I just got back from my trip out west. People talking about it during the rain we had in Fredericksburg got me interested and I needed to go some where this week. Hope we can go back out there in the spring.
I left Sunday morning at 7 AM ( it was 75F)and took IH10 to San Antonio and them 90 to Del Rio. It was raining when I left Houston and Snowing in Del Rio when I got there about 2:30 in the afternoon. First thing I did was check into Motel 6 for $48 then went looking for a liquor store. I found two and they were both closed due to it being Sunday. Depressed, cold and wet I went the hotel and placed all my wet clothes on the heater. I then walked about a block to the Ramada and spent about $30 on some stiff drink in their bar. After I walked back the hotel and did nice warm power nap. I woke up hungry so I walked next door to Whataburger for an un memorable dinner.
Next morning I walked across the street to IHOP then rode out to Alpine. The roads were about 98% clear of snow. I only had to go over a couple iced over areas near Marathon.
At Alpine I rolled around and found most of the nice motels were full. The value and another motel looked a little High risk for being alone so I checked in the quality In for $100 for one night as they kicked me out Tuesday morning due to previous reservations. I got a room next door at the OakTree Inn for the next two nights at $70 a night.
Monday after I checked in the hotel I got board quick and headed south at 1:30 to see just how far Terlingua was. Taking 118 south from Alpine is a blast. It is 75 mph with some great curves which I slowed down to 75 for. I think I averaged about 80 on that run. Had a late lunch at a dinner, topped of the tank and headed into the park down 118 and then came back up 385 to Marathon and back to Alpine on 90. The slow loop 118-385-90 was 200 miles. Warning the park roads are 45 mph so be prepared to slow down. Entrance fee to the park was $20 a week for bikes.
Lunch at Trelingua.
Big Bend Park.
Tuesday Morning I ate a large breakfast at the hotel, pack up my bags and left the hotel heading south on 67 to Presidio Tx. It was a nice 75 mph 68 mile warm up ride. Coffee and gas at Presidio was relaxing. I then headed south on the river road 117 which is a 50 mph road for a good reason. The scenery is so breathtaking that it is hard to watch the 200 some curves over the 70 miles.
This one 70 mile road made the whole freeze your ass off trip worth while. It also warmed up to about 60 and felt great.
The river road ends at a tourist trap called Lajitas then curves east back to Trelinqua where I had a great Mexican Lunch where I saw the same sheriffs truck that was at the café I had eaten at Monday. Follow the cops for good food.
I then blasted back up 118 to Alpine and checked into the Oak Tree Inn. The day was about 230 miles.
Wednesday was to be the warmest day of the week so I headed up into the Davis mountains. Stopped in to the McDonald Observatory then made a big loop around the mountains taking 118 all the way up to IH10 headed East for about 20 miles then coming back down 17 from Toyahvale to Fort Davis then back to Alpine for a late lunch. The deer and snow drifts across the road sucked.
Today or Thursday morning I left Alpine at 7:30 and came thru Fredericksburg to get home in Spring about 5:30. Came thru about 40 miles of 38F wet Fog east of Fort Stockton but the rest of the day was nice.
Did about 1700 miles this week in 28 to 60F weather.
