Dispatches From West Texas

[philipbarrett]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Firstly, huge shout out to Shadman and his crew for a fantastic event! Even the weather couldn't dampen a grand weekend out. Thanks to UlyBrad for inviting me to his Challenge crew and for hanging back with the stragglers when we all know how fast he really could have gone.

I was a little worried going in as I'd rushed to get the bike ready after the purchase but the XR400 held up just great. First kick starting and a tractor-like pull made life for a fumbling newb pretty sweet out there.

The obligatory Elena Canyon visit prior to meeting up with Brad & crew.

Studly Adventurers, one and all.

My accommodations, or as I called it, "throne with a view!"

And my non-piston day in the Ranch. Which incidentally incurred my only fall and associated road rash.

 

[snakebitten]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Haha. Excellent post. ?

 

[c4nuck]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

TWT Rocks !

Great to here you're doing alright, see you next year!

 

[c4nuck]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Some pics, lots more later and video

Can't thank Peter and Everett enough for putting it together this year. Even with the weather out there, I had a blast, can't wait for next year.

Until then, some sleep and a bike wash.

Great meeting new friends and seeing old ones.

 

[c4nuck]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

 

[mr-roboto]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Pete - I had a great time enjoying the roads in and around Big Bend. The event was well organized and the wet weather did not dampen spirits. I am now in New Mexico waiting for MR2CH (Rod) to arrive for a romp around the state.

I hope the chap who punctured his lung on the desert challenge is doing OK. The last I heard is he was suppose to stay in the hospital in Alpine until Tuesday.

Happy Trails,

RB

 

[Rman of 237]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

 

[slowoldguy]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Great pics, Adrian! Weather makes for awesome photo ops.

 

[ed29]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

[/URL]

Looks like you got off the bike to hike Earnst Tinaja. Good call!

 

[SL350]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

What an absolutely lucky weekend to be riding BB area. Rain being so rare it was such a blessing to see the flowers and the image of the big thunderstorm rolling over the caps like waves over the sea. The extra challenge the rain made in deep water crossings and mud just made the adventure more unique and offers much fodder for campfire stories yet to be told.

When we started Dos Y Dos, Peter came up behind me and asked why I was stopped. I told him that the little CT was holding everyone up, that it was just too slow for the others. He said it was not too slow for him and that was all I needed to attack the mud. He had our backs.

Chain locked by a rock required removing the axle bolt and the wheel. The stretched chain was tightened but stretched more and slipped the back sprocket. One deep water puddle swamped the carb and killed the engine until it could dry. The best riding came after RickMillerTX recommended removing the front fender and transformed the mud sledding front wheel into a round and rolling mass of mud that could be steered.

The CT then made it down the Old Ore trail until hail approached and chased us back to the trailer at Rio Grande village. A bit proud the little CT made about 50 miles of wretched riding and returned under its own power albeit looking a bit naked without her front fender and chain guard. Two hail storms later, she is washed clean (sorta) and ready to do it again!

Thanks guys, one and all, what a great group of riding buddies.

 

[JT]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

My accommodations, or as I called it, "throne with a view!"

[/IMG]

I camped there for my first uncle's. Used to have a half-door. Only time in my life I wanted a camera at that time of morning.

 

[Vinny]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

http://s1237.photobucket.com/user/C4nuck/media/Big Bend/NikonRugged_0638_March 21 2015.jpg.html

Great pic.

 

[chiricahua]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Glad Dmux is healing well. JLR had heard the I had went down and triple backed to the river road west looking for me.
Meanwhile I was trying to chase down the last three on the KTM 350's.

Breakdown was;
3 days of riding 1015 miles from Austin to Big Bend via the Kermit Sand Dunes.
With my lack of prepping for the Desert challenge I did a field carb strip to clean out some debris, thanks to a KTM rally racer out at the dunes who lent me an air compressor and some ether we got in to BB quite late and missed Reg and dinner. The next morning came 3.5 hours later and I ran late trying to prep the KLR with its armor I stripped for the dunes.
We found. Our selves as the next to last two leaving the Starlight and unprepared with knowledge of the fuel stop.
Weather and terrain were both perfect for a spirited ride. Subsequently missed the first fuel stop and 2/3 through the course found myself heading to Study Butte for a few gallons and then heading back to gate 12 to finish the course. Got passed by snakebitten while getting fuel and never got to catch the the three amigos on the ktm350's. But they lit the way for me with roost tracks and jet wash on every turn, not to mention the braking bump highlights.
First time using gps and a new ram mount that was awesome. The desert challenge for my fuel error got me 227 miles in 2 hours and 27 minutes at 41.6 mph avg. the course was very similar to the SoCal desert with cobbles,sand,rock steps and a tiny amount of mud.
The next day due to a little rain we opted not to sign up for the adv challenge and we took the wife two up into the park to the basin and canyons. A hail storm and a little snow and flash floods cut our ride short. So we rested up for the great ha dinner that night.
We'll be back out there this summer to re-trace the route. All are welcome to join up if you're interested.

Here's a little Texas hail storm video on the way to the Sant Elena canyon. The wife was a real trooper on and off road and got a story for the grand children to come. Thanks for a great week and Rideo ,be safe!

[ame="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nKYWdVip63k#"]Big Bend Texas Hail storm on a klr 650 two up. - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Jimbobmw]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

The dos y dos gang

 

[Jimbobmw]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Had some fun in the mud on the river road

 

[Jimbobmw]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Mud!

 

[Tom]

Is this all we get?

 

[solorider]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Got tons of video footage, but first lets start with the ride in to Study Butte.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUEB64OyPQw"]Following BMW K1600GT to Study Butte - YouTube[/ame]

 

[DaveC]

Is this all we get?

really, is that all there was? To busy riding to take picture?

 

[Jeff S]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Time for my movies too!

These are all time-lapse, shot one image per 2 seconds, then run at 24 frames / second in the movie. Click thru to watch big on the full youtube site (1080p).


Here's my ride out on Thursday. Started at dark in Austin in light rain and sometimes heavy fog. Late breakfast at 10am in Rocksprings (King Burger wasn't open yet), the on down to the park. Arrived in Terlingua a little after 5pm.


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjvkIdIUMiM"]Austin to Terlingua Timelaspe - YouTube[/ame]

Friday, Eddie and I set out down the real river road. We stopped at Santa Elena Canyon first, and then at Boquillas Canyon. Many stops along the way for our group to re-assemble, take photos, and just to see the sights. Helped out with a flat tire just before we turned down Mariscal Mine road.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux7Y5Pg29M4"]The real River Road - YouTube[/ame]

Saturday: lots of rain, so we stayed almost entirely on pavement. It was a simply beautiful ride, but the movie looks mostly like rain-covered crap.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6mkYAG8Hxo"]Hwy 170 - YouTube[/ame]

Overall, I was blown away by how beautiful the park and mountains around the park was. Amazing to smell the bluebonnets and see the little (and sometimes not so little) rain storms move through the valleys.


Now, some stills:

Rain over Highway 170

Bluebonnets at Santa Elena

Yucca and Bluebonnets along the River Road. DARK clouds overhead.

The Rio Grande along HWY 170

It's really a bit early for the prickly pear blossoms, but a few were already in bloom.

Boquillas Canyon

Eastern end of River Road

 

[Vinny]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Great stuff Jeff.

 

[Rman of 237]

really, is that all there was? To busy riding to take picture?

Come on guys, they're still posting pics on the other thread. Good pics! A mod will move them over here later.

 

[solorider]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

At the hot spring #Bigbend

 

[solorider]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

The view from our cabin:

 

[AdventureDallas]

Re: 2015 Uncle's Around the Bend, Desert, ADV, and Dos y Dos Challenges Mar 19 - 22 2

Great weekend around the Bend! Thank you Peter and Everett for making the event possible this year. I kicked myself for missing it last year and would have kicked myself even more if it hadn't happened this year. It was fantastic meeting so many great guys and thanks to my riding groups Saturday and Sunday who made me a better rider. Here are the pics:


Welcome to El Dorado:

Vagabonds gather:

At the Starlight:

Day 1: Desert Challenge @ Black Gap. Great riding group: Adrian, Jose, Roger, and Ben. Here we came up on the accident. Glad to hear Doug is recovering! Thanks go to Jack Henry who rode to inform the park rangers about a rider needing assistance.

Black Gap - the rocky climb on the north side of the canyon from the step. This seemed more challenging on the big bike than the famous step.

Old Ore scenery:

Day 2: Attempting the Adventure Challenge route on the big bikes. At the rest area on FM 170 before the muddy hill on Bofecillos road convinced us to stick to pavement in the rain. Our Saturday gang: David, John, Tim, and I.

Almost looks like Ireland...

On the way to Candelaria / the end of FM 170:

Candelaria, where the road ends:

The Road never ends!

All the way from Baton Rouge:

Selfie...

Rio Snakey, and the road snakes, too:

Terlingua in the distance:

The end of the affair:

Looking forward to next year!
~ Evgeniy