Ride Big Bend National Park

[Smoked U]

I have scheduled a motorcycle ride for Big Bend National Park April 19th through April 22, 2013.

I did this last May and it was a fantastic adventure.

More info here:http://www.meetup.com/Dedicated-Riders-of-North-Texas/events/103528012/

[BudMan]

That's a great place!
Make sure you carry some water on board. If you breakdown out there even in the early spring, you could be in real trouble with no water! It's a LONG way to anything in those parts and dehydration can happen fast.
Can't make it, but with I could.
Have a good ride Dave!

[Smoked U]

Just in case anybody wants to see them, here are 300+ photos of DRNTs recent Big Bend Adventure.

http://www.meetup.com/Dedicated-Riders-of-North-Texas/photos/14308342/

[lragan]

Oh, Maaaannn...  Wish I could have made this ride!  Thanks for sharing the pics.  In addition to the "snap shots" from smart phones, there are some stunning photographs here by someone who knows what they are doing! 

When I visited this park in 1963, there was easy coming and going across the river (to the tiny "town' (store) on the other side, in my case) by citizens of both countries, in both directions, every day.  Are there visible signs of tension in this area now, or is it still rather laid back?

[Smoked U]

The stunning photographs are by Ben Leal. He has a camera that has a lens about the size of a LAWS rocker launcher. I think he gets paid once in a while for being a photographer.

My main squeeze Susan took about 300 with my Pentax digital camera. I culled about 200 of them out for the website.

I didn't sense any tension in Presidio, Texas where we had lunch nor did I hear anything around our HQ in Alpine, Texas. Marfa, Texas is full of artists from the west coast and New York City, so, other than at election time, they are relatively harmless.

Since I was traveling, I was carrying my supplemental insurance policy with me on our rides. You are on the border and I remember the stories in the past about people getting shot from the cliffs. Better to have and not need than need and not have in this environment.

The good news is if you missed this one, I am 92% sure I will be hosting another one next April. My group was almost unanimous in voting to do it again next year.

If anyone is ever in the area overnight, try to get into a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory. If you like the universe, this place will blow you away at night. A very polished presentation on constellations is done outdoors while the telescopes are being set up for viewing. Seeing various sights in the inky night sky through powerful telescopes is awe inspiring.

My group was two full days in the area and we didn't scratch the surface of everything there was to do in that part of Texas. Worth every nickel I spent.

[jgalaw]

Dave, thanks for the great pics!  I have been down there 4 times in the last 10 years or so.  Everytime I come home thinking I should go more often.  I love the wide open spaces, night sky and solitude.  The ride from Presidio to Lajitas is probably my favorite road.

On Dec. 29, 2010 I left Odessa headed west on I-20 at 7:00 am when the temp was about 26.  With no heated gear by the time I got to Pecos I was nearly frozen.  I drank coffee for 2 hours while deciding if I should go home.  I didn't.  It was a great decision.  I spent the next 2 days solo riding the area with afternoon temps in the low 70s, cloudless skies and no wind.  Just perfect.

I am battling some eye problems right now that have me off the bike.  Maybe next year . . .
           

[Smoked U]

Dave, thanks for the great pics!  I have been down there 4 times in the last 10 years or so.  Everytime I come home thinking I should go more often.  I love the wide open spaces, night sky and solitude.  The ride from Presidio to Lajitas is probably my favorite road.

On Dec. 29, 2010 I left Odessa headed west on I-20 at 7:00 am when the temp was about 26.  With no heated gear by the time I got to Pecos I was nearly frozen.  I drank coffee for 2 hours while deciding if I should go home.  I didn't.  It was a great decision.  I spent the next 2 days solo riding the area with afternoon temps in the low 70s, cloudless skies and no wind.  Just perfect.

I am battling some eye problems right now that have me off the bike.  Maybe next year . . .
           

Good luck getting that eyeball straight.

You are right on, Jeff. If a guy can hit this thing just right, it is a very memorable experience. Long way to go, but again, worth the effort.

FM 170 along the river is simply bad ass riding. You just want to ride back and forth on it.

Be watching around January 2014 for some discussion for an April trip.

[drkngas]

Wish I couldve made that ride.  I left there last year knowing I'd be back to ride more but it didnt work out this year.

[snoopy]

Wish I couldve made that ride.  I left there last year knowing I'd be back to ride more but it didnt work out this year.

Plan for another trip out there next April.