking forward to more days that are warmer and hopefully dry. Today has been warmer, but rainy.

Short ride but a good one for the first after heart valve replacement surgery

I plan to get some more miles ridden before the end of March in preperation for a trip to the Texas Hill Country. Some friends and I will be heading to the Texas Hill Country for four days of riding and then two days attending the MotoGP races at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin. Of course we will ride the Three Twisted Sisters while in the Hill Country, eat Texas BBQ and some Tex-Mex!

It was great to be back on the motorcycle after 3+ months and I am so blessed the surgery and recovery has been successful. I am also so blessed to have a wonderful, knowledgeable and caring wife to help me through it all, as well as supportive and prayerful children, family and friends. Thank you all!

Ride carefully and prayerfully!

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Sunday, October 5, 2025

Best Pie in Texas - Koffee Kup Hico Review

Texas Hill Country in the spring can be colorful

When heading to the Texas Hill Country one has to decide on a route and more importantly, a lunch stop. With countless scenic back roads to choose from, my sweet tooth often ends up guiding my decision. Hico is one of my favorite destinations for a lunch stop, specifically the famous Koffee Kup Family Restaurant, well-known across Central Texas for its legendary pies.

The famous Hico Koffee Kup established in the early 1980's

I love exploring as many unfamiliar Farm-to-Market roads as possible, and there are multiple possibilities on the way to Hico. The lightly traveled routes with their twists, elevation changes, and minimal traffic enforcement make for a fun spirited ride. Hico is tucked into the northern edge of the Texas Hill Country and offers some of the best roads for motorcycle enthusiasts.

If you roll into Hico around lunch time the Koffee Kup can bustling. Locals, travelers, and even a lot of bikers often fill the place. However; waiting for a table while eyeing the legendary pie rack is worth the wait.

The food at the Koffee Kup is consistently good, classic, home-cooked comfort meals. I usually want to leave room for one of the many varieties of freshly made pies so I keep lunch simple. Most often I go with a flavorful hamburger, no fries.

Fresh made pies are the highlight at the Koffee Kup

On one particular visit I found myself in front of the pie rack with least 15 pie options staring back at me, the decision wasn’t easy. Normally, I’d go for my tried-and-true coconut cream pie, but this time, something new caught my eye - the “Doctor’s Office” pie. Built on a graham cracker crust and layered with sweet cream, vanilla custard, roasted coconut, and almond slivers, it was impossible to resist.

The slice was perfectly chilled, generously sized, and every bite blended rich flavor with just the right amount of texture from the crust and toppings. By the time I finished, the Doctor’s Office pie had earned a spot alongside coconut cream as my new favorite.

The Doctor's Office

If you’re ever riding within 50–75 miles of Hico, do yourself a favor and detour to the Koffee Kup. The pies are some of the best in Texas, and the ride through Central Texas FM roads makes the trip even sweeter.