Trailace
02-28-2008, 01:41 PM
Ride the Rio Adventure
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724070_f9pEZ-M.jpg
Thursday 2/21/08
First I need to start this report with a Big Thanks to Uncle & Richard for setting up this great non-event and also a big thanks to all the other people who helped me along the way.
The plan was to load my bike and Mike?s into the truck and drive to Big Bend but Mike had to bail due to work issues so I would be on my own. Since it would just be me going I decided to give the G650 X Challenge a little test ride. So far I love this bike and it a better bike than I am a rider.
I took off Thursday morning around 5:00 in a misty rain but knew I would be driving out of it in a few hours.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727865_vKmVm-M.jpg
After a quick stop to fill up the big 2.6 gal tank the X and I were on the road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727824_qZ8pr-M.jpg
A lot of riders think the ride west to Big Bend is boring and long but I always seem to have fun. However today it would be an adventure but still better than work. I would be taking 90 all the way out to BB and once you get passed Del Rio its a very scenic road but you have to make it past Del Rio. That would not happen today.
In front of me
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727999_wTith-M.jpg
In back of me.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728039_5CW9r-M.jpg
I had plenty of time and was just enjoying the nice 65 mph pace and stopping for gas every 100 miles. (A new add-on tank will be here soon I hope) About 10 miles west of Brackettville the bike started missing out and died. I coasted off the road through the ditch and up to the dirt road that runs along 90 in places. I tried to restart the bike and it fired right up but rather than just getting back on the road I decided to check oil and water and they were ok.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728073_xfhVe-M.jpg
Back across the ditch and on the road everything seemed to be ok but I knew better. It was another 10 or so miles and it starts missing out again but does not die, it?s just bucking like a Bronco. I could not take much of that so it?s back off the road into the grass this time. I would dig deeper and check wires and plugs. I unplugged and plugged everything I could find. The bike started right up and I was back on the road again.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728176_pE8fS-M.jpg
This time it started dieing and missing out right away so I turned around and started heading for Uvalde. Not sure why I did not head for Del Rio but maybe because Uvalde is in the direction of home. Here is where I make a small mistake, I get all the way to Brackettville and the bike did not miss a beat for over 20 miles so I start thinking maybe I just got some bad gas and I should turn back around and head for Big Bend anyhow. When you?re out on the road and want to get somewhere fun it?s hard to turn back. So I did what any other rider would do and I turned around and head west. Well you know the story about 10 miles out of Brackettville it?s deja vues all over again. I do a quick u-turn and I?m dead set on getting to Uvalde. Here is where I get a little lucky if you can get lucky with this happening to ya. About a hundred yards from the one lane bridge that crosses Nueces River the bike just dies. The only thing that was working was my GPS and if I hit the start button that would go off. The only thing that could cause this is the battery and now I?m not happy. There have been other GX owners that had their batteries fail and I told my wife I would order a new Odyssey drycell battery when I get back. Missed it by that much.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728324_mujBV-M.jpg
The waiting game: Here I am just 7 miles west of Uvalde with a dead bike but at least the cell phone works. I know that Wal-Mart does not have a battery that will fit the GX and that my best bet would be Alamo BMW in San Antonio. A quick call to see if they had one and the answer was not good. However Chris said he would order one right then and should be there by 11 on Friday. The next call was to the BMW roadside service to see what they could do to help. After a few minutes of hold a nice guy helped me and said I would receive an automated message with the towing information. I?m thinking sure and the check is in the mail, after all I?m out here in the middle of nowhere. In less than 5 minutes my phone rings and it?s the automated message saying a tow truck is on the way and that the driver will be calling. Before I could listen to the complete message the other line is beeping in. It was the driver and he tells me he has good and bad news for me. He said the good news is that 100% of the tow is covered but the bad news is he is 2 hours away from me on a job. What can I do but wait.
I was lying in the grass about 10 yards off the road and I must have fallen a sleep when a big truck blew by and scared me from my slumber. At that point I moved down the hill under some trees and tried to take a real nap.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728266_BpSjG-M.jpg
Time fly?s when your having fun but true to his word Marvin the tow truck man calls 2 hours later and let?s me know he in now in Uvalde and should be there in 10 minutes. We get the bike loaded and head for San Antonio. I will not go into detail of Marvin and my 3-hour ride to San Antonio but he was an interesting individual.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728353_PrAC9-M.jpg
At the Shop: When we pulled into shop parking lot they were outside waiting for us. It took just a few minutes to unload the bike and do the paper work. The guys at Alamo BMW were so nice. There was one younger guy, I forgot his name, even checked again that night to see if they stocked the battery I needed. The other man?s name was Richard. He offered to take me to a Roadway Inn just down the road and told me to call in the morning and someone would come pick me up. I wanted to camp out in back of the shop but he did not think the owner would be too happy with that and I understood.
Hotel: I hate them and that is all I will say about that.
Friday 2/22/08
Since the battery would not be in till 11:00 I hoped to sleep in as long as I could but I was up and ready to go by 8 o?clock. All dressed up with no where to go so I started thinking rather than waiting for them to come get me I could just walk back to the shop. This made perfect sense to me and it would help pass the time. Boy I?m glad I packed light and about 30 minutes in I realize the shop was a lot further away than I thought. Two hours later I make it to the shop, about 11:05.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727406_nX3wu-M.jpg
The UPS/FedX truck should be arriving anytime now so I take a seat and wait. Around 12:00?clock they let me know the battery was not in and would not be delivered until Monday. However this nameless young guy starts calling around to different shops to see if anyone has a battery to fit it. I?m sitting in the waiting area making plans for my wife to come pick me up and I see it. There sitting right in front of me is an X moto and it uses the same battery. I ask Richard if we can take the battery out of the Xmoto and he said sure if it will fit.
Nice young guy? & Richard
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727345_8fR9w-M.jpg
Cid looks it up sure enough they are the same. Pete the mechanic installed it and ten minutes later the bike is up and running. I complete the paper work and thank everyone in the shop, make a few calls and repack the bike and I?m back on the road before 1.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727381_4ZGBn-M.jpg
Big Bend or Bust: Back on the road and feeling good it?s time to get my butt to Terlingua and join in on the fun. I wanted to try and get to Big Bend before dark but knew it was just wishful thinking.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727476_Qn3z7-M.jpg
However by picking up the pace a little I would reach Marathon a little before dark.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727671_KakGs-M.jpg
If you have ever ridden down 385 to BB at night then you know how I?m feeling at this point. The first 20 miles it was still light and as the sun slowly set in the west the sky was just stunning.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727712_PTPDy-M.jpg
During the next 75 miles I had to take it slow because there were a few dear but hundreds of Javelina. One pack was just standing in the road and would not move. I went between and around them but they still did not move. In Study Butte I?m thinking man I made it and I just need to find Uncle?s place. Being dark it was a little harder than I hope and after a few miles of wrong dirt roads I came across a familiar face. (Dr. Blackbird) He led me over to Uncle?s but it looked like everyone was gone so he invited me to camp in Tent City. Gary thanks man!
Tent City: I find a spot and set up my tent, there are 7 other tents and Dave fills me in on who is staying in each. It?s not much longer and everyone returns to camp and I get to tell everyone why I?m a day late. There was Dave, Gary, Carl, Rebecca, Scott, Gordon, and Darin. I could not pick a better bunch to hang out with. Gordon thanks for the beer I needed it.
Saturday 2/23/08
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724566_bC6y9-M.jpg
Time to have some fun: I was up and ready to get some riding on this beautiful Saturday morning. I head over to Kathy's Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe to make some plans for todays ride. However there is a rider missing so I join the search and rescue teams and get ready to do what everyone to a man/woman planned to do this day.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724676_9k7Re-M.jpg
Not long after we were given an area to search the missing rider returned. We just decided to go ride in the area we were supposed to search. The upper left quarter of this map was where we did our riding.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724631_bK73Y-M.jpg
We had a small group, just Gary, Carl, Darin and myself. These guys can ride and I felt like I was slowing them down at times but boy did we have fun.
Darin, Carl & Gary
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724867_9xFAG-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259725186_ZTGVP-M.jpg
Gary
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259725367_s6rGi-M.jpg
There was a lot of this going on. I think it's this way. No it's this way.
Darin & Carl
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259725253_JWR7s-M.jpg
We also did a little of 170.
Rick
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259726398_3VPvp-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727004_oFHVD-M.jpg
Long Day! Darin & Gary
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259726670_3xRbz-M.jpg
Darin
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727138_Fe3qx-M.jpg
The last Night: This was the last night and you could feel the sadness in the air but in Tent City we made the best of it. Darin scored some firewood and again Thanks Uncle!
We all sat around the fire enjoying the great desert night and telling stories about the great times we had
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727289_tzmuY-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727242_gajnQ-M.jpg
One by one we all drifted off to our tents. With all the snoring going on I had to sleep with my earplugs in, man Tent City can get noisy. Around 3:00AM our neighbor to the northeast about a 100 yards starts playing a guitar and singing. He was good but we all wanted and needed was sleep. Not sure when the show was over but thank god for earplugs.
Sunday 2/24/08
Time to Go Home: Most riders in Tent City planned to get up early and head for home. I was planning to do a little more riding with Dave and take 2 days to get home. However when I started packing I decided to just take off on my own. Sorry Dave but I did not want to hold you up and just wanted to ride my ride.
Dave in his tent
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724188_jDeku-M.jpg
Rebecca???
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724221_8Ltkc-M.jpg
When I took off Tent City was sill only about 50% ready to go and Scott was bragging about seeing a sunrise. I take it he?s not a morning person. Since it was dark the night I arrived, a ride through the park was in order and I still need to get a picture of the GX in front of the BB sign. I sure like Big Bend and know I will be back soon.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724351_BSYYn-M.jpg
The Ride Home: No plans for the ride home, just head east on 90 and take my time. The GX will run 75/80mph effortlessly but on the road it?s more enjoyable around 65/70 mph so that?s what I did.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724257_XT484-M.jpg
In Langtry I debated on taking the Pandale road to Pandale that Dave told me about. I wanted to do it so I called my wife and let her know my plans. I?d never done this in the past but after the BB missing rider issue it just seemed like the right thing to do. Dave that was a cool road and all the cattle guards were fun. Thanks!
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724426_DfZy5-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724495_UAR6C-M.jpg
The only bad thing was now I was on I10 and to me that is a boring road. When I stopped for lunch in Junction I got off I10 and took 290 across and back to home. I planned to ride only until dark but I was so close to home I could not get the GX to stop.
Time for a new tire.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724111_HHcxC-M.jpg
I know I left out some good stories that happened in Big Bend but what happens in Tent City stays in Tent City. Besides if you want to know more just make sure you show up for the next Ride the Rio.
Rick/Trailace
PS: Other than the battery issue the G650X was fantastic and is a keeper.
Total miles 1,600
All the Pic's (http://trailace.smugmug.com/gallery/4420252_dtruk)
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724070_f9pEZ-M.jpg
Thursday 2/21/08
First I need to start this report with a Big Thanks to Uncle & Richard for setting up this great non-event and also a big thanks to all the other people who helped me along the way.
The plan was to load my bike and Mike?s into the truck and drive to Big Bend but Mike had to bail due to work issues so I would be on my own. Since it would just be me going I decided to give the G650 X Challenge a little test ride. So far I love this bike and it a better bike than I am a rider.
I took off Thursday morning around 5:00 in a misty rain but knew I would be driving out of it in a few hours.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727865_vKmVm-M.jpg
After a quick stop to fill up the big 2.6 gal tank the X and I were on the road.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727824_qZ8pr-M.jpg
A lot of riders think the ride west to Big Bend is boring and long but I always seem to have fun. However today it would be an adventure but still better than work. I would be taking 90 all the way out to BB and once you get passed Del Rio its a very scenic road but you have to make it past Del Rio. That would not happen today.
In front of me
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727999_wTith-M.jpg
In back of me.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728039_5CW9r-M.jpg
I had plenty of time and was just enjoying the nice 65 mph pace and stopping for gas every 100 miles. (A new add-on tank will be here soon I hope) About 10 miles west of Brackettville the bike started missing out and died. I coasted off the road through the ditch and up to the dirt road that runs along 90 in places. I tried to restart the bike and it fired right up but rather than just getting back on the road I decided to check oil and water and they were ok.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728073_xfhVe-M.jpg
Back across the ditch and on the road everything seemed to be ok but I knew better. It was another 10 or so miles and it starts missing out again but does not die, it?s just bucking like a Bronco. I could not take much of that so it?s back off the road into the grass this time. I would dig deeper and check wires and plugs. I unplugged and plugged everything I could find. The bike started right up and I was back on the road again.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728176_pE8fS-M.jpg
This time it started dieing and missing out right away so I turned around and started heading for Uvalde. Not sure why I did not head for Del Rio but maybe because Uvalde is in the direction of home. Here is where I make a small mistake, I get all the way to Brackettville and the bike did not miss a beat for over 20 miles so I start thinking maybe I just got some bad gas and I should turn back around and head for Big Bend anyhow. When you?re out on the road and want to get somewhere fun it?s hard to turn back. So I did what any other rider would do and I turned around and head west. Well you know the story about 10 miles out of Brackettville it?s deja vues all over again. I do a quick u-turn and I?m dead set on getting to Uvalde. Here is where I get a little lucky if you can get lucky with this happening to ya. About a hundred yards from the one lane bridge that crosses Nueces River the bike just dies. The only thing that was working was my GPS and if I hit the start button that would go off. The only thing that could cause this is the battery and now I?m not happy. There have been other GX owners that had their batteries fail and I told my wife I would order a new Odyssey drycell battery when I get back. Missed it by that much.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728324_mujBV-M.jpg
The waiting game: Here I am just 7 miles west of Uvalde with a dead bike but at least the cell phone works. I know that Wal-Mart does not have a battery that will fit the GX and that my best bet would be Alamo BMW in San Antonio. A quick call to see if they had one and the answer was not good. However Chris said he would order one right then and should be there by 11 on Friday. The next call was to the BMW roadside service to see what they could do to help. After a few minutes of hold a nice guy helped me and said I would receive an automated message with the towing information. I?m thinking sure and the check is in the mail, after all I?m out here in the middle of nowhere. In less than 5 minutes my phone rings and it?s the automated message saying a tow truck is on the way and that the driver will be calling. Before I could listen to the complete message the other line is beeping in. It was the driver and he tells me he has good and bad news for me. He said the good news is that 100% of the tow is covered but the bad news is he is 2 hours away from me on a job. What can I do but wait.
I was lying in the grass about 10 yards off the road and I must have fallen a sleep when a big truck blew by and scared me from my slumber. At that point I moved down the hill under some trees and tried to take a real nap.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728266_BpSjG-M.jpg
Time fly?s when your having fun but true to his word Marvin the tow truck man calls 2 hours later and let?s me know he in now in Uvalde and should be there in 10 minutes. We get the bike loaded and head for San Antonio. I will not go into detail of Marvin and my 3-hour ride to San Antonio but he was an interesting individual.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259728353_PrAC9-M.jpg
At the Shop: When we pulled into shop parking lot they were outside waiting for us. It took just a few minutes to unload the bike and do the paper work. The guys at Alamo BMW were so nice. There was one younger guy, I forgot his name, even checked again that night to see if they stocked the battery I needed. The other man?s name was Richard. He offered to take me to a Roadway Inn just down the road and told me to call in the morning and someone would come pick me up. I wanted to camp out in back of the shop but he did not think the owner would be too happy with that and I understood.
Hotel: I hate them and that is all I will say about that.
Friday 2/22/08
Since the battery would not be in till 11:00 I hoped to sleep in as long as I could but I was up and ready to go by 8 o?clock. All dressed up with no where to go so I started thinking rather than waiting for them to come get me I could just walk back to the shop. This made perfect sense to me and it would help pass the time. Boy I?m glad I packed light and about 30 minutes in I realize the shop was a lot further away than I thought. Two hours later I make it to the shop, about 11:05.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727406_nX3wu-M.jpg
The UPS/FedX truck should be arriving anytime now so I take a seat and wait. Around 12:00?clock they let me know the battery was not in and would not be delivered until Monday. However this nameless young guy starts calling around to different shops to see if anyone has a battery to fit it. I?m sitting in the waiting area making plans for my wife to come pick me up and I see it. There sitting right in front of me is an X moto and it uses the same battery. I ask Richard if we can take the battery out of the Xmoto and he said sure if it will fit.
Nice young guy? & Richard
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727345_8fR9w-M.jpg
Cid looks it up sure enough they are the same. Pete the mechanic installed it and ten minutes later the bike is up and running. I complete the paper work and thank everyone in the shop, make a few calls and repack the bike and I?m back on the road before 1.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727381_4ZGBn-M.jpg
Big Bend or Bust: Back on the road and feeling good it?s time to get my butt to Terlingua and join in on the fun. I wanted to try and get to Big Bend before dark but knew it was just wishful thinking.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727476_Qn3z7-M.jpg
However by picking up the pace a little I would reach Marathon a little before dark.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727671_KakGs-M.jpg
If you have ever ridden down 385 to BB at night then you know how I?m feeling at this point. The first 20 miles it was still light and as the sun slowly set in the west the sky was just stunning.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727712_PTPDy-M.jpg
During the next 75 miles I had to take it slow because there were a few dear but hundreds of Javelina. One pack was just standing in the road and would not move. I went between and around them but they still did not move. In Study Butte I?m thinking man I made it and I just need to find Uncle?s place. Being dark it was a little harder than I hope and after a few miles of wrong dirt roads I came across a familiar face. (Dr. Blackbird) He led me over to Uncle?s but it looked like everyone was gone so he invited me to camp in Tent City. Gary thanks man!
Tent City: I find a spot and set up my tent, there are 7 other tents and Dave fills me in on who is staying in each. It?s not much longer and everyone returns to camp and I get to tell everyone why I?m a day late. There was Dave, Gary, Carl, Rebecca, Scott, Gordon, and Darin. I could not pick a better bunch to hang out with. Gordon thanks for the beer I needed it.
Saturday 2/23/08
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724566_bC6y9-M.jpg
Time to have some fun: I was up and ready to get some riding on this beautiful Saturday morning. I head over to Kathy's Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe to make some plans for todays ride. However there is a rider missing so I join the search and rescue teams and get ready to do what everyone to a man/woman planned to do this day.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724676_9k7Re-M.jpg
Not long after we were given an area to search the missing rider returned. We just decided to go ride in the area we were supposed to search. The upper left quarter of this map was where we did our riding.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724631_bK73Y-M.jpg
We had a small group, just Gary, Carl, Darin and myself. These guys can ride and I felt like I was slowing them down at times but boy did we have fun.
Darin, Carl & Gary
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724867_9xFAG-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259725186_ZTGVP-M.jpg
Gary
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259725367_s6rGi-M.jpg
There was a lot of this going on. I think it's this way. No it's this way.
Darin & Carl
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259725253_JWR7s-M.jpg
We also did a little of 170.
Rick
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259726398_3VPvp-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727004_oFHVD-M.jpg
Long Day! Darin & Gary
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259726670_3xRbz-M.jpg
Darin
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727138_Fe3qx-M.jpg
The last Night: This was the last night and you could feel the sadness in the air but in Tent City we made the best of it. Darin scored some firewood and again Thanks Uncle!
We all sat around the fire enjoying the great desert night and telling stories about the great times we had
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727289_tzmuY-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259727242_gajnQ-M.jpg
One by one we all drifted off to our tents. With all the snoring going on I had to sleep with my earplugs in, man Tent City can get noisy. Around 3:00AM our neighbor to the northeast about a 100 yards starts playing a guitar and singing. He was good but we all wanted and needed was sleep. Not sure when the show was over but thank god for earplugs.
Sunday 2/24/08
Time to Go Home: Most riders in Tent City planned to get up early and head for home. I was planning to do a little more riding with Dave and take 2 days to get home. However when I started packing I decided to just take off on my own. Sorry Dave but I did not want to hold you up and just wanted to ride my ride.
Dave in his tent
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724188_jDeku-M.jpg
Rebecca???
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724221_8Ltkc-M.jpg
When I took off Tent City was sill only about 50% ready to go and Scott was bragging about seeing a sunrise. I take it he?s not a morning person. Since it was dark the night I arrived, a ride through the park was in order and I still need to get a picture of the GX in front of the BB sign. I sure like Big Bend and know I will be back soon.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724351_BSYYn-M.jpg
The Ride Home: No plans for the ride home, just head east on 90 and take my time. The GX will run 75/80mph effortlessly but on the road it?s more enjoyable around 65/70 mph so that?s what I did.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724257_XT484-M.jpg
In Langtry I debated on taking the Pandale road to Pandale that Dave told me about. I wanted to do it so I called my wife and let her know my plans. I?d never done this in the past but after the BB missing rider issue it just seemed like the right thing to do. Dave that was a cool road and all the cattle guards were fun. Thanks!
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724426_DfZy5-M.jpg
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724495_UAR6C-M.jpg
The only bad thing was now I was on I10 and to me that is a boring road. When I stopped for lunch in Junction I got off I10 and took 290 across and back to home. I planned to ride only until dark but I was so close to home I could not get the GX to stop.
Time for a new tire.
http://trailace.smugmug.com/photos/259724111_HHcxC-M.jpg
I know I left out some good stories that happened in Big Bend but what happens in Tent City stays in Tent City. Besides if you want to know more just make sure you show up for the next Ride the Rio.
Rick/Trailace
PS: Other than the battery issue the G650X was fantastic and is a keeper.
Total miles 1,600
All the Pic's (http://trailace.smugmug.com/gallery/4420252_dtruk)