Winter 2021 And 2022

Winter 2021 and 2022

Once again me and my wife headed South to warmer weather for the whole winter.
We rode our motorcycle, our scooter, our bicycles and did a lot of hiking.
We traveled in our motorhome with trailer and toys in tow, but spent most of our time out of the motorhome
enjoying the places we went to and twice stayed in one place for a month.
We did so much I'm not going to document all the many campsites we camped in and every move we made.
But please enjoy a few pictures and the video's----they pretty well tell the story.
It covers Missouri, Arkansas and Texas.

Wappappelo Lake--Missouri--Video

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After a few days we moved our camp too lake Nimrod in Arkansas and met up
with my good friend Scott Williams and his wife.
Video

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We rode in the Quachita mountains in Arkansas.
Scott was on his Husqvarna 701 and I was on my KTM 390 Adventure.

High Five and his wife had to leave and we moved to a differnt campsite on Lake Nimrod---.
Full fall colors are in bloom

My GoPro Camera crapped out on me---so all the video for the next days was gone.
I bought a new one later on ---but so much was lost and gone for ever.
Man I love (HATE) those things--why do I keep buying them ????

We moved to a campsite on Lake Belton in Texas later on and Me and Debi found a nice hike
to a waterfall on Stillhouse Hollow Lake.

My Son Marty from Austin stopped by for a visit and we took a neat ride
all through Fort Hood--the KTM was no match for the Honda ADV150.

Marty's a very good rider and rode the KTM and I remember him saying it was the best bike he ever rode.
And he's rode every bike I've ever owned. Marty purchased a new bike coming later on in this story.
But it's not what you are thinking !!!!!

I've seen all manner of road signs---but never one like this.

And while camping at Belton Lake we met some new friends. And got to go on a cool
boat ride as one of them lived on the boat-----year round.
And I got to drive a Yacht !!!!!!

Meet Debi---Left who was camping in the campground.
And Debi my wife on the right.

And Gerald----ship Captain---we were so grateful to get a ride in his yacht as the sun was setting.
This boat had 2 Chevy 454 engines in it.

Waterfall

Debi our new friend fell in love with our dog DiDi and found a Yorky of her own and brought it to camp.
My wife pictured.

VideoBoatRide

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I do believe this was X-mas day and dinner---at the Kerrville Campground.

After dinner me and Marty went for a 14 mile bicycle ride along the Guadalupe river in Kerrville.
Me and Dingweeds did the same thing---they were riding Debi's E-bike.

I seem to have lost some pictures--but Dingweeds and his wife Julie had arrived in their toy hauler....so
Scott had his WR250R with him and we just had to go for a ride and we did-------in the Texas Hill country.

This old store and gas station was kept just as it was when it closed down oh so many years ago.

This is very close to Luckenback, Texas.

The 3 sisters twisty roads in the hillcountry are very famous------all paved. Years ago I found a rough
gravel road that goes thru the middle of all that and took Scott on it.

Just outside of Kerrville

A few days later we found ourselves camping in Seminole Canyon state park after a short
campsite stay at Lake Amistad National recreation area----camping $3 per nite for old people.

And I found a new friend in the campground, Gerry on one of those new Honda 300 Rallies---and we went
for a ride of course.

I showed him what a bump gate was---he had never heard of one.
You bump it with the big deer grill on the front of your big Ford pickup and it swings open all by itself.
Gravity closes it-------I've done it on a bike many times--pretty tricky.

I really wanted to ride the 300 really bad and did.
I put a lot of miles on a 250 rally and was very familiar with the bike.
I loved my 250------riding the 390 and 300 back to back I was really surprised how more powerful the KTM was.kl
He had a stock shock on it and it didn't feel like mine at all.

We crossed the Pecos river on this bridge.

Video of This Ride Above

Something I haven't said. Me and Debi have sort of been killing time before we get to BigBend National Park.
Why???? Dingweeds and my old friends Dr. Rock and Francine were
coming there---and they had never ridden in Texas. We actually killed time for over a month--------which was
no problem as everywhere we camped there was lot's to do.
So for now we went back to Amistad CG to get a few things nearby and that's when I met Jerry Johnson.
My second Jerry I met and rode with---one was Jerry--the other Gerry.

Video--road ride with my new buddy Jerry Johnson from Missouri on his BMWGS.
We rode out of Amistad National Recreation Campground--the 2nd time we stayed there.

We rode some spectacular paved roads over Dead Mans Pass--and made a big loop our of our day ride.

This road was closed---we ran up to a huge state installed barrier with a state guy there guarding it so
no one got thru. We talked to him a bit and asked what's up----seems an extremely huge truck convoy on this
tinly little backroad broke a driveshaft and had the road blocked---the trucks were the biggest I'd ever seen
with what seemed to be 50 wheels on each one------I don't know how they turned. The state guy told us he
thought we could squeeze thru and off we went--------couldn't wait to try and squeeze thru and see what's going on.
It was a mess and I still can't believe the state guy let us thru---when we got to the mess------I slithered around
and thru the mess not giving anybody the chance to stop me-----there is no communication out here-----period.
By the time a worker spun around and saw me---------I was gone.
It was a hoot !!!!!

2 Thumbs up Jerry !!!!!!
Jerry was a hoot and had a lifelong ambition------that was............different.
He wanted to by a bit of land-------buy some goats---and watch them play.
He was serious about this and had me take a picture of a solid brass goat on the courthouse lawn
in Rocksprings, Texas so he could send the picture to his son.

Jerry was 82 Years old---------I hope he get's his goat farm.

Video of Above Ride

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Eventually we moved on toward Big Bend National park but stayed at a campsite in Marathon, Texas
a couple nites before going South---The park is about 80 miles South of Marathon.

We probably were camped in the National park in Rio Grand Village campground a month or so.
Pretty unusual campground as there are no RV hookups at all and about 1/2 of the campground allows
generators to keep peoples RV batteries charged up. There is a bathroom but to get a shower you had to go
to the campstore about 1/4 mile away---there was gas, internet and basic camps foods available there.

Everyday we did something different---Our friends hadn't arrived yet and me and Debi
did a lot of hiking. We also rode the scooter to the Boquillas overlook---Mexico is across the
Rio Grand river you see here. Here is a display of many handmaded trinkets made in the tiny
town of Boquillas across the river. You pay on you honor and put you cash in a can.
The canoe you see across the river is for the Mexicans to come across and replinish their
wares and collect the money. The craftmanship was amazing.

We rode the KTM down a dusty road to the hot spring in the park. A 1/4 mile hike takes you to the spring.

On the way you go by what use to be a resort--long since abandoned.

This is the hot spring---right on the Rio Grand river.
The water is 105° and feels great--then you can jump over the edge and into the Rio Grand if you like.

It is illegal to cross into Mexico here--------but many do.

These fellows sat on the other side---probably restocking their trinkets for sale.

Back at camp I found a buddy who played guitar and we played a lot.
He loved the blues and could sing way better than me.

Another day me and Debi went for another hike along Boquilas canyon--many outfitters
guided canoeist down the Rio Grand.

Prickly Pear cactus were abundant in the park.

Another day we did a hike right out of the campground---it is called the 'Nature Trail".
You hike way up above the campground which you can see down below in this picture.
We actually hiked this many times--and there was a lower hike to the river and a upper loop that
went high above the camground.
There were days I didn't dare hike up to the top as there was bad winds some days.

I'm not a good hiker anymore and don't walk so well. But tried to do the most I could do.
I ride a motorcycle better than I can walk.

This picture deserves an explanation. Coyote's continually wandered through camp looking for a meal.
One time at night there was a pack of them right outside our camper and Debi peeked out and one was
right on the step of you motorhome. We had to really watch our little dog Didi as they would stalk her.
But one lady wasn't taking any chances of one of them getting her 3 lb. Yorky.

A road ride was the ticket today

My good riding friends Dingweeds, Dr. Rock, Francine showed up and off we went.
I took then on a short hike to an old homestead in the park.

I had no idea my old Baja riding buddy Dave Reeves was coming--everybody except me knew it and what a surprise.
I saw a Mercedes 4-wheel drive pull into the campsite next to us but never paid any attention to it and was so
surprised when Dave stepped. He quit his job to come down here---he had been fed up with it for along time.

Dave was riding his brand new Husqcarna 501---it was on it's maiden ride. That thing was a monster.
Dave was even scared of the thing I think and it had stomped him into the dirt a few times he said.

I loved the little sombrero he put on his helmet.
Dave is a hoot and me and him poke jabs at each other constantly.
He blames me for everything bad in his life---Like---buying too many motorcycles---riding so much his wife left him--
Staying in Mexico way too much---buying jillions of dollars worth of motorcycle gear--riding to
far reaches of the planet in search of who knows what---Losing his job---Laying a wake at Night
dreaming of places to ride to-----Breaking his KTM kickstand off in Baja-----Having flat tires----
Getting us all about thrown out of a motel in Baja---getting sand fleas----
running out of gas----using way too much whiskey throttle--keep going back to his "imaginary" girlfriend----Cussing
--now Dave you can't blame me for that one.
I love you Dave !!!!

Not sure of a caption for this.
Left me (BigDog)
Middle Scott Stevenson (Dingweeds)
Right Dave Reeves (Tragic Overlander)

If you ride with these guys it will be a hoot and they will have your back when shit hits the fan.

Heading South on Maxwell Scenic Drive in BigBend National Park

That slot is Santa Elena Canyon
The Rio Grand runs right thru it and one of the best hikes in the park goes into the canyon

The start of the hike---we weren't in hiking gear but did some of it.

You will get you feet wet doing this hike.

On the way back the younger part of the group (everybody except me) took the
river road back to camp---it's a sandy dirt road that will challenge you.
I've ridden it several times over the years--but elected to go back a different way.
My shoulder was giving me fits the last few days.
A guy and his family lived in this hut for many years--I think he was over 100 years old when he died.
It's on "Old Maverick Road" in the park.

Video
Ride And Dip In The Hot Springs---BigBend

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So what's Next ?????
How about a race-----------------a race ??????
So I proposed a race to Dave and he was all over it.
The race was to be between Me and Debi riding 2 up on our Honda ADV 150 scooter and him
on his fire breathing Husqvarna 501 (highly modified mind you).
He give me this funny look as I laid down the route and rules.
I've ridden this old road many times----it's rough, rocky, washed out, dust, and dirt.

1. We'll leave at the same time
2. Me and Debi will ride pavement
3. Dave----you and Dingweeds, Dr. Rock and Francine will ride the rough, rocky Old Ore road
What could go wrong ????
First one to the North end of the old ore road wins.

Me and Debi go down the old ore road just a bit as it leaves the pavement.
This is the start and when Dave sees my camera he powers by us throwing rocks at us and and damn near runs off into the cacti.
He did everything but fall down---it was a site. He was not going to let the little scooter out run his bike.

So me and Debi pull on the throttle and head towards the finish line---admitedly--wide open on
the pavement----it was uphill in a head wind and all I could get out of the 150 was 45mph.
Good thing-----that's the speed limit in all of the National park.

We get to the finish line and there is nobody there.
We grab a sandwich out from under the seat of the scooter---get a drink of water and wait.
And wait
And wait
And wait.

And all of a sudden I hear this loud noise---sounds like a KTM 690 blowing up (I know this noise--ask me how I know)
A cloud of dust and a yipee ky yah and Dave is going so fast there is no way he is going to get stopped at the T intersection
and I scream at Debi to get out of the way as he goes by the bikes rear end sliding left then right and almost high sides.
He blows the stop and into the prickly pear he goes----he was humiliated. If only he had ABS (Tee--Hee).
And goes into excuses--something about getting stopped by the federalies, 3 flat tires, snake bite or something the other.
Better luck next time !!!!

On the way back me and Debi slow way down and find stuff in the park I've never seen before.
Guess I was always going to fast all the time.

And I take Debi up the Chiso Basin road way up in the mountains for a romantic dinner at the lodge.

Meanwhile back at camp the coyotes had moved in for the kill.
And Dave had things he had to get back to and went home----Colorado

All my friends were on a very limited time schedule and time was running out for them to get back
to work and catch planes and such.
But I wanted to take them on a ride I had done years ago on my 690 (before it blew) up.
It's my favorite ride in all of Texas and skirts the Mexican border most of the way.

I walked in that water and what looked like green slime--seemed fine.
But damn near went down when I gave the 390 some throttle.
Dingweeds followed close behind but saw how slick it was and was smarter than me.

Godzilla Hill--this was the main attraction I brought them out here for.
The hill is way steeper than it looks---and Godzilla will try to eat you.

I didn't take many pictures in here as the GoPro was going to give me anything I wanted-----NOT !!!!! Damn thing.

Since my go pro crapped out on this ride thru here----I've inserted a video of me and 2 friends I met in
BigBend State park riding thru here in 2018. This ride is not to be missed.
Video

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We had all camped in Marfa, Texas at the "Tumble Inn" campground a mile East of town to do the ride above.
The famous Marfa lights were just down the road--but only me Deb and Didi had time to see them.

It was lonely without everybody and me and Debi started Meandering Northeast---driving 54mph on
those 80 mph Texas roads.
Hey-----go around big boy !!!!!