March Ramblin'

[bigjohnsd]

Stayed with a Luddite last evening - no Internet - if he can't mooch from his neighbors then he uses his phone as a hot spot.

Friday - Left Alamosa about 0930 after reworking the chocks on the trailer so that the bars of the Tiger and Freya didn't have an interference fit - moved each chock 4" outboard, problem solved.

https://photos.smugmug.com/2019-Ramble-/i-JLTVM36/0/77e0ae69/L/20190301_085157-1551581974119-L.jpg


Headed South out of Alamosa toward Santa Fey - these mountains are going to get dumped on Saturday and Sunday!

Stopped for lunch in Encino NM for a late bite

A bit of "Motorcycle Art" on the wall

The raved about "Brisket Taco's" were not rave-worthy, Kips Pork Green Chilli Tacos were excellent. NM Brisket was hard and dry.

https://photos.smugmug.com/2019-Ramble-/i-ZVWnMMc/0/b067908d/L/20190301_140634-L.jpg

Typical small town NM vista - mostly empty buildings, few people.

Approaching Alamosa NM our free bed for the night and a place to stow the truck and trailer. As we got closer to Alamosa the Left front wheel of the F150 was making ominous noises. The truck is at the dealer for investigation, sounded like a wheel bearing to me. Hopefully will be covered under the Powertrain Warranty but not likely

Saturday - March 2nd Alamosa NM to Alpine TX

Underway early and a good breakfast at Cloudcroft NM at about 8,700 ft. Never had to turn on the Electric Jacket though there were some snow patches on the hillsides and along the road.

After breakfast we headed South on NM 130 to Pinon NM, 130 was a nice twisty road with only a 55 mph speed limit, we chose FJR nominal with a rabbit in a sports car running in front of us just far enough.

After Pinon the road surface changed

and changed again

The GPS routed us down this little Gem of a road - 3 digit county roads in NM are little more than Goat Trails. Kip turning around, all the disturbance in the road between the Photographer (me) and Kip is the remnants of my low speed sandy get off. The GSA is not any easier to pick up in the Sand as it is in the Mud.

Kip succeded in burying the Tiger up to the rear axle but we got it out in short order.

https://photos.smugmug.com/2019-Ramble-/i-CHHGP7R/0/05824e7f/L/20190302_115315-L.jpg

Lunch in Dell City TX at Rositas Cafe.

Kip had the Club Sandwich, I had the Owner recommended "Brisket Sandwich" sorry, it was gone before I even thought about a picture. It was as good as yesterdays was bad!

We stopped in at Guadelupe NP for a quick drink and look see (Posey Sniffing)

https://photos.smugmug.com/2019-Ramble-/i-NFCPqL5/0/037a76f7/L/20190302_150147-L.jpg


We got pretty close to this guy!

After visiting the park Kip knew he was close on making it to Vanhorn TX on gas, the headwind didn't help his Tiger 800 XC went 53 miles on Reserve, he needed 61.

From Vanhorn, we headed East on our only Slab of the day. We turned South on Texas Highway 118 past the McDonald Observatory and through Fort Davis. A great road! I want to go back to Fort Davis sometime in the next two days.

Our track today

Tonight finds us in Alpine TX weather here is fantastic, 74F at 2200, The ElPaso Weather guesser says all the crappy weather should remain North and East of us here along the Rio Grande. My wife reported Snow and -15 in Minneapolis where she awaits the arrival of the first Grandson.

 

[bigjohnsd]

Sunday March 3rd
Alpine Tx
Fort Davis for breakfast, we ate cheap at Lupitas, Breakfast Burritos and coffee. Left without paying. Figured it out while lunching on a Goldwingers delight, Blizzards at DQ in Marfa TX.

After breakfast we visited Fort Davis, then the McDonald observatory interspersed by more fun riding 118 the other direction from Saturday night.

Turned left on TX 166 another scenic twisty road. Lots of twisty, lots of scenery, very little traffic, no cops.

After our DQ in Marfa we had a boring hour on US 63 to Presidio TX, right on the Rio Grande.

After fueling in Presidio, no recurrence of yesterday please, we headed down the Rio Grande on TX FR 170 which generally follows the river. Two things I noticed, no Mexicans crossing the river and no place to build a wall. The river is generally on the right and sherr cliffs on the left.

A brief look see into the Ghost town of Terlingua then a 37 mile ride out into the pucker brush to the Terlingua Ranch Resort, our home for tonight and tomorrow. Typing this after dinner in the Bad Rabbit Cafe on site, only internet available here and it closes in a few minutes. I'll try to post some pix.

Weather changing now, it was 85F when we arrived, it is now in the low 60's with a stiff North wind. Predicting low 30s tonight, high in the 50s tomorrow. Big Bend Park tomorrow.

Alpine TX - Ready to Ride! 0730

The scenery along TX 166 on the way to Marfa TX - great road, 60 miles saw two cars.

A courthouse for HPpants - Presidio County Courthouse, Marfa TX

For Bugs - There is a little Goldwinger in all of us. Lunch!

FR 170 - Rio Grande on the right, Rock Wall on the left. JSNS

Posies for Miss "T"

The infamous Mr Kip Walker!

Mexico on the left, Texas on the Right, Yours truly in the foreground.

The view from our deck at the Terlingua Ranch Lodge.

More tomorrow.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Looking forward to the next installment John!

~G

 

[Pterodactyl]

Do not get caught speeding.....

 

[bigjohnsd]

https://https://bigjohnsdmarch2019.blogspot.com/2019/03/ramblin-day-4-big-bend.html

Tonight's update, click on the above link.

 

[hppants]

Starting to see some food **** and scenery in this report. Getting good!!

 

[bigjohnsd]

Day 5 Update https://https://bigjohnsdmarch2019.blogspot.com/2019/03/ramblin-day-5-trek-across-trans-pecos.html

 

[bigjohnsd]

Special stuff happened today, click the link below to see all!

https://bigjohnsdmarch2019.blogspot.com/2019/03/day-6-vaya-con-dios-kip-laredo-to.html

 

[Niehart]

The "The baby has more hair than me" made me laugh out loud.

Thanks for taking the time to keep us involved.

 

[hppants]

OK - there's space in the garage and the beer is cold. We're gonna have crappy weather to deal with, but quite frankly this year, if that wasn't the case, I'd be concerned.

Come on down - we're ready fer ya!!

 

[SouthernCruizer]

OK - there's space in the garage and the beer is cold. We're gonna have crappy weather to deal with, but quite frankly this year, if that wasn't the case, I'd be concerned.
Come on down - we're ready fer ya!!

Looks like the weather **** won't hit the fan until Saturday...Thursday and Friday mostly cloudy with small chances of rain.

 

[bigjohnsd]

https://bigjohnsdmarch2019.blogspot.com/2019/03/day-7-march-7th-2019-aransas-pass-tx-to.html

Day 7 was a gloomy near 500-mile ride through darkest Texas. I got wet a few times but all remains well.

Safely ensconced at "Pants for the weekend.

 

[hppants]

Were having fun running in the swamps. Now waiting in the poboys. Life is good. Stay thirsty my friends.

 

[bigjohnsd]

https://https://bigjohnsdmarch2019.blogspot.com/2019/03/day-8-local-ride-lafayette-la-area.html

 

[escapefjrtist]

Thanks for the update and pics John!

~G

 

[Niehart]

Thanks for the update and pics John!
~G

+1

 

[Redfish Hunter]

I don't want to steal Big John's spotlight and I hope he posts something up soon. I will just post a few pics from the first part of his ride today and we can see where this leads.

Hppants leading the crew with my Super Awesome '15 ES waiting patiently in the foreground:





Big John on his Uber Boxer:




Spring is about to get sprung:




The blue Yamaha jacket is SouthernCruizer on his Versys 1000:







When we stopped at Nottoway Plantation we noticed a minor issue with Turk/FJRBandit's rear tire. Apparently the torque of the V-Strom 650 had overwhelmed the rear Continental TKC 70.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Adding adventure to the ride...priceless!

Standing by for the daily update.

~G

 

[bigjohnsd]

Day 9 - SE of Lafayette and some fine food for supper

https://https://bigjohnsdmarch2019.blogspot.com/2019/03/day-9-lafayette-and-south-east-dinner.html

Thanks for posting your pictures Andrew.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

image of the above mentioned tire change project.