508508 is the magic number. That’s correct, you read me right, despite rumors that 42 is the answer to everything,
508 is the Interstate 10 exit closest to COG 2018 National Rally Central at the YO Ranch Resort in Kerrville TX.
Now this may be humorous to those that still do routes old school by studying the map(s) the night before, making notes to the route sheet that only they can understand, or completely rewriting it onto a little index card about the size of a GPS screen. Those of us that have moved into the modern age have downloaded the routes into our GPS and then not given it another thought. However, the formerly usually know exactly where they are all the time. The rest of us know what the next turn is, and perhaps how far away it is, but after an hour or so of following the instructions we might not really know where in the heck we are. These few notes here are for the latter that are not familiar with the area, and for the amusement of the former.
Interstate 10 and TX Hwy 16 make sort of a crooked X, or cross if you prefer, with the intersection within sight of rally central. Those western movie buffs among you may recall how Gregory Peck’s character (Jim, I think.) reassured Julie that he wouldn’t get lost in the Big Country. “You are either east or west of the river and north or south of the road.” In our case you are either northeast or southwest of I-10 and you are either east or west of TX Hwy 16. Well sorta- kinda on the latter.
Coming in from New Mexico, Texas Interstate 10 starts at mile zero just 4 miles north of El Paso TX and goes approx. 880.5 miles to the Neches River and from there on into Louisiana. Our part of that stretch is centered around exit
508. So if you bail out on a route and just decide to head for I-10 so you can go back to the hotel and put your feet up, be sure to remember that number,
508. If the mile numbers are less than
508 and going lower you need to turn around and head back east. Obviously if the numbers are higher than
508 and going higher still then you need to turn around and head west.
Now TX Hwy 16 is not quite so straight as I-10 is and after it goes south of Medina it actually turns east and eventually starts to parallel I-10 to the southeast into San Antonio. Unfortunately there are no mile markers on TX Hwy 16, so even though it will get you back to Rally Central, you may need to back out the range on your GPS to make sure you’re 1) headed in the right direction on Hwy 16, and 2) make sure it’s the fastest route, as south of Medina Hwy 173 might be the best way to get back. Assuming that most riding (90%?) will be on the Sisters, for the most part that will be west of 16 and southwest of I-10. The other routes are all over the place. It might just be best to make sure the YO resort or the campground is in your favorites and let the GPS get you back direct. Of course if the darn thing is acting up or quit entirely, you could always just sit on the side of the road and wait for an ol’ schooler to go by and then follow them,… if you can keep up that is.
I may not of helped anybody with this, but I’m sure I amused a couple of the Old Schoolers.
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