Saturday - April 07, 2007
Saturday morning we arose to a dank and dreary day. OK, it was cold. At least it was cold to me. My internal heater has been turned off for the season and my blood had already began the thinning process, in preparation for summer.
Well, this was Texas and everyone knows that weather is unpredictable in Texas. After a quick trip to the Fina / Store / Restaurant for some vittles, we headed north on South County Road.
It was misty and wet and we were on a mission to find a way to connect two dots on the map, in preparation for the upcoming Terlingua Dual Sport Ride this fall.
No photos were taken, but suffice it to say that we did not find our route and we did manage to get muddy and cold. Gathering just past Terlingua Creek on North County Road, we agreed that it would be quicker, although colder, to head onward to 118 and speed south to Study Butte, rather than backtracking on roads we had just traversed. The mud was not bad, but it had it’s moments.
Moments like the last 50 feet before hitting asphalt. The drainage off the asphalt had turned the area into a soup bowl and it was slick. The DR ended up sideways and only the fact that I found asphalt, before getting completely sideways, kept me from going down.
The road back to Study Butte was windy and cold and we called a meeting to order at the corner table in the Fina / Store / Restaurant to warm up over coffee and discuss the rest of the day. The day was young and we has energy to burn.
Coffee turned into lunch and a plan was hatched. We were going to piddle in the park.
Bikes parked and gear swapped for shorts, we piled into El Camion Grande for a cagers view of Big Bend National Park. I had some ideas, but I wasn’t telling.
Soon, as soon as 45 MPH speed limits would allow anyway, we turned south and made towards the basin area. The weather had been cool and misty, but I knew that would soon change.
Rising far above the floor of the valley, the basin area is cool, even in the hottest months of summer.
We were rewarded with ... ice and snow ... go figure ... 10 miles for the southern border of Texas and we were running around like a bunch of goofs in the snow.
The basin was fogged in, so with a quick lap around the lodge parking lot, we were off to points south.
One last shot ...
Next up ... the Hot Springs
Well, the pool was crowded and a family was dressing ... the father DID NOT have whitey tighties on ... so no photos were attempted.
At least the cactus was telling us that spring was here.
Looking south ... Texas on the Left and Mexico on the Right
More cactus ...
A deer wondering why I stopped ... to take his photo ... duh!
Then it was off to check out the latest additions to Passing Wind
The Starlight served up dinner again!
Brittany was moving too fast for me to catch!
Oops, no shots of dinner. I hope dessert counts
Skinny and Steve toasting the night
Chris looks quite content
We had been listening to tunes the entire night and I got up and captured a few photos of the goings on.
Regulars at the bar ...
Clearly having a good time
One last shot ...
Chad came up and asked me for copies of what I had taken. Who knows, perhaps some of my photos will be used to update the Starlight website.
Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! 
Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to 
...I think I may need therapy.
. There are many roads and trails we didn't get to see, bummer 
. I hope to get back there at least once more this year. Maybe Alaska next year 
... I will ask next time
