Much thanks to Connie, Uncle (Roger) and Rich for organizing a really great event. Couple more folks that helped make this work so well are RollinJ and his partner in handing out awards during the banquet (I don’t know this fellow’s name). They kept things moving and interesting. The Round The Bend events just keep getting better every year!
So many folks participated in the various organized rides and had a hoot by all accounts. A few of us knocked around in different directions while these were going on.
Thursday was our day to run the roads in the national park. We hit Dagger Flats, Old Ore, Black Gap and the Terlingua Ranch road. Full day…
This is our crew;
Joel,
Jeff,
Michael and my raggedy KLR out on Old Ore rd. Fantastic weather for a ride. These guys are fully capable riders who showed up with their machines ready to go.
A quick stop at Ernst Tenaha.
We made it to the TR lodge just in time to get our Bad Rabbit stickers. Really enjoyed riding with these folks and visiting along the way.
Friday was my day to settle some scores out at the state park. I wanted to ride throughout the Solitario areas and make another run at Suicide Hill out on Guale rd.
What have we here? This is how most of these pictures get started…by turning the motorcycle around and going back. Loose gravel makes for quick turn-arounds.
Most of the Solitario is pretty tame. However, there are a few spots that can be amusing.
Good lunch break…
Another scenic ride is the Road to Nowhere…
Nowhere…
Yep, the other side of Nowhere…
After a short visit with Medic Jeff and Patrick back at the bunkhouse…and a good chug of Gatoraid, on to Guale road. Great stuff…probably one of my all-time favorites.
Coming down a small hill, I hit some big, flat loose rocks (are there any other kind out there?) and Guale road slapped my fanny down like quicker than a duck on a june bug. OUCH! Dang that hurt.
Fluffy angular rocks didn’t help much. I apologized to the bike
and went on my way. Not a scratch on the motorcycle but I’m still choking down Advil today. (ribs just under my left arm. Not bruised, just sore)
Oh yeah, consider the score properly settled with Suicide Hill.
Went on around the Oso West loop and back to the truck.
I love this ride.
Saturday…VIVA MEXICO!
Some chaps wanted to make a run down south to Peguis canyon. Cool! Let’s ride!
The crew is three characters from Lubbock. The Biblical trio…
Mark,
John and
Joel. All on
KTM990’s and all very skilled riders. They did stuff on these big bikes that was amazing.
The boys can ride motorcycles.
The border was busy but no probs getting across at Ojinaga and a smooth ride down to the canyon.
After the canyon we went down to the check point just beyond and talked to the soldiers there. Seems Mark saw guys down the hill with black automatic weapons and made good use of those Brembo brakes.
They were great guys and I asked about a small rock trail going up the mountain just above them. They said it was a really cool view up there and that motos could probably make it. FAR OUT! Let’s go.
I asked the crew if they were feeling adventurous and wanted to see if we could make our way down to the river. Need I ask…
Played in a fun sandbox.
By then it was lunch time so we beat it back into OJ and found the restaurant…but first…
It’s a wonder how - after climbing that hill (think – faint trail
if one uses some imagination) we didn’t all have to fix flats. Only one for the day and Joel was the lucky winner.
After a mighty good lunch we headed back to the USA. Easy crossing and headed east. At gas, John suggested we make a quick detour up Casa Piedra rd. and then down Bocefillos rd along the way. An excellent choice! Those 990’s are just amazing in the right hands.
Back on the river rd (170) to Terlingua and the evening is quickly approaching with mountains in Mexico getting bluer with every turn. John's in the lead and we hit the smooth groove and flew. I was spanking that KLR pretty good trying to run with 990’s. We made it back just in time to clean up and head over to the banquet. A VERY GOOD DAY.
Looking forward to next year.