Ended up spending about 10 days riding in the desert in Big Bend National Park, Terlingua Ranch properties, and Big Bend State Park. Normally you don't associate much good, challenging riding in parks and such, but this area is a bit different. There's not much maintenance done to the 2-track in many of these places, so loose rocks, ruts, step-ups and downs are the norm. I usually get a local rider to go with me or meet up with someone from one of the dirt bike forums, but no one could go this time.

I camped in some pretty remote areas, and some get concerned about being so close to the Mexico border. It's not a problem in the areas mentioned here. It's so remote in some instances that it's nearly suicide for Mexican nationals to try and walk into the U.S. in most of these areas. It's a good place to die trying. I usually avoid group campgrounds and enjoy the solitude. Plus you can crank up the stereo as much as you want...LOL! A little tequila, some good music, and a good sunset in the desert...don't get no better.

That Maxxis Desert IT front tire worked really well out in the desert. Traction and wear were excellent. The Kenda 760 Trakmaster worked as well as always. One of the best trails in the BBNP is the River Road. It winds right by the Rio Grande river for about 50 miles. There's an old mercury mine along one of the trails that is huge and has been closed for nearly a century. The terrain may be classified as desert, but it's full of canyons, mountains, and all kinds of vegetation. The type of riding varies from poking along in the rocks at a crawl to fast, swoopy speeds dodging rocks and ruts. It's a hoot!

 

I'm jealous! Nice of you to share it with us...

 

Nice TNC.

Come on, you've gotta have more pics than that.....

 

Congrats on the ride! More pics?

 

looks like fun, sometimes getting away from it all by yourself is the best.

 

Here's a few more that show how odd it looks in the desert when you get just a little water. Along the Rio Grande it can be a lush ribbon of grass and vegetation, but just 50 yards away the desert takes over again. Also, if there is a spring or such, big cottonwoods grow and turn color in the fall just like it was Vermont...well, OK...maybe not Vermont...LOL! The pic with my camp next to the windmill is a place that was part of the ranch that is now BB Ranch State Park. That little water source was probably the only water source for 15 miles in any direction. Birds and animals would come from all over. There was an 18" deep pool about 20' in diameter, and I wondered if it might even draw a mountain lion from the area. I stayed inside the van after dark.

The only thing really bad about a trip like this one where you're totally riding alone...you don't get any good action shots...LOL! Some have suggested that I get a vid cam or such. I don't know...kind of like not having to putz with anymore technical stuff than the bike on a ride like this. Heck, even the digicam I use is a 10 year old Olympus antique.

 

I spent 4 days at Big Bend in oct. of 08 and really liked the area.
It did get up to 110 degrees in the middle of the day. I didn't
have a motorcycle, and I hope to visit the park again with one.
Here is a shot of my van (at the right) at my camp over looking
the Rio Grande and Mexico. I hiked around and did see signs of a
mountain lion.



Beautiful area. Thanks for the report and photo's.

 

Nice!

I've never been to Big Bend, but the terrain looks identical to the Sonoran desert here in Arizona...



Ron

 

Tom, yeah the weather can be a concern there during some times of the year. I wouldn't go to BBNP from mid-April through October as a general rule. It can get really hot during those times.

Ron, do y'all have the ocotillo plants in AZ? I've been there a ton, but I can't remember seeing the ocotillo. Other than that the two are very similar in many ways. I like your saguaro cactus, however, and you don't see that hardly anywhere else other than AZ.

 

I guess my invitation got lost in the mail...LOL