Monument Hill Ride

Sunday, January 10, dawned clear and cool and proved to be an outstanding day for a motorcycle ride. A few of us were able to take advantage of the day and rode to Monument Hill/Kreische Brewery State Historic Site in La Grange, Texas.  Those able to make the trip included Johnny “Coonass” Preejan, Lonnie “Kickstand” Burns, prospect Rob Geiger and Jack “Tumbleweed” Yarbrough.  The overall round trip was about 200 miles and all but about 25 miles were spent on two lane country roads through some of the prettiest countryside in Texas.Kickstand, Rob and I left Brookshire around 10:00AM and met Coonass at the Cat Spring Country Club after enjoying FM 1458, Highway 36 and FM 949. Cat Spring Country Club is located at the intersection of Highway 1094 and FM 949.  It is a small country store that sells a few groceries, good hamburgers, and cold beer.  Rifleman, Deacon Cormier, and I have visited the Country Club on several occasions for teambuilding sessions and beer tasting.From Cat Spring Country Club we took 1094, 109, 2503 and Highway 71 to the Monument Hill State Historic Site after passing through the small towns of New Ulm, Frelsburg and Ellinger. Monument Hill State Historic Site overlooks the Colorado River from a 200 foot high bluff.  This site is the final resting place for the Texans who were killed battling the Mexican Army in 1842 and 1843.  Entombed are the Texans who fought at Salado Creek (Dawson’s massacre) and the 17 Texans who were executed as a result of the Black Bean Death Lottery.This site is also home to the ruins of the Kreische Brewery that brewed Bluff Beer from 1860 through the early 1880’s. For those interested in more Texas history of this site please visit: http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/monument-hill-kreische-breweryAfter leaving the park, we stopped for lunch at the Back Porch BBQ in La Grange. At that point it was time to turn around and head for home.  We stopped in Round Top for a cold brew to toast the day.  I had a great time on this ride and really enjoyed the friendship of Lonnie, Johnny and Rob.  I am saving this route and will make this trip again.  Let me know if anyone is ready to go again.Tumbleweed