San Antonio to Big Bend
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 726
Likes: 3
From: Texas
San Antonio to Big Bend
With a three day weekend upon us, my wife who is fairly new to riding w/ me, thought we should take a little road trip to Big Bend NP. Of course I thought it was a GREAT idea. So here's the bike loaded up the next morning
So at 9:30ish and 34 degrees we headed out on 90 west. My friend told me to be sure to gas up in Del Rio because of very limited gas options from there to Big Bend. We made it to Del Rio around 1 and ate a quick lunch, gassed up, and off we were. No pics from San Antonio to Del Rio because there really wasn't much on the way and my wife was freezing her *** off.
We apparently missed a sign somewhere because before we knew it we were in line to cross the border into Mexico. Just FYI...they don't let you ride through and turn around. I had to back up about 50 ft, then maneuver through barricades and cars. Fun. Got back on track. Running low on gas, we stopped at Comstock...no supreme gas! Ok no problem, next town 68 miles. No GAS AT ALL..no gas stations! So here's where the thoughts start running through my mind that we are gonna run out of gas...with no cell service (it was desolate out there)
No other cars were out except the random 18 wheeler that flew by going 100 mpg. I was starting to freak out a little...then I see the sign...Sanderson 20 miles...Please have supreme...or any gas at this point
So at 9:30ish and 34 degrees we headed out on 90 west. My friend told me to be sure to gas up in Del Rio because of very limited gas options from there to Big Bend. We made it to Del Rio around 1 and ate a quick lunch, gassed up, and off we were. No pics from San Antonio to Del Rio because there really wasn't much on the way and my wife was freezing her *** off.
We apparently missed a sign somewhere because before we knew it we were in line to cross the border into Mexico. Just FYI...they don't let you ride through and turn around. I had to back up about 50 ft, then maneuver through barricades and cars. Fun. Got back on track. Running low on gas, we stopped at Comstock...no supreme gas! Ok no problem, next town 68 miles. No GAS AT ALL..no gas stations! So here's where the thoughts start running through my mind that we are gonna run out of gas...with no cell service (it was desolate out there)
No other cars were out except the random 18 wheeler that flew by going 100 mpg. I was starting to freak out a little...then I see the sign...Sanderson 20 miles...Please have supreme...or any gas at this point
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 224
From: Coeur d'Alene
Subscribed. Had to chuckle at your pic of that area with the prospect of running out of gas. On one of my trips I forgot to gas up in Sanderson and ended up having to ride in that breakdown lane the last 20 miles at about 40 MPH hoping like hell I was going to make it to Marathon. I made it and took 5.2 gallons in my '01's 5 gal. tank. Sure miss that Big Bend country.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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stop at the exxon on the far side of del rio out by the lake. 120 or so to sanderson. stop again in marathon if you are going into the park from there. there is gas in the park. or you can go into alpine(get gas) and take 118 to study butte and come into the park from that side. short ride to chisos mountain lodge. we saw 3 bears last year near the lodge.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 726
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From: Texas
stop at the exxon on the far side of del rio out by the lake. 120 or so to sanderson. stop again in marathon if you are going into the park from there. there is gas in the park. or you can go into alpine(get gas) and take 118 to study butte and come into the park from that side. short ride to chisos mountain lodge. we saw 3 bears last year near the lodge.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,006
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From: Central Texas area
Is that a stock SG seat with cushions on it? You may want to invest in a seat with better cushioning for the passenger, like a sundowner for two-up riding..or a stock EG/Ultra seat off ebay..
A happy passenger makes the trip more enjoyable!
A happy passenger makes the trip more enjoyable!
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 562
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From: Arlington, TX
See the report here: (not on a Harley, but still a nice trip)
http://txharleyrider.com/trips/big-bend/
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Texas
We rolled into Sanderson with about 20 miles to spare. All the visions of us being eaten by buzzards on the side of the road quickly disappeared. The ride from Del Rio to Sanderson was barren yet beautiful. Here's some pics from the Pecos river bridge.
So we filled up in Sanderson and kept going. Next town was Marathon. It was about 5pm when we got to Marathon and BBNP was another 100 miles, so we decided to go to Alpine (30 miles away) for the night. There was a cool old western hotel called the GAGE Inn in Marathon. Next time we will stay there for sure. Very cool. We stayed at the Holiday Inn express in Alpine nice room, nothing special but a great free breakfast in the morning. That night in Alpine we ate at Reatas, a very nice place w/old west charm. We highly recommend it.
Heres me watching my wife, Charla, pack the bike the next morning. I don't pack well. It was 26 degress.
Next off to Big Bend...
So we filled up in Sanderson and kept going. Next town was Marathon. It was about 5pm when we got to Marathon and BBNP was another 100 miles, so we decided to go to Alpine (30 miles away) for the night. There was a cool old western hotel called the GAGE Inn in Marathon. Next time we will stay there for sure. Very cool. We stayed at the Holiday Inn express in Alpine nice room, nothing special but a great free breakfast in the morning. That night in Alpine we ate at Reatas, a very nice place w/old west charm. We highly recommend it.
Heres me watching my wife, Charla, pack the bike the next morning. I don't pack well. It was 26 degress.
Next off to Big Bend...