Texas RV Travel blog

The Wind Never Stops and it is Hotter’n Hell

June 10, 2008 in WICHITA FALLS, TX:

High Temperature: Actual: 97°F
Normal: 90°F
Record: 105°F

The Hotter’N Hell Hundred endurance race is one of the oldest and largest cycling events in the USA.

With the huge consumer products show, off-road mountain biking and USCF Races over the weekend, the Hotter’N Hell offers an awesome start and the greatest weekend on two wheels. Fitness riders and bicycle racers will come to Wichita Falls, in August, from almost everywhere to participate. Races begin at 7am (sunrise) and end at the Finish Line Village. But, first, you must pass through Hell’s Gate.

Off Road Biking on 10-mile off-road trail is open all day. Help comes for you at 6 pm on Friday and 1 pm on Saturday. This natural trail is single track with quick short climbs and drops. Off-roading requires skill and caution on the part of the rider.

Registration and Races

All the excitement of the HH100 begins with Registration for one or all races held during the weekend.

8/22/2008
Wee-Chi-Tah Trail Races
Mountain Bike (13 miles) and Trail Run (5, 10, 13 miles)
online registration closes 8/18/2008 8:00:00 AM ET

8/22/2008 - 8/23/2008
Hotter’N Hell Hundred Ultra Road and Criterium (USCF races for licensed racers)
online registration closes 8/20/2008 11:00:00 PM ET

8/23/2008
Hotter’n Hell Hundred Endurance Ride - HH100
10K - 25 mile - 50 mile - 100K - 100 mile
online registration closes 8/18/2008 7:00:00 AM ET

Consumer Show

8/21-8/23/2008
2008 Consumer Show

The Hotter’N Hell Consumer Show is one of the largest consumer bicycle trade shows in the nation. Visit old friends and make new ones in the exhibit Hall of the Multi-Purpose Events Center (MPEC), 1000 Fifth St. in downtown Wichita Falls.

Thursday 3 -8 pm
Friday 1-10 pm
Saturday 9-3 pm

Camping

There are lots of opportunities to camp–from full hookups to tent camping to indoor camping in a hall with A/C. Visit the camping page of HH100 website for more information. There are also hotels listed.

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Comanche Cyclone

Comanche Cyclone

Comanche, Texas
Saturday, June 7, 2008 8 am
Cross Country

300 cyclists expected

Special route for youngsters 10 and under. Country back-roads, no traffic, and very scenic. There are some scenic routes listed on the website in case you cannot make the race. This is a pretty part of Texas.

Routes

All are PDFs.

Cyclone Route Map - 10 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 22 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 28 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 42 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 55 Miles
Cyclone Route Map - 75 Miles

RVers: You may want to stay at Proctor Lake (Army Corps of Engineers Park)

Mesquite Rodeo Bike Ride

You will begin your ride from Resistol Arena at Rodeo Center located at 1818 Rodeo Drive. I-635 (LBJ Freeway) exit Military Parkway/Scyene. If you are traveling southbound, continue through both signal lights to the Arena. If you’re northbound, turn left on Military Parkway, take an immediate left after the overpass at Rodeo Center Blvd.Thousands of cyclists will start out from the Mesquite Rodeo Center. Bring your family, friends and co-workers.

Mesquite Rodeo Bike Ride

Mesquite, Texas
Saturday, June 7, 2008 8 am
2000 cyclists expected.

Route Details

RVers: I would stay at the Plantation Place RV Park.

Peach Pedal Bike Ride

Peach Pedal Bike Ride
Weatherford, Texas
Saturday, July 12, 2008
2500 cyclists expected

Routes of 100K, 39 miles, 26 miles and 9 miles. This course has some tough hills. but the hills are interspersed with flat stretches. Check in advance of the state of the roads in the area. Sometimes spring floods can wash roads away.

After the ride, shuttle buses will take riders from the start/finish to the Parker County Peach Festival in downtown Weatherford, where you’ll enjoy lots of food, crafts, music and country hospitality.

RVers: Stay at the Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway. The Trailway provides opportunities for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians.

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Photography by Earl Nottingham © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Did you know there is a place in Texas where you may view the history of the Great Plains, which includes 260+ million years and six major geologic periods? The story is told in the sandstone cliffs and multicolored clays that form gypsum-laced pedestals, hoodoos and slides of the canyonlands. Standing on the bedrock of the Southern Plains, you will agree that Caprock Canyons State Park amd Trailway is unlike any other area of Texas.

Caprock Canyons State Park was Park of the Month November 2007. Below is an excerpt from this article:

Imagine a place where marbled redrock canyons slice through a vast landscape dominated by table top-flat plains, where miniature mountains pierce an azure sky, where historic railroad bridges seem to float in space and the descendants of ancient bison herds graze native grasses . . .

After the Visitors Center and the Discovery Center, the park road winds from the escarpment to the canyonlands below. Lake Theo, accessed by the first turn-in to the left along the park road, offers fishing, swimming and non-motorized boating. The next right is Honea Flat Camping Area, where you park your RV. Down the road and to the right is Wild Horse Camping Area, the equestrian camping area.

After a couple of miles, as the road descends into the canyons of the North Prong and South Prong of the Little Red River, you will find Red Tent Camping Area on the left, the trailhead of the Upper and Lower Canyon Trails to the right. The road ends at South Prong Tent Camping Area. There are two primitive camping areas on the canyon trails.

Caprock Canyons State Park includes the Trailway, a 64-mile Rail-to-Trail conversion. Used for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, this multi-use trail begins at South Plains on top of the caprock escarpment and ends at Estelline in the Red River Valley. On the way from escarpment to river valley, the Trailway crosses 46 bridges and includes a trip through Clarity tunnel, home to a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats (April through October).

Notes:

• All visitors must obtain an entrance permit to use parking area and trailway.
• Overnight campers must obtain permits at the park headquarters.
• Day-use fees may be paid at pay stations located at each trailhead.
• Do not tie animals to man-made structures.
• The Mexican free-tailed bats living in Clarity tunnel are very sensitive to traffic, noise, light and human presence. Walk your bike through the tunnel.

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Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

16710 Ranch Road 965
Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(325) 247-3903

To Native Americans, Enchanted Rock was the gateway to the next world. They named it Gahe, meaning Spirit of the Mountain. Kiowas, Apaches and Comanches journeyed to Enchanted Rock to achieve enlightenment. There are some phenomena that keep the spirits of Enchanted Rock alive. Ghost lights, moaning, creaking and drumming are reported periodically by visitors to and residents of the area.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area consists of 1643+ acres on Big Sandy Creek, north of Fredericksburg, Texas, between Gillespie and Llano Counties. At the urging of Lady Bird Johnson,The Nature Conservancy of Texas purchased Enchanted Rock in 1978. In 1984, it opened under the aegis of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Enchanted Rock is a huge, pink granite exfoliation dome, that rises 425 feet above ground, 1825 feet above sea level and covers 640 acres. It is only one of many batholiths in the area and several in the park.

The islands of vegetation, called Vernal Pools, on the bare granite summit of Enchanted Rock are some of the most ecologically significant and severely threatened features of this state natural area. While in the SNA, do not disturb ANY plant or animal life, geological features, or Indian or historical artifacts. No trailers or RVs over 20 feet are allowed. Some of the camping is primitive (hike in), fires are only allowed in fire rings at each site, and wood gathering of any type is not allowed.

This is a gorgeous rock and a wonderful natural area. For an aerial or walking tour, pictures from the top, and many other pictures and information, please visit the E-rock website, maintained by an Enchanted Rock aficionado. Another website that has some wonderful photographs and useful information, please visit the Enchanted Rock page on American Southwest. Enchanted Rock is a wonderful place to learn to climb. Check the ErockOnline forum for help.

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While researching the information for the Big Bend Open Road Race, I found a wonderful tool to use to explore Big Bend. VisitBigBend.com has added an interactive map that allows you to take a virtual trip to Big Bend. There is a layer for Google Earth that you download.

However, if you do not want to download a layer for Google Earth, there are two other interactive maps you may view. These maps are annotated with photographs, points of interest, driving loops, trails and parks.

• River Road Flyby Video
• National Park Flyby Video

Over one million acres of public land in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park offer endless opportunities for camping, hiking, mountain biking, canoing, kayaking, horseback riding and off roading. Click a link below to find out more about Big Bend activities.

• River Trips
• Backcountry Vehicle, ATV & Jeep Tours
• Horseback Trips
• Mountain Bicycles
• Hiking
• Bird Watching

RVers

Big Bend National Park has three campgrounds with paved access that are suitable for tent camping, trailers, and RVs. Campsites are $10 per night, and a small fee is charged for using the reservations system (www.ReserveUSA.com or 1-877-444-6777). Each of the three improved campgrounds has a dedicated group campsite available for reservation, for $3 per camper.

Rio Grande Village, located on the east side of the park, has the only available hook ups for RVs. No reservations taken, just register at Rio Grande Village Store. The campground has 100 sites, flush toilets, running water and a dump station.

The Basin Campground, Is rugged and hilly, most sites are unsuitable for RVs. The main road to the basin has lots of curves, and a 15% grade. Trailers over 20 feet and RVs over 24 feet are discouraged. Of 60 sites, 23 are on the reservation system.

Cottonwood Campground, on the west side of the park, is along the banks of the Rio Grande, near Castolon and convenient to Santa Elena Canyon. There is potable water pit toilets, but no dumping station. The 31 sites are open year round and are first-come, first-served basis.

Primitive Backroad Sites exist at 30 locations scattered along back roads in the park. Many of these sites require a high-clearance or 4-wheel drive vehicle to reach. Camping at these back road sites is free, but a back country permit from Park Headquarters is required.

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