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Round the Bend? Time for a ride report yet?

A short distance in, the road climbed up to the top of a mesa. The view was spectacular.

Looking south, from where we had just ridden
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Big Don with northern mountains in the background
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Rick M
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What goes up must come down. This very steep road was the way off the mesa and was a bit of a challenge to ride. As usual, pics don't adequately show just how steep the road really is.
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Once off the mesa, we rode the part of the route called "the bog" because when it's wet it can permanently trap a vehicle.

Rick M and Milton at the old truck sunk to the frame in "the bog"
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The easiest truck bed in the world to load your bike in. No ramp needed. Big Don demonstrates.
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More to come...
 
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A little further we came upon the first gate of the day. The locals "herd" us and came to have a look.
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This black number wanted a closer look at Milton.
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The riding was just excellent. Lots of elevation changes, twists and turns.
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Can you tell that Milton was having a really good time?
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Big Don
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A different herd checking us out.
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more to come...
 
The first 25 miles or so of Chispa Rd were just great riding. Class 3 with a nice variety of challenges - dirt, rock, sand, silt, pea gravel, elevation changes, ruts, etc.

Rick M and Big Don
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Working the curve
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The scenery was excellent.
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The riding was great.
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more to come...
 
The team:

Big Don
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Rick M
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Milton
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A Rio Grande river valley full of trees
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The sand and silt areas were challenging.
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Chispa Rd is about 56 miles long. To me, the southern 25 miles were the most fun. The northern 30 miles or so were okay, but, for me, not nearly as fun as the first half of the route. My advice would be to ride the first 25 miles and then turn around and ride back versus riding the entire length.

The road became easier and civilization became increasingly evident as we rode north.
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Five hours of riding brought us to the end of Chispa Road and four border patrol agents. There are sensors set up along the road to alert the border patrol to traffic so they can check out who/what/why. The four agents were casually standing on the side of the road with the flashing lights on the top of the truck lit up, letting us know they wanted to speak with us. After a short, pleasant conversation about who we were and what we were doing, we continued on our way. I forgot to ask them for a picture.

And with that, the dual sport part of the day was over. The Dizzer did great. It performed nearly flawlessly on the first day of its maiden voyage, with the only mechanical issue being a lost bolt on the chain guard. I was really comfortable on the bike and, so far, it had fully met my expectations.
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I was hoping to meat a few folks, but I guess we were too busy riding... We went to the rider meeting on Friday morning briefly, but decided to get a jump on the mob...

I got the grand tour on Friday: Maverick, River Road, Black Gap, back to River Road East, lunch in the Village, then Old Ore, Terlingua Ranch, North Co Rd, South Co Rd, and back on Fulcher... 200-some-odd miles... what an awesome day!

Saturday we went, well, I don't know where we went but it began behind the ghost town... we did mostly exploring in areas that Gary (BajaRat) and John (Irondawg) hadn't been yet, and found some awesome trails and potential loops for next time.

I'm still picking dust boogers.

Early Friday morning...
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Clayton taking pictures of me taking pictures
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Day one, somewhere around Black Gap
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The rock that took Steve Jr's life on Old Ore and a sobering moment from our riding high...
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Day 2...

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Resting while Gary lets his noggin stop ringing... he had a failed attempt at a climb :doh:
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We only got a couple of miles on this trail before we turned around; Gary wasn't feeling well.
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Dao taking it in on the trail before we turned around... He really wrang that little 230's neck that weekend :lol2:
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A few of my "other" photos...
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What about that Chispa road on a GS or KTM 950?

I wouldn't do it. I would even opt for a DRZ over a KLR on this route, simply because it would be much easier on the lighter bike. To be fair, I don't have any experience with the KTM and have only ridden a GS once, so take that into account.
 
why wouldn't they serve cobbler on the patio? :ponder:
 
why wouldn't they serve cobbler on the patio? :ponder:

A new management rule that got put into place. You can only have items off of the "patio menu" on the patio. All other items are banned.:rolleyes:

Me thinks that if Ed has his way, this will be overturned in no time flat.:trust:
 
A new management rule that got put into place. You can only have items off of the "patio menu" on the patio. All other items are banned.:rolleyes:

Me thinks that if Ed has his way, this will be overturned in no time flat.:trust:

that has got to be one of the dumbest rules, only patio food on the patio :doh: . I wonder what the logic is behind it? easier cleanup?

almost as bad as a sign I saw on a table: "water+lemons+sugar=lemonaide. You will be charged accordingly" :eek2:
 
that has got to be one of the dumbest rules, only patio food on the patio :doh: . I wonder what the logic is behind it? easier cleanup?
Patios are inconvenient for wait staff, but still, a lot of people like to eat outside (like me), so I say if you are going to have a patio, then serve it.
 
Friday

Friday was a non-riding day for me, but I did get some pics at the Friday morning riders meeting and at the Friday evening story telling/tire kicking session on the front porch.

Milton and Pink Lloyd fighting the morning chill with a cup of joe
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The Mrs and I
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Texas Cactus. Amazing how they naturally grow that way, isn't it?
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Betty Boop attended this year. I hear she mostly just wanted to meet Uncle.
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The infamous Dirtbike Dave
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Uncle
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Robert Stallones
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C.C. (Carla Cay) and Chris
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John Primo and Phil (the guy in charge of Kathy's fire)
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On the Front Porch

Various photos from Friday night's front porch session...

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wow good photos, you just got that camera? did you alter them after? (eitherway great photos)
Thanks. The last 3 are from a newish camera, yes (Nikon D90), and there was definitely some post processing involved :-P The rest were from my D50, with minimal post, since I shoot raw.
 
Kathy's Kowgirl, Friday morning
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Friday Jeff, PinkLloyd, RickM, BigDon, newbie Baja Boo, and I did Maverick Road to Santa Elena, Castolon, the River Road East, Black Gap and back home.
Santa Elena Canyon from Maverick Road
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Baja Boo
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Meeting Rusty and his group on the River Road
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Traffic jam on River Road. 2 different groups stopped in the middle of nowhere to admire Punta de la Sierra
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Rusty and crew
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Jeff and his new (to him) Dakar
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Out on the River Road
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Here we split up. Boo didn't know what to make of my good friends' jivin' about my navigational skills.
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After Black Gap Road. A piece of cake.

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Study Butte Store
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The Porch in Terlingua
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Shhhh. My pad at WHS.
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Pink on green, River Road
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I got the grand tour on Friday: Maverick, River Road, Black Gap, back to River Road East, lunch in the Village, then Old Ore, Terlingua Ranch, North Co Rd, South Co Rd, and back on Fulcher... 200-some-odd miles... what an awesome day!

Whoa. That's an awesome ride. :giveup:
Next year! :rider:
 
WARNING - For those folks that stayed at the Motor Inn and used a Credit Card

Checked my on-line credit card bill this evening and found that the Motor Inn has kindly charged my credit card on Monday and Tuesday of this week with 4 seperate charges totaling over $450. :eek2: :eek2:
 
Does anyone know what these square structures are for?

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