Big Bend, Thanksgiving week 2010

[scarysharkface]

So I get funny looks Friday morning getting out of the Jeep at work..

Little do they know (although some surely suspect) I've got plans..

It's kind of chilly and not exactly perfect weather to be hauling the bike around..

Of course, the Noon hour approaches and I just can't take it anymore.. The road is calling, and I'm taking the rest of the day (and next week) off..

It's kind of a dull-grey drive South..

With some interesting and not-so interesting skies as I go in and out of doldrum weather..

I'm taking the Southern Route, just to mix it up a bit..

And am rewarded with a glimpse of the sun before it's gone for the night..

John

 

[Wes Craiglow]

Subscribed!

(And next time you're passing through Ark, let me know... A few of us were up in the Ozarks playing when you came through!)

 

[scarysharkface]

I slept in the Jeep at a rest area somewhere West of Little Rock, and was back on the road before the sun was up..

My goal for the day was Austin to visit an old friend from days long since passed, and then maybe make a few miles toward Big Bend before calling it a day..

Had a great (albeit short) visit with my buddy Paul, then headed West on 290.

Bad cell phone pic..

Texas seems to be the land of high-beams, and while being blinded by an oncoming semi North of Luchenbach I managed to nail a deer..

I fared better than he..

To my amazement the Jeep was still driveable and although the radiator now sported a generous curve, it wasn't leaking. Cool.

After dragging the dead animal to the side of the road, I kept moving..

Somewhere further West, I slept here..

After several hours of pretty good sleep, I was back on the road..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

Dark turns to light..

Jeep is running great, but the left front fender is loose and bangs on the body.. I pull over and attempt to pull it the rest of the way off, but instead only manage to anchor it more firmly (which is the best of all outcomes).. A quick camera snap and we're moving again..

Western Hill Country..

Traffic is light. A break for personal maintenance by the roadside is called for..

I make Fort Stockton in short order and buy a small gas can. I might need it on the bike later..

South of town the road stretches out nicely. It's easy to make great time in this corner of Texas..

Big vistas here..

And details remnant from an earlier time..

We're getting close now..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

Now if I could just find the Jeep, I could get going again...

I grab a quick lunch in Marathon..

A burger costs about two-thirds what I'd pay at home..

And while it's not really big and fancy, it's really good..

When I came out after lunch, this was parked across the road..

I haven't been to Alpine, so instead of heading directly South to the park I head West and parallel the railroad tracks for a bit. Once in Alpine, at the last minute before my turn South toward Terlingua I decide to go another block past the turn and top-off the tank. It's probably cheaper here than anywhere I'll be in the next week.. I pull in and spot Ara's sidecar rig parked just ahead of me. We visit for quite a while and it's enjoyable. Great guy.

We part. He is off to Marathon and I head South..

John

 

[suntinez]

Quite a trek, love the long road pictures! Part of me says "boring drive" and part of me says "we're so lucky to have good roads everywhere".

And ... WTH is this??? You just know there's some crazy story that goes with this one.

When I came out after lunch, this was parked across the road..

Looking forward to more :sombrero:

 

[scarysharkface]

From the road South of Alpine..

This bike is begging, literally begging me to unhitch it and go for a scoot. Soon, my friend, soon..

Again with the big sky thing..

I get to Study Butte and look at the temperature! It's practically still Summer here! Yay!

John

 

[scarysharkface]

Quite a trek, love the long road pictures! Part of me says "boring drive" and part of me says "we're so lucky to have good roads everywhere".

And ... WTH is this??? You just know there's some crazy story that goes with this one.

Looking forward to more :sombrero:

I don't know the story behind it. Marfa, not too terribly far to the West, has a very active art community and I suspect that's where this is from. Possibly something built for Burning Man? Who knows. I wandered off to try my hand at a couple of geocaches (I was not successful) and by the time I got back they'd departed..

John

 

[d0va]

nice... if Im not mistaken you did this route last year too right?

 

[scarysharkface]

nice... if Im not mistaken you did this route last year too right?

Yes, twice, although I didn't pass through Alpine. I wanted to see more of the area as well as take a peek at Sul Ross State University in Alpine this time..

John

 

[scarysharkface]

The store at Rio Grande Village has a laundry area and showers that are open 24/7. The showers are 6 quarters for 5 minutes. That's my next stop.

By the time I'm finished grooming the sun is headed into the dirt..

Jeep runs as if none the worse for the wear.. Glad the deer hit wasn't worse..

I want to get back to Study Butte or Terlingua and find a place to park the Jeep for the night..

The moon is rising as the sun is setting..

Beautiful country..

John

 

[alexrex20]

Texas seems to be the land of high-beams, and while being blinded by an oncoming semi North of Luchenbach I managed to nail a deer..

I fared better than he..

welcome to texas

 

[scarysharkface]

welcome to texas

Yeah, I'm glad is wasn't one of the big ones further West..

 

[scarysharkface]

I stuck my nose in the Starlight Theater at Terlingua Ghost Town and took the one empty seat at the far end of the bar..

As luck would have it, I sat next to Roger, whom I had met last year at Long Draw Pizza.

Obligatory cell phone pic of what's over the bar at the Starlight Theater..

We chatted a bit and he offered me a parking spot on his place just down the way a bit. Excellent..

Not certain if that's Terlingua proper or Study Butte lights in the distance..

I get settled in and have some fun with the camera..

Slain by Orion...

I sleep in the back of the Jeep with the windows down.. It has been a good day..

John

 

[Mr. Leary]

:lurk:

Kewl pics. Glad to see another great trip report in the making!