Finding the old iron bridge

[Tim Kreitz]

I rode about 400 miles total over the 3-day (or in my particular case, 4-day) weekend, and using a little over half that mileage, found one of those cool little West Texas hideaways I'd have never known existed were it not for word of mouth.

My drummer Britt just bought his first motorcycle in over ten years (a 2008 Street Glide), and since last month, he's been telling me about a place he always refers to as "the old iron bridge" near Buena Vista. "We've gotta take a ride and check it out," he mentioned repeatedly. "It's just the kind of place you like to explore."

So we did on Friday. It's an old, abandoned, single-lane truss bridge from probably the 1930s or 1940s that spans the Pecos. For those of you whom are interested, here's it's location. Be prepared to ride dirt roads for about the last mile:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/OSB/oldironbridgelocation.jpg


Robbo and Britt sitting on their bikes in front of the bridge:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/OSB/bikesatbridge.jpg


And of course, no matter how remote or off the beaten path a relic like this is, you can bet there are already pics of it on the Internet. Some dude took these last winter:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/nature/Bridge1207BG3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/nature/Bridge1207BG6.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/nature/Bridge1207BG7.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/nature/Bridge1207BG5.jpg

We spent about an hour or so there, scouting out the grave of Fifi Murphy about 200 yards across the bridge (I'd always wondered where it was) and shooting bottles and cans with Britt's .45 ACP. Soon thereafter, we mounted up and headed into Grandfalls for fuel, then back to the Midland-Odessa area.

A neat spot to visit if you're ever in the area.

[Tourmeister]

Guns, riding and old bridges... sounds like fun too me :shrug: :trust:

[mfnlonewolf]

There is one similar to that on a farm road near Dubina TX. It is still being used and is in fairly good shape. Dubina is off of I-10 between SA and Houston, near Schulenburg TX.

[RedPill]

You didn't ride across? :rider:

[Tim Kreitz]

You didn't ride across? :rider:

Believe me, the adrenaline produced by walking across the rails was more than sufficient!

[Sleepy Weasel]

Seems it should be easy to find... just ride until you see the big yellow arrow and then...

[Tim Kreitz]

Seems it should be easy to find... just ride until you see the big yellow arrow and then...

Yep. You can see that arrow all the way from King Mountain.

[DaveC]

What I find amazing is seeing water in the Pecos! Was there any when you were there?

[Janet]

I'm just going from memory here, but it seems like that bridge may be pretty close to Horse Head Crossing. If you are back in the neighborhood, you would have to go there. It's famos.
I will do some searching, but I believe it's right in there someplace. I have been ho the crossing in a truck, but I never saw that bridge.

J.

[Janet]

http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/rih1.html

[Tim Kreitz]

What I find amazing is seeing water in the Pecos! Was there any when you were there?

Yep -- even more than in the winter pics. I was surprised, too. The water is green but clear. I have some shots of the water on my cell and will post them later.

[Tim Kreitz]

I'm just going from memory here, but it seems like that bridge may be pretty close to Horse Head Crossing. If you are back in the neighborhood, you would have to go there. It's famos.
I will do some searching, but I believe it's right in there someplace. I have been ho the crossing in a truck, but I never saw that bridge.

Yes, it's very close. I've been to Horsehead several times, but like you, I never saw this bridge.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/OSB/horseheadandbridgecomparo.jpg

[Sleepy Weasel]

Yes, it's very close. I've been to Horsehead several times, but like you, I never saw this bridge.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/OSB/horseheadandbridgecomparo.jpg


I'll never understand why people don't take more time to investigate those arrows. There's almost always something interesting when you get there.

[Tim Kreitz]

I'll never understand why people don't take more time to investigate those arrows. There's almost always something interesting when you get there.

On a serious note, seeing all the dirt roads and trails along the Pecos has me thinking of buying a dual sport of some kind. There were lots of other "arrows" we simply couldn't get to on streetbikes. :-P

[Tim Kreitz]

The water is green but clear. I have some shots of the water on my cell and will post them later.

Dang it! Somehow or another, I had my phone's pic resolution set to low. Oh well, here they are. You can almost get an inkling of how pretty the water is:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/OSB/bridge3low.jpg http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/TimKreitz/OSB/bridge2low.jpg

[kiko]

There was an article in Rider Magazine about 10 yrs ago or so about the top 25 scenic country rides in the US and Skip Morosco (sp?) of Motodiscovery Tours (then Pancho's Villa's Tours) suggested a ride off of Sisterdale (FM473) to Comfort. There is a really cool bridge on the route where the Guadalupe churns under it. Coming from Sisterdale I seem to remember that you take Riverbend road left after Second Coffee Creek Low Water Crossing. If in the area, there used to be a really great dinner feast in Waring. Also when you hit the intersection where 473 turns left to Comfort, you can turn right to take the old SA/Fredericksburg road and then stop at the bat tunnel along the way off to your right. Lots of great miles and smiles in this area also.

[Tim Kreitz]

Also when you hit the intersection where 473 turns left to Comfort, you can turn right to take the old SA/Fredericksburg road and then stop at the bat tunnel along the way off to your right. Lots of great miles and smiles in this area also.

Looks kewl!

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/habitats/hillcountry/images/otwma/tunnel.jpg

According to Parks & Wildlife, it is inhabited by Brazilian free-tailed bats (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=17).

[kiko]

**** you're fast.......

[kiko]

Dang you're fast....

[Tim Kreitz]

I signed in like 100 seconds after you posted. I must be mental...er...psychic, I mean! :lol2:

[Teeds]

Tim:

Here is an interesting one lane bridge over the Colorado River south of Colorado City ...

Oh well, the image link will not work

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=32.224129,-100.875092&spn=0.164098,0.339203&z=12

Head south on 163 from Colorado City and watch for the Spade Ranch sign to your left at CR327 ... follow it to the left onto CR337 and follow CR337 to the bridge ...

I'll have to locate the photos, but I promise you it is worth the ride. The roads are well graded and any street bike should be fine. Follow CR337 on an you will come to TX208.

[Tim Kreitz]

Tim:

Here is an interesting one lane bridge over the Colorado River south of Colorado City ...

Oh well, the image link will not work

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=32.224129,-100.875092&spn=0.164098,0.339203&z=12

Head south on 163 from Colorado City and watch for the Spade Ranch sign to your left at CR327 ... follow it to the left onto CR337 and follow CR337 to the bridge ...

I'll have to locate the photos, but I promise you it is worth the ride. The roads are well graded and any street bike should be fine. Follow CR337 on an you will come to TX208.


Excellent. Thanks very much. :thumb: