Friday - May 05, 2007
Don’t you like the thought of getting a ride in on a work day? For me that is kinda like stealing back one of the days that was stolen from me when I was part of corporate America.
So, we were off ... well almost anyway.
If you have been following this thread, you have likely learned something about us ... we like our vittles.
Rolling out of the sack about 6:45 AM, we quickly dressed and headed to the Fina / Store / Restaurant for breakfast. Discussion ensued as to the goals for the day. Skinny had plotted a number of potential connector routes that hopefully would connect the dots and allow us to drop 5 miles of asphalt from the Terlingua ride this fall. I agreed that this would be the goal for the day. What about Gary? Gary kept saying that he was along for the ride and would simply follow us.
While we were partaking in breakfast a truckload of folks pulled in with DS machines tagging along behind them. We chatted briefly and they indicated that they would be headed into the National Park. An aside ... we heard the next day that they went around the barriers on Old Maverick Road and ended up getting caught and ticketed for their efforts. Way to go Park Rangers!
Back at the Chisos Mining Company Motel, we geared up and loaded up.
First up is the prerequisite photo of my bike at stage II of the transformation from mild mannered street machine to DS able to leap small ditches and fly gracefully through time.
El Petrolero ... which loosely translates as The Oil Tanker
Isn’t she pretty? I think so, but like most proud parents, I realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
We quickly formed up the squadron and slid northward on South County Road. The first 15 miles were over well understood and often traveled roads. Kind of like Zork. Remember Zork? You typed in a series of commands ... FFLFRUFFRFL ... as you moved through the maze. We had ridden this section of the road so many times that blind corners and hills, were not blind. In a way, it was like a 15 mile long motocross course. Of course, there was that pesky thing called ONCOMING TRAFFIC to keep you alert, but it was still fun.
Hitting the intersection of Hen Egg Road, we headed west towards the start of the route charted on our GPS units.
Speaking of GPS units, Skinny was using his Street Pilot for one last ride and had forgotten to load the maps. He had brought a new 276 to play with, but opted for the SP as it was more familiar. He also did not have a mount for the 276. I had my trusty GPSmap 76CS that has been my constant companion for almost 3 years now. I did have the maps in my unit, so we were not flying completely blind.
Well, we continued westward with me in the lead. There were stops and consultations at many forks in the road, while trying to ascertain which fork would lead to the start of the route.
Left to Right: Me, Gary, Skinny
The rides and the roads
Digressing for a moment ... the rides.
I have already introduced you to El Petrolero, my ‘06 DS650. Gary was astride a ‘06 XR650L that was stock down to the tires, while Skinny had his trusted TE610 that had left him stranded in Mexico with a dead ignition module. Yes, he did have a spare on board. Skinny was also sporting the new IMS wondertank that had taken so long to get to production. Thank you Mark aka bigdogadventures.com for pushing that rock over the finish line. Skinny appears quite happy with the tank. It make the TE as hippy as my DR, which my DR appreciates ... You know how women are about their hips.
In any case ... here are a few shots of the canyon we stopped in for a pee break.
As I said, instinct became the byword, as we passed through the forks of the road ... until finally it happened.
A dead end!
Now, I long ago learned that backing up is bad karma and turning around equals backing up in my book, so off I went into the sands of time ... OK, a bit dramatic perhaps, but I did strike off among the pucker bushes looking for a way to connect to the road at the bottom of the hill.
Only one more drop off and an easy downhill remained between us and our goal, and then it happened ... El Petrolero decided to take a NAP! Dang it, not now! Oh well, soon she was back on her feet and we completed the assault in short order. Sorry, but no photos were taken of the nap.
I did get photos of Gary and Skinny on the lower portion of the hill. I said it was easy and they make it look that way.
Gary on El Rojo
Skinny ... can you spot the new tank?
Another of Skinny ... can you see the tank now?
Mmmmmm ... I wonder where that goes?
But first a stop at La Casita
It never ceases to amaze me as to what I will find in the hinterlands of the desert. Generally the purvey of people filled with echos, the desert seems to offer respite to those that struggle with authority and/or voices.
Someone had chosen to bring a trailer a very long way, only to abandon it to the elements. I would be interested to learn the story behind the trailer. Perhaps a discussion with Aleda is in order.
As harsh as the desert environment can be, this trailer will be here a long time as metal tends to be the crucible of history. Anthropologists have spent centuries trying to understand the metal fragments of the Bronze and Iron Ages. What will those that follow learn from the study of this relic from the Aluminum Age?
Speaking of odd ball structures ... this looks more like a relic of the Knights of the Realm than something in The Solitario.
With no one home, we borrowed some shade ...
The view from the BBQ table ... no wonder they like it here ...
Then we were off ...
Top of the World is next.
[ ... more in a bit, I really should be working on some stuff ... ]