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A few of us managed to sneak into Terlingua a day or two ahead of time. Folks came from all points of the compass...Austin, Kyle, Elgin, Bryan...even the great white north of Oklahoma. Our task: Grind knobs and stir up as much dust in the BB Ranch state park as we could without causing an international incident or getting ourselves tossed out of Brewster county in the process.
Although the fifty or so miles down River Road along the Rio Grande is a first rate ride for a street bike, we trailered over to avoid burning engine and knobs on wretched pavement.
We hit the trail toward the Cienega mountains in the north western corner of the Ranch. This is said to be the most remote and untouched area of the park. It qualifies...
According to TPWD, the Ranch is bigger than all other Texas state parks...combined. This is certainly a place where one wants to avoid getting separated from the group. Everything out here has a sharp point on it somewhere...even the rocks.
Lunch in the shade along a creek where knob trax are rare...or maybe just new. Here's the crew...Wes, Oilfieldtrash, Greeneggs&ham and JT...all rightly annoyed at the clown with the camera. If you wanted to put together a crew to ride with into the unknown...this is what it would look like. These boys can navigate the desert and ride motorcycles.
Next day, several of us headed over to the National park where trails actually exist and most even have signs. The plan was to ride to the north end of the park and catch Old Ore, Black Gap and River Road west back toward Terlingua. These are all fun trails that can be ridden at a spirited pace...if one's bike behaves. This beautiful new Berg decided it was time to take the day off just after entering the park.
We were seriously stuck with a dead bike out in the desert when who comes driving over the hill but Texasnh himself. We didn't know him (he's new to riding) and he didn't know us. "Are you on TWT?"...Yep. He doesn't hesitate to drop his bike from the trailer and load our dead Berg. Oh, and let Electrified ride his XR200 back to Terlingua. So, what good is TWT anyway?
Seems the day was going to be a mechanical challenge all the way through. First flat is a pinch. Not enough that everything out here pokes holes...even the rocks get to play. Sam can change a flat front almost quicker than I can get the camera and figure out how to turn it on. Lets see if Mr Whistlebritches tire expert on youtube can make it look this easy without all his big fancy tools and windex...out in the Chihuahuan desert. Hmmm..?
With all the mechanical hubbub we managed to ride Old Ore and shoot the Black Gap before beating it back to Terlingua for the evening festivities.
Day 3 saw the internationals heading south of the Rio Grande into the lands of Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapata. Since my passport had recently expired, I headed back to the Ranch for more abuse. Big A and company were headed out there and we planned to meet up for some fun in the central areas. I had bike starting problems and managed to miss them out there. Later, I met up with Bill, John and his son in law Troy. We banged around just doing some exploring and ran the Kong a time or two. The internationals had their time getting started too. Milton had a flat well down River Road and Big A had to dodge heavily armed INS just to get a cell signal to relay Milton's delima...Some days...
Last day was simply splendid in all respects. Weather, riding group, terrain, machines...everything. Eight of us trailered back to the Ranch to ride the Kong and the Epic trail...which includes the Oso loop. The biggest drawback to the Ranch is it takes a long time to get out there and that surely takes from your riding time. We made good use of what we had. The park folks have "improved" King Kong hill by grading away most of the bigger rocks and filling in some bike eating washes. It's still fun but it just ain't the same. However...
One of our crew went over the edge coming down the Kong. Nobody knows why...not him...not the rider behind him. It just happened. Where the bike went down was a steep drop of big sharp blocks of solid rocks and cactus. The rider was pinned under the bike, unconscious and bleeding. It looked a lot like we were going to have a helicopter ride. After a few moments, he got up, shook it off and asked if somebody could please tell him what the heck just happened. We all did our best to annoy by quizzing him with bozo questions trying to make sure he really was good to go...he was. Tough son of a gun. Wear the gear friends.
This is Wes getting the bike back up the hill and onto the road. You could say this young fellow can ride a motorcycle.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JNM-Pzb4As"]P3030127.MP4 - YouTube[/ame]
We continued on around the Oso loop finding a trail that ended in one of the most spectacular camping spots I've seen. A fellow in a Toyota FJ was camping there at a spot where you could look out into a huge valley surrounded on all sides by the mountains. As desert scenery goes...this spot is extraordinary.
We beat on down the "unmaintained 4X4" trail to Guale road where we found a hill that should surely have its own name. You know, anytime you look up and see a group of folks standing in one spot above the trail and half of them are holding cameras...well, they ain't there for socializing. Steep climb, loose rocks with ledges and turns...ahh...goooood stuff! Lots of fine carnage to follow...
[ame="http://youtu.be/Wd2mJc77kF8"]Carnage on Guale rd. - YouTube[/ame]
Later, we came to a fork in the Oso loop where going right soon leads back the park road and relative safety. Door number two - to the left - leads to several more miles of rough stuff before eventually rejoining the park road. Texasnh was part of our crew and riding his XR200, he had endured the nasties with a spirited determination that was just inspiring to watch. We stopped at the fork in the trail and everyone turned to him and asked...which way. He points his glove to the left and says "Lets go." Different kinda cat.
Everyone in the group would've turned back the sun and kept on riding if there was anyway we could. It was just that kind of a day when the crew is right, the terrain is awesome and everyone is dialed in. I can't really say what the elements are that make for this kind of a ride...I can only tell you that they all came together for us and it was good. Really good.
Sunday morning and the hardest part of the trip. Before another beautiful desert sunrise, we load the bikes and gear to head back east. It's been a motorcycle fantasy trip to remember and I'll look back on it fondly when they put me in the old folks home and make me eat prunes and watch reality TV shows all day.
Richard and Connie did a super job of coordinating just the right amount of structured events for this rally. We enjoyed the best of company and fellowship with all kinds of riders at breakfast and evening get togethers. And the riding...well, nuff said.
Although the fifty or so miles down River Road along the Rio Grande is a first rate ride for a street bike, we trailered over to avoid burning engine and knobs on wretched pavement.
We hit the trail toward the Cienega mountains in the north western corner of the Ranch. This is said to be the most remote and untouched area of the park. It qualifies...
According to TPWD, the Ranch is bigger than all other Texas state parks...combined. This is certainly a place where one wants to avoid getting separated from the group. Everything out here has a sharp point on it somewhere...even the rocks.
Lunch in the shade along a creek where knob trax are rare...or maybe just new. Here's the crew...Wes, Oilfieldtrash, Greeneggs&ham and JT...all rightly annoyed at the clown with the camera. If you wanted to put together a crew to ride with into the unknown...this is what it would look like. These boys can navigate the desert and ride motorcycles.
Next day, several of us headed over to the National park where trails actually exist and most even have signs. The plan was to ride to the north end of the park and catch Old Ore, Black Gap and River Road west back toward Terlingua. These are all fun trails that can be ridden at a spirited pace...if one's bike behaves. This beautiful new Berg decided it was time to take the day off just after entering the park.
We were seriously stuck with a dead bike out in the desert when who comes driving over the hill but Texasnh himself. We didn't know him (he's new to riding) and he didn't know us. "Are you on TWT?"...Yep. He doesn't hesitate to drop his bike from the trailer and load our dead Berg. Oh, and let Electrified ride his XR200 back to Terlingua. So, what good is TWT anyway?
Seems the day was going to be a mechanical challenge all the way through. First flat is a pinch. Not enough that everything out here pokes holes...even the rocks get to play. Sam can change a flat front almost quicker than I can get the camera and figure out how to turn it on. Lets see if Mr Whistlebritches tire expert on youtube can make it look this easy without all his big fancy tools and windex...out in the Chihuahuan desert. Hmmm..?
With all the mechanical hubbub we managed to ride Old Ore and shoot the Black Gap before beating it back to Terlingua for the evening festivities.
Day 3 saw the internationals heading south of the Rio Grande into the lands of Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapata. Since my passport had recently expired, I headed back to the Ranch for more abuse. Big A and company were headed out there and we planned to meet up for some fun in the central areas. I had bike starting problems and managed to miss them out there. Later, I met up with Bill, John and his son in law Troy. We banged around just doing some exploring and ran the Kong a time or two. The internationals had their time getting started too. Milton had a flat well down River Road and Big A had to dodge heavily armed INS just to get a cell signal to relay Milton's delima...Some days...
Last day was simply splendid in all respects. Weather, riding group, terrain, machines...everything. Eight of us trailered back to the Ranch to ride the Kong and the Epic trail...which includes the Oso loop. The biggest drawback to the Ranch is it takes a long time to get out there and that surely takes from your riding time. We made good use of what we had. The park folks have "improved" King Kong hill by grading away most of the bigger rocks and filling in some bike eating washes. It's still fun but it just ain't the same. However...
One of our crew went over the edge coming down the Kong. Nobody knows why...not him...not the rider behind him. It just happened. Where the bike went down was a steep drop of big sharp blocks of solid rocks and cactus. The rider was pinned under the bike, unconscious and bleeding. It looked a lot like we were going to have a helicopter ride. After a few moments, he got up, shook it off and asked if somebody could please tell him what the heck just happened. We all did our best to annoy by quizzing him with bozo questions trying to make sure he really was good to go...he was. Tough son of a gun. Wear the gear friends.
This is Wes getting the bike back up the hill and onto the road. You could say this young fellow can ride a motorcycle.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JNM-Pzb4As"]P3030127.MP4 - YouTube[/ame]
We continued on around the Oso loop finding a trail that ended in one of the most spectacular camping spots I've seen. A fellow in a Toyota FJ was camping there at a spot where you could look out into a huge valley surrounded on all sides by the mountains. As desert scenery goes...this spot is extraordinary.
We beat on down the "unmaintained 4X4" trail to Guale road where we found a hill that should surely have its own name. You know, anytime you look up and see a group of folks standing in one spot above the trail and half of them are holding cameras...well, they ain't there for socializing. Steep climb, loose rocks with ledges and turns...ahh...goooood stuff! Lots of fine carnage to follow...
[ame="http://youtu.be/Wd2mJc77kF8"]Carnage on Guale rd. - YouTube[/ame]
Later, we came to a fork in the Oso loop where going right soon leads back the park road and relative safety. Door number two - to the left - leads to several more miles of rough stuff before eventually rejoining the park road. Texasnh was part of our crew and riding his XR200, he had endured the nasties with a spirited determination that was just inspiring to watch. We stopped at the fork in the trail and everyone turned to him and asked...which way. He points his glove to the left and says "Lets go." Different kinda cat.
Everyone in the group would've turned back the sun and kept on riding if there was anyway we could. It was just that kind of a day when the crew is right, the terrain is awesome and everyone is dialed in. I can't really say what the elements are that make for this kind of a ride...I can only tell you that they all came together for us and it was good. Really good.
Sunday morning and the hardest part of the trip. Before another beautiful desert sunrise, we load the bikes and gear to head back east. It's been a motorcycle fantasy trip to remember and I'll look back on it fondly when they put me in the old folks home and make me eat prunes and watch reality TV shows all day.
Richard and Connie did a super job of coordinating just the right amount of structured events for this rally. We enjoyed the best of company and fellowship with all kinds of riders at breakfast and evening get togethers. And the riding...well, nuff said.
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When we came by and stopped to check on you guys, you did not look like you were having much fun 
We asked the guys we ran into at Rio Grande to watch for you on their run up Old Ore and they are the ones that told us you had encountered problems. Sure glad to hear everyone got out okay!
Can somebody pls confirm which steep hill is Donkey Kong and which is King Kong? 
After a few more beers, it is time to head to the motel and call it a night. If I have to be up at the freaking crack of dawn for breakfast and a rider's meeting, I have to be more like Roger tonight 
