OldSchooling on the "Lone Star Trail"

[BeerTeam]

If you are at w***,
Turn the volume down

Of Black Gap Road, the Road Guide to the Backcountry Dirt Roads of Big Bend National Park says only the following:

"This road is no longer maintained for its full length and is recommended for four wheel drive vehicles only, and then only with extreme caution! It is extremely rough and in some places almost non-existent."

The Black Gap Road
I talked to the Honda rider about the rest of the Black Gap. He told me that I shouldn't be trying the Black Gap Road on that "thing" (meaning my Airhead GS!).

He then told me it was a rough ride for his buddy on the KLR, for which I told him I can normally go most places a KLR will go, except not as fast.

He then look at my tires and said he wouldn't try it on those tire.

Also noting that a south-to-north passage is easier

Then he told me I was really asking for trouble riding the Black Gap Road alone.

At that point I thought about getting caught down there with no food and only a small quantity of water left . . . I turned around on the Black Gap Road for today, and I rode Juniper and Pine Roads instead. I will be back!

WOW and Thanks!!! Was good to see you and ride with you. .......Waldo

(GanzR) Waldo has been everywhere, even the Black Gap Road. GanzR and Gloria are snowbird Big Bend RV'ers who hike and ride everywhere.

Black Gap Road is known as the worse road in the park

Thanks to GanzR, the Black Gap was my easiest road in the park. Bob loaned me the use of his sweet Kawasaki KLX 250! Thanks, Bob

The KLX 250 being so light, made the sand riding as easy as pavement riding. With the KLX, twist the throttle and you plane just like a boat coming up to speed. Time to check Craigslist

Running the "Gap" on a one hundred degree February day. The high was 17 degrees back home in Wisconsin. If it was summertime, the high in Wisconsin would be 70 and Black Gap 112, that would take a lot of the fun out of the "Bend".

With a black Darien pants and jacket I felt very hot. GanzR was wearing an "Air Flow" suit. The only water I had was strapped on the back of the bike. That water was also 100 degrees, "not very tasty" I told Bob. He told me "get use to it"

[BeerTeam]

Big Bend National Park
- Black Gap Road -

[BeerTeam]

Big Bend National Park
- Black Gap Road -

[BeerTeam]

GanzR
Big Bend National Park
- Black Gap Road -

[BeerTeam]

Big Bend - Marisical Mine . . .
the old ruins of the processing plant to turn the cinnabar ore into mercury. Fascinating how they made all of this work, out in the middle of nowhere . . . on northern side of Mariscal Mountain.

Between 1900 and 1943 Mariscal Mine produced 1,400 flasks of mercury - 1/4 of the US production.

The mine, housing units, furnace and condensers have been declared a National Register Historic District.

[BeerTeam]

"Moon Valley"
a stark landscape . . .
rumored
where the early astronauts learned to drive the moon rover

[BeerTeam]

- Big Bend
- Moon Valley
Burning Daylight

Moon Valley
An area of volcanic tuft

Moon Valley
Burning Daylight

[BeerTeam]

Moon Valley, Texas
Zero Population

[BeerTeam]

- Big Bend
- Moon Valley

[BeerTeam]

Moon Valley
An area of
volcanic tuft
northwest of Big Bend National Park

The mean green Kawi KLX 250
is a blast to ride in the deep sand

[BeerTeam]

Moon Valley

[BeerTeam]

Leaving the "Bend", I turned north on Langtry Road for some good ole gravel riding.

Langtry north to Pandale (Population 14) and the bridge crossing the Pecos river. The Pecos River is only a creek at this point in it's journey. Pandale to Juno, which is just a (now dry) water crossing. Juno to Sonora and on to camp at Rocky River Camp to see Chug and my new friends in Camp Wood, Texas

Above: Pecos River

Note: Back to San Antonio and my friends Paul and Jackie. Tomorrow I am planning to see the Alamo and again visit Bandera.

Below: (dry) Juno Crossing

[VanFrederick]

Thanks Santa, I was familiar with the term 'old school' as it pertains to hip hop, architecture, computer technology, audio technology and tools but I wasn't sure if it referred wrt motorcycles to a particular bike, engine type, series or year, type of accessory, or type of road or environment etc. That part's not in Webster or anywhere here so thanks for the explanation..

I guess you're allowed to have a digital camera, though...I had to chuck my old Polaroid 'cause they don't make the film any more.

Van

[Zagando]

I also travel the same way I have been traveling for the last 32 years. I travel on an old Airhead, no cell phone, lap top, XM radio, Bluetooth or any of the other do daddies riders must have except for an older GPS.

Santa

[firefly]

Man I've really enjoyed your report and wonderful pictures. Most definitely a trip of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing!