The trip came up suddenly. Free time for me through unemployment and Phil due to bad economy short week. There was a BB plan for April, but why wait?

I had to watch the weather because I'm not fully heated. Below 30 deg F is not possible.

Day 1:

Out before daybreak headed to Dallas. Kinda cold, a little wet, but no problems. Interstate droning. Phil being "Uncle Phil" because always has the stuff you need, loaned me heated gloves and a double controller. All good to Dallas where we were going to stay with Phil's riding friend Ken. In Dallas, traffic split us up. A learning experience. Shoulda had all the numbers in the phone and shoulda had the address.

Phone work from a McDonald's didn't yield anything, so I stayed in a Relax Inn next to the McDonald's. Later got connected back by phone.

Day 2:

It got hot. Must have been in the 90's. Also very windy. I think in the 60-70 mph range. Phil, a 250lb former Marine sitting on 700 lbs of motorcycle and gear nearly got blown over at a stop light in Carlsbad. That gust broke one of his windshield mounts. From Carlsbad to Carlsbad Caverns the wind was ferocious. I leaned hard into the wind even though the road was straight. There was constant dust this day due to the wind. I experienced the mixed aromas of sulfur irrigating water and crude oil.

We arrived on time and with plenty of gas at the Guadalupe Mountain National Park campground where the other ST guys were going to be. Unfortunately, they left because of the wind and headed to for Davis. So, with the sun setting, we took off for Fort Davis. We rode briskly while there was light. The 20 miles we rode east on I-10 was the only time with a tailwind. Calm and fast. Speed limit is 80 in West Texas and we going 85-90ish.

Then on 181 down to Fort Davis I decided to slow down to save fuel. In a few minutes Phil decided to slow down because of cows, elk, deer and Javelina.

We managed to find the place and set up the tents in the dark. No moon. The sky was brilliant.

Day 3:

I got to see the camp area at first light. A little canyon. Really nice place. It had been pretty cool overnight, but the UP loaned  0 degree sleeping bag worked great.

Went up see the telescope near Ft. Davis. The facility engineer is an ST rider. Facinatin stuff. Afterwords, Phil and I did the "loop" around Ft Davis: 17 to 166 to 118. Fun road and like most in Texas fast.

Day 4: We came to ride and were out before anyone else. We rode to Presidio and then 170 to Big Bend. Apparently 170 is always "closed" due to construction. We followed the Border Patrol 4 wheel drive truck down the detour. Not a road that the ST likes, but Phil didn't have any trouble. The Strom was not bothered at all by the gravel, dirt, and wash boarding.

Then we rode all the blacktop in Big Bend. Like everything else in Texas: vast. We got back to the campground about dark. This was to be the last "fun" riding.

Day 5: Thank goodness for that top notch sleeping bag because it was 21 deg. in the morning. Some of the campers had bailed and gone to a local hotel. I stayed warm, but it was obviously cold when I took my typical night trot to the john.

So, we packed up, wired up, and headed for Dallas. There was some interesting riding up to Pecos on 17. Once on the interstate though the only memorable thing is the windmills and their giant blades. 80 posted plus 5 is basically what we did for about 100 mi where the posted changed to 75.

In Dallas I stayed tight so we wouldn't get separated. Dallas drivers are always moving into gaps, so I didn't give them a gap. Also, Phil could not see much of anything in his rearviews because of the gear packed on the bike. I, on the other hand, could see rearward very well with the Aprilia Tuono mirrors. So, as soon as Phil signaled a lane change I moved if it was clear. As soon as I moved, he could see me in his mirrors. Thus we sliced and diced Dallas and arrived at Ken's in good order. In a good bed I slept like lumber.

Day 6: The plan was to make it home this day. However, a serious winter storm had struck through Arkansas and Tennessee. It was very cold with about 7 inches of snow on the ground when we hit Memphis. This is after a hard, cold crosswind since Little Rock. While eating at Cracker Barrel just east of Memphis I conferred with home about the weather. Low of 18. I was at my limit at 30. So, Phil, needing to get back to work, wired up his "head to toe" gear in the parking lot and I got a room at the Relax Inn just down the road.

Day 7: I waited for the temperature. By 9:30 I had the rear tire aired up (stupid leaking Chinese tire plug) and all the gear packed. Then I took off. A short ride day. I got to see all the snow in the daylight which was nice. It was pretty cool but not miserable.. I got home about 1 pm.

3127.6 mi

http://www.artvilla.com/andy/photos/BigBend1.wmv

http://www.artvilla.com/andy/photos/BigBend2.wmv