STUNNING CURVES AND BOURBON

Sometimes your best-thought-out plan goes to hell. Then, sometimes those plans turn out to be an insanely better, unforgettable trip despite the setbacks.

- Michnus Oliver

Texas Longhorns are basically the rockstars of the cattle world— badass horns, wild colors, and tougher than a $2 steak.

And other times, the trip turns out to be brain-bogglingly cool, but not in a way you could have ever dreamed!

This trip turned out to be hellovalot different than what we thought and planned. It was an easy plot; we have ridden the western U.S. in the past. This time we decided on a three-month stint in the southeastern states.

After traveling for six years in South America, we shipped our two Suzuki DR650s back to Dilley, Texas, where we originally bought them. Our friend and master BMW mechanic, MotoHank, has a legendary workshop and owns an original, 600,000-mile BMW R1100GS. After fixing, polishing, fitting, hammering, and waiting for spares for nearly a month, we left Hank and Dilley in the scorching summer heat of July. With the aid of mobile apps like iOverlander and REVER, and BDR maps, we narrowed down campsites and roads to ride.

It was relatively simple to navigate through the Lone Star State. The terrain is flat, and we raced north to escape the intense heat. The Texas hill country is in the middle of the state, west of Austin and north of San Antonio. We decided to travel that way to experience the rolling hills, explore the stunning landscapes and charming small towns, and indulge just a little bit in the thriving wine industry. Then there are the longhorn cattle, the rich history, Texas BBQ, and the friendly people who live a relaxed way of life.