Big Bend Trip

Am considering my first trip to Big Bend from Kerrville area.

Is later November - Thanksgiving - too late in the year?

Any suggestions on routes would be appreciated too.

 

: Am considering my first trip to Big Bend from Kerrville area.

It's a beautiful area, and there are some great roads there.

: Is later November - Thanksgiving - too late in the year?

Too late for what? The weather will be cooler, probably, so dress
appropriatly.

: Any suggestions on routes would be appreciated too.

I suggest riding to Del Rio and then west, don't pass up
any gas stations unless you have a 300 mile range (Del Rio to Marathon).

The river road between Lajitas and Presidio is one on the best roads in
the country, don't miss it.

 

Wait a minute, George.. If you go west from Del Rio.. won't you be in
Mexico ? <grin> I suggest north and east, from my recollections..
But.. dawgies.. it's been so long since I rode out there, they may have
moved stuff around, or something..

Man.. you are sure right about that, George.. But.. if you get off the
freeway
out there, all those highways are hard to beat.. Damn.. that is truly God's
own country.. He sure outdid himself when he made all that.. Regards

Bill Walker

 

:>
:> : Any suggestions on routes would be appreciated too.
:>
:> I suggest riding to Del Rio and then west, don't pass up
:> any gas stations unless you have a 300 mile range (Del Rio to Marathon).

: Wait a minute, George.. If you go west from Del Rio.. won't you be in
: Mexico ? <grin> I suggest north and east, from my recollections..
: But.. dawgies.. it's been so long since I rode out there, they may have
: moved stuff around, or something..

North and west, actually, on US90. (Take US90 West).

:>
:> The river road between Lajitas and Presidio is one on the best roads in
:> the country, don't miss it.

: Man.. you are sure right about that, George.. But.. if you get off the
: freeway
: out there, all those highways are hard to beat.. Damn.. that is truly God's
: own country.. He sure outdid himself when he made all that.. Regards

Yessir, it's nice out there. Of course, if you get off the interstates,
there are a lot of great roads in this country.

 

Why hell yes.. I'd forgotten about the little jog to the west that the
border
of Texas makes, out there. If you mentioned north in those dir-

I could spend weeks rambling around in that part of Texas.. Seems like
you never see the same things twice, no matter how many times you
ride it..

 

Thank you Mr. W and P. Appreciate the counsel. I will be riding a Honda
VTX 1300. I have heard the River Road is partially unpaved?
Gasoline does worry me. Any recommendations on places the stay overnight.
I am a bit on the old side to sleep on the ground.

 

: Thank you Mr. W and P. Appreciate the counsel. I will be riding a Honda
: VTX 1300. I have heard the River Road is partially unpaved?

Nope, Highway 170 runs from Lajitas to Presidio and is paved the whole
way.

: Gasoline does worry me. Any recommendations on places the stay overnight.
: I am a bit on the old side to sleep on the ground.

Gas isn't a problem, unless you don't fill up in Sanderson because you've
got almost half a tank, not knowing the rest of the gas stations between
you and Del Rio are closed, and you end up rolling into the first station
on the edge of Del Rio on fumes, not that I have any personal
experience...
There is gas in Marathon, in the park, and in Study Butte, and also in
Presidio. That should cover you.

As far as a place to stay, try this:
<http://www.visitbigbend.com/wheretostay.html>

I'd suggest Study Butte or Terlingua, or you may get lucky and be able to
stay in the park at the Chisos Lodge.

Have fun.

 

Just came back from there labor day weekend. Great ride. Not sure if it's
too late in the year, probably not. There's a great hotel in Sanderson, the
Desert Air, that's real friendly to bikes. It's a short ride to the BB from
there. Ranch Road 170 to Presidio from BB is something you should do as
well.

 

Me too.. I've stayed in several places.. Alpine, Del Rio, Junction and
Brady..
There's lots of independents out there, but lately I've noticed some of the
big guys have built some pretty nice looking motels in a couple of those
places.. Been a while since I made one of those runs and I can't recommend
any place in particular.. I've noticed George Pollard has posted about
riding in
that area, since I have.. maybe he can be of more help..

 

I forgot to cover the gas thing in my response to him.. <chuckle> I rolled
into the edge of Del Rio on fumes a couple of times, myself.. Most of the
time out there, when I see gas, I fill up.. The range on my cruiser isn't
but
about 130 miles, so I really am sensitive about that gas deal.. Ran that
thing
out of gas one time in almost eleven years.. Didn't enjoy it much..

 

GP, are you sure that aint' ''Sturdy Butte''-------------just playin.

 

I heard that. Bjay-

 

I appreciate all the good info several you you have given me.

Another question. Looking at the map
(http://www.visitbigbend.com/areamaps.html) I see two options for going
south, Route 385 from Marathon or if I continue on to Alpine, Route 118.

Any opinion on which is more interesting. I assume both are paved.

 

Best I recall.. both are paved.. I'm the worlds worst hwy number keeper..
One of those roads.. maybe both are paved with hot top instead of the
usual asphalt or concrete.. Either way/or.. those roads are good to go
and you will definitely enjoy the trip.. As I recall, you may be the only
traffic on them.. George may be able to enlighten you more..

 

:>
:> Another question. Looking at the map
:> (http://www.visitbigbend.com/areamaps.html) I see two options for going
:> south, Route 385 from Marathon or if I continue on to Alpine, Route 118.
:>
:> Any opinion on which is more interesting. I assume both are paved.

: Best I recall.. both are paved.. I'm the worlds worst hwy number keeper..
: One of those roads.. maybe both are paved with hot top instead of the
: usual asphalt or concrete.. Either way/or.. those roads are good to go
: and you will definitely enjoy the trip.. As I recall, you may be the only
: traffic on them.. George may be able to enlighten you more..

I've never been on 118 between Alpine and Study Butte, except for the
portion from Study Butte to the ZTerlingua Ranch headquarters road, so I
can't help much. 385 south of Marathon is not what I would call
exciting, but is a well-paved (as of April), low-traffic road theough
some interesting country. It's like a lot of the Big Bend area, it's not
in-your-face exciting, but is subtle in the changes. Mainly, it's how
you get to the park, so has to be taken.

Here's a shot of what the country looks like:

<http://george-1.smugmug.com/photos/161824986-M.jpg>

And one of Highway 118 at the west entrance to the park:

<http://george-1.smugmug.com/photos/161823124-M-1.jpg>


Enjoy the ride.

 

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