The Edwards Plateau just west of Austin marks the edge of the Texas Hill Country. Fast-moving streams dissect the region, cutting steep-sided canyons. Out here, many older roads were converted trails formed by cattle meandering around the hilly terrain. Certainly, no modern road designer would lay out roads like this with 94 corners in 18 miles! But these are perfect roads with little traffic for taking in the beautiful Lake Travis views while riding vintage motorcycles. My favorite 18-mile loop is a ride I like to call The Tail of the Armadillo.
North Carolina may have their 11-mile Tail of the Dragon, but everything is bigger and better in Texas. To confirm my corner count, I had a friend at the Congressional Budget Office look at my map, and he came up with 636 corners, exactly double the number of corners on that relatively straight North Carolina road. Besides, you can’t get good BBQ out there anyway, while we have 2J’s BBQ close by on Bullick Hollow Road.
The loop begins in the Village of Volente, about 20 miles west of Austin at the corner of Lime Creek Road and Volente Road, near the A on the map.
Lime Creek runs for about nine miles of winding, two-lane road with no stop signs or traffic lights. Ride Texas called this road “one of the all-time favorite bike roads around Austin”. The road snakes and climbs around the edge of Lake Travis, with many beautiful vistas. It has been the training ground for world-class cyclists. There is minimal traffic, as it serves mainly as access for residents. Look out for bicyclists, though, especially on weekends. Make a stop at Café Blue on the lake or at Sandy Creek Park.
The road was recently resurfaced, and corners are well-posted with several 20-mph switchbacks. At the end of the winding section, the road climbs about 150 feet to the top of the ridge and flattens out for the last couple of miles before dead-ending into Anderson Mill Road.
Once you turn right on Anderson Mill, the loop turns into a four-lane road through some nice West Austin neighborhoods like Deer Creek Ranch and Twin Creeks. After 2.2 miles on Anderson Mill, turn right onto Dies Ranch Road to cut across to Volente Road. Volente Road dives down a hill into the valley along Cypress Creek. The massive trees make a beautiful canopy that I call the Tunnel.
Just past where Cypress Creek feeds into Lake Travis is one of my favorite corners, which I have named the Corkscrew. It is a 180-degree, decreasing radius right-hander that rises about 50 feet in elevation from start to finish. Always a thrill!
The road then flows back down the hillside into another 180-degree curve to the left, crosses over the low water bridge, and follows with a series of sweepers for the next three miles back to Volente. Of course, you can just turn around and ride it counterclockwise to make it a 36-mile loop!
My dream is to have a motorcycle museum/club in Volente one day. The old VJ’s convenience store across from the fire station would be the perfect location. It would be a fine place to have bike meets and shows, as well as a display of members’ vintage bikes. I just have not figured out how to make it pay for itself yet.
Head on out and visit Volente to check out the Tail of the Armadillo!
