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Around the Bend & Lone Star Reunion Feb 28 - Mar 3, 2019

Sounds like you could do a swap meet at the end of the day with all the parts and accessories found along the way :lol2:
 
We recovered a lost forearm wrap / sock / sun cover / dunno thingy at La Kiva, from last year. They were playing with the set of arm socks for about a year and somehow in the kitchen confusion and hustle and bustle in the last year lost one of the two. So we played with the other returned one and left it there to see if Brian would give it to us again in 2020, hahahaha. On a sad note the head joker of the kitchen at La Kiva, Tim, took his own life about 4 months ago. Depression masked in humor, a reality we hear about all too often. Tim was a great guy. He always made us feel welcome and awkward and silly at the same time. And even when the kitchen was bare and closed he turned up baked potatoes with gorgonzola cheese, or warm get what they got sammiches with a wry smile. Godspeed Tim.
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My son Ben and I had an amazing time. Good to back on the KTM after the Mextrek #8 debacle. Left Denver on Wednesday afternoon. Spent the night in Santa Rosa, NM then drove on to Presidio Thursday. Quick trip across the border to clear paperwork from last October then on to Terlingua. Rode Old Ore on Friday then over to Boquillas for a late lunch. Rode Top of the World and Hen's Egg on Saturday. Amazing ride with Charles, Phillip, Donnie, Jeff, and Garlen, and Ben. Headed out Sunday. Hit the leading edge of the cold front about 30 miles north of Alpine. Freezing fog all the way to northern New Mexico. There it turned into full on blizzard and we spent the night in Raton before heading to Denver on Monday.

I want to thank everyone for their friendship and kindness. Everyone welcomed Ben and he really enjoyed every part of the weekend. See you all soon.
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J.P.
 
I want to thank everyone for their friendship and kindness. Everyone welcomed Ben and he really enjoyed every part of the weekend. See you all soon.

Rally enjoyed meeting you, Ben & the Landy! Glad you were able to join us on Saturday.

I hit that same cloud about 30 mins North of Marathon, crazy 70 degrees to 34 degrees in 20 mins!
 
Me too, just south of Ft Stockton. Wet, cold and dreary with a crosswind all the way to Kerrvile, electrics could hardly keep up. Ended up holing up on the Guadalupe at the River Inn for a couple days till it warmed up enough to ride on home. Had a nice fire and plenty tequila to keep me warm.

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I’ve been going out to Big Bend since I was a kid. My dad was a school teacher which meant two things - he had summers off and no money - so vacation was usually a two week camping trip to Big Bend each summer. My brother and I did some backpacking there after we each got done with our military enlistments and then I started going back regularly to motorcycle, camp, and hike.

I’ve been trying to do the Uncle/RTB rides each year but this year I wanted to make a week out of it. My wife Dawn really loves the area, but is not into motorcycling so we came up early and spent Sat through Thur literally smelling the flowers and then I got to get my fix on Fri and Sat.

Of all the trips I have made to Big Bend, this has been the most magical. First, of course, having Dawn there to share probably my favorite place in the world, was great. Second, the flowers this year - Oh. My. God. - the flowers this year - the blue bonnets, and every friggin thing else - blues, yellows, greens, whites, pinks - all through the desert. I’ve never seen anything like it there. Third, but definetly not last, our hosts - Dan and Tana. Wow - how lucky we got.

We rented an AirBnB called La Cabana Terlingua which is a beautiful adobe one bedroom house just up the hill from Uncle Roger’s Rancho Neglecto. The house was great, but Dan and Tana are awesome. Dan is a retired National Park ranger who’s dad was also a ranger. In fact, his dad was the first head National Park ranger in Big Bend back in 1946. Dan spent ages 1 through 12 growing up in the park. Dan went on to become the head ranger at Yellowstone National Park before he retired, a post, by the way now held by his son, a third generation National Park Ranger.

Well, I guess retirement did not suite Dan so when the Texas State Park system came a calling with an offer to head up the Texas State Park system he took the job which he held for 11 years. A pet project he took on in that role was opening the Big Bend Ranch State Park - yep. Although it was owned by the state it was under lock and key. Dan got the park surveyed, trails set up, etc and opened that puppy up. A project a lot of us are very grateful for. Pete (Shadman) and I spent the better part of a week there back in 2012 riding **** near everything in the park that can be ridden.

Dan and Tana sort of adopted us over the week and we got to spend mornings watching the sun rise, sipping coffee and solving the world’s problems and Dawn got to hang out with them on Fri and Sat as I went riding. Great, great people and some great new friends. By the way - no one is allowed to book this property for future RTB’s. I’ve got dibs dadgumit. (They did just open up a beautiful newly remodeled bigger adobe house for AirBnB you are welcome to - we want to hang close to Dan and Tana).

Heading out on Friday afternoon

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Taking a drive in Terlingua Ranch
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Chillin at La Kiva on Saturday evening
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Sunday brunch - Big Bend style
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Taking a trip up paved River Road to smell some flowers.
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Last year I rode Pinto Canyon road for the first time. The valley on that road I think is the most beautiful view in the entire area. So this year we brought the Jeep so I could show Dawn this special place. I’d love to watch the sun set and rise from the valley.

Here’s a great mailbox along Pinto Canyon.
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The Valley
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Heading back to Terlingua
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La Cabana Terlingua
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Breakfast in Lajitas
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Sunrise
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Hiking Lost Mine Trail (probably my favorite in the park - close 2nd is the South Rim trail)

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Sunset
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Dan took this pic from his porch as Dawn and I sat in awe for about an hour watching the sunrise.
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We proably sat around a little too long.
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But at least we had company.
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Shyest Longhorn in the state.
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Dawn told me hiking all day was doing nothing for my BO - so I decided to take a bath at Roger’s place.
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Nuff said...
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On Friday Dawn headed to Lajitas to try and get some work done. WiFi was no cooperative so she headed back to chill with Dan and Tana, meanwhile I...
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Hit River Road with the new riders group. I learned the wisdom Philip Bartlett tried to impart on me when he told me the best way to lead this group is from the rear. It was a good ride, but could have benefited from splitting into smaller groups and try to segregate by riding ability. Lesson for next year.
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Meanwhile - Tana gave Dawn a tour of their recently opened new AirBnB rental. Nice digs.
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Sunset at La Cabana Terlingua
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Saturday was a trip to Top of the World - I was looking forward to this ride as I’ve never done it before. Thanks JT for the perfect GPS track!!!!
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Hey Charles, it was really nice meeting the missus (maybe one day I can persuade mine to come) and as always, great riding with you. From one secret AirBnB to another...

Thanks for helping out on Friday, that ride kind of is what it is & as long as everyone has fun & doesn't get hurt I'm actually fine with the way it works out.

You missed the marathon Saturday although we couldn't have handled a 3rd bike on fumes! Much as I was disappointed to miss the BBQ I wouldn't have traded the riding for anything.

Look forward to riding with you again soon. :rider:
 
We rented an AirBnB called La Cabana Terlingua which is a beautiful adobe one bedroom house just up the hill from Uncle Roger’s Rancho Neglecto...

That AirBnb does look nice, pricing not terrible either considering it's Terlingua. I now wish I would have walked up the hill to check it out. I had no idea you were active on TWT. After asking 5 or 6 people, no one in the group was so I stopped asking.
 
That AirBnb does look nice, pricing not terrible either considering it's Terlingua. I now wish I would have walked up the hill to check it out. I had no idea you were active on TWT. After asking 5 or 6 people, no one in the group was so I stopped asking.

Hey there - were you one of the guys I got to visit with at Roger’s? Dawn and I had a great time hanging out with you guys and gals!
 
Hey there - were you one of the guys I got to visit with at Roger’s? Dawn and I had a great time hanging out with you guys and gals!
Yes white Tenere, tent camping. We talked when you loaded up your bike.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 
Great photos Charles! Enjoyed having dinner and visiting with you, Dawn and others at La Kiva Saturday night. That steak I orders was outstanding.
 
Roger (TxSignGuy) and I rode the State Park on Saturday. Below is a raw video clip of our ride up King Kong. You'll see one good climb at 3:30 and KK at 6:30. KK wasn't too bad but still more difficult than it looks on film.

State Park King Kong Ride

I notice when viewing video through dropbox the resolution is very low. When downloaded it's HD. Not sure the best way to host these things.
 
Tickets in Big Bend Ranch SP? Were they, by any chance, cited by Sgt Doter?

Yep.
- have you met him as well?
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... as Shadman notes, though; he DID then later come and rescue us when the night got cold and dark. :)
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..bike took a bit of a beating coming out that road (including climbing King Kong hill with us + bike on board!) - breaking tie downs several times - but he really saved us a LOT of unpleasantness in getting us out. ...and MAN did the temperature ever drop fast that night to freezing!

After getting us back to the ranger station late that night; he asked me if I’d THEN sign a disclaimer for him transporting the bike - after-the-fact; which technically should have been done in advance.
“Of course”. (After a crafty pause:) “...hey.. any chance of getting a disclaimer of my own with that ticket from earlier? It HAS been a rather **** day, all-in-all! :)

Him (looking up from filling out the paperwork):
“You know; sometimes I have to be the bad guy. But sometimes; I get to be the good guy, too. “

Fair enough!
[emoji106]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
...
“You know; sometimes I have to be the bad guy. But sometimes; I get to be the good guy, too. “

Fair enough! ...

I agree, that could also be said of any public servant.

Good to hear another side of this Ranger. Previous reports painted a much different picture. Clearly he is DS friendly, extracting your bike was clearly above and beyond his duty.

Sent from my SM-G860P using Tapatalk
 
What a story. I'd have liked to been there to watch y'all go up King Kong.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
Sgt Doter doesn't piss around with the speed limit. Nailed my brother with a very pricey ticket last year. Lesson learned Sgt.
 
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