Bend Region - Rio Grande River Road

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

Nice write up, but your map is incorrect. The road from Study Butte to Presidio is labeled at 117, it should be 170. I was there 12/4/2010 and have a few tips. Once away from the bigger towns of Alpine and Marfa ... gas is available in Study Butte and Presidio. Plan accordingly. There is a bank with an ATM in Study Butte. Bring cash, this area hasn't quite caught up with the digital age. Be sure to visit the Study Butte store, its a step back in time. And they have premium gas for those who need it. The Starlight Theatre in Terlingua doesn't open until 5pm. The ghost town cafe in Terlingua serves up a decent burger. Presidio is a bigger town than I expected. Plenty of services and 24 hour gas.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Cruiser

Spend a night at the motorcycle-friendly Prude Guest Ranch just outside of Ft. Davis, have dinner at the Black Bear Lodge in the Ft. Davis State Park almost across the road from the ranch before going up to McDonald Observatory for a tour of the night skies using a number of telescopes on Tuesday & Saturday evenings. When touring the old fort at Ft. Davis, be sure to sit on the porch of the Commander's House during the fort-wide presentation of "Retreat". I would suggest you NOT go into Ojinaga Mexico- you might come back without a motorcycle unless you want to pay a substantial bribe to the border guards (theirs, not ours). The ride up "Panther Hill" between Terlingua (site of the World Chili Cookoff) and Presidio is a sight you'll never forget. Terlingua was at one time the largest cinnibar mine in the country (that's the ore they get mercury from). The ghost town of Shafter is worth a stop - at one time it was "The richest hole in the world", a huge silver mine going over a thousand feet deep. Visit the cemetery there where there are hundreds of miners buried, and a great historical montage. A very historical town. Overall, an unbelievably good ride that I've made many times. HINT: Take at least three times the water you think you'll need! YOU'RE IN THE VERY HOT DESERT!!!! General rule: If you're not urinating frequently, you're not drinking enough fluids. I lived there for years - believe it! Drink a lot of water.

2 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport - Touring

Highway 118 out of Big Bend NP was one of the single best rides this summer during a 6200 mile trip. The road has a 75 mph speed limit outside of the NP and almost no traffic. It is characterized by a mix of long, open stretches and curves that tighten down as low as 20 mph max safe as it winds around and over mesas. It was a sport-tourer's dream to dive into these curves at 75-80 mph while not violating the law. Of course, the scenery was dramatic and worth the ride alone. The only minor inconvenience was having to stop at an immigration checkpoint. Again though, with no traffic, we had the opportunity to shoot the breeze for a bit with Border Patrol before moving on. Great ride!