Big Bend July 16-18

[wngrog]

So this little lady finally snapped me out of my wanderlust and made me realize I was 975 miles from home at 7:30 on Saturday and if I could make it home at a decent hour on Sunday is get to touch a boob instead of photograph it.

Rain as I passed Davis Mtn park cemented the deal.

I turned north here and followed the scenic dots again and was not let down.

The rocks along this route were amazing.

Highway 17

 

[wngrog]

The hard truth about return travel.

I picked up 10 east to Ft Stockton to fuel up. At this point I was 130 miles from Big Bend direct but my wanderings had taken 370 miles.

100% worth it.

I-10 sucks but you can drive as fast as you want. I found 80 indicated is about 90 actual and I get 11mpg doing it.

Sunset as I hit HWY190 at Iraan.

 

[wngrog]

If Ida followed them inside I would have gotten caught for sure.

Of course it took boobs to elicit a comment and a like out of you assholes.

2500 solo journey to the pits of hell......0
Boobs.....1

 

[Bossman]

Hey... I commented about a truck. The boobs were nice tho

 

[wngrog]

The quickest way home from out there is I-20 all the wAy from mike marker 1.

That's thr most depressing interstate I've ever driven.

San Angelo route out was good. I hate to see the same thing twice so I picked a route I have never used.

190 all the way from Iraan to San Saba. This road is super straight and well paved. Town stoppage was minimal and the speed limit was 75.

I made it to Menard in 3 hours averaging 71 mph and 12 mpg. I saw lots of deer. That and oil trucks. There was plenty room to pass. The Vision X bar was critical. It completely allowed me to drive those speeds at night on 2 lane.

From San Saba I cut up through Waco then Tyler where I snagged more Rudy's.

I just got back on I-20 to be stuck in traffic. My first stop in 2200 miles and my first backtrack on paved roads other than in the park.

Home in 4 hours.

Brady TX

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Fantastic trip Nolen. You are a machine!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bomar]

Badassness

 

[wngrog]

Made it to the airport 15 min before Red landed. Perfect timing.

Took me 9.5 hrs from Menard with a long lunch gas stops and running hard. Add 3 hrs to Ft Stockton then 2 more to the park.

Hell of a lot closer than Utah.

I'm already planning my return. Y'all get ready to nut up. Block out Martin Luther the King weekend

1000 miles each way.

500 of meandering. About 1/3 of that was off road. Unreal.

Add 10% for tires

 

[ntsaint]

That would be a proper MLK holiday. In.

 

[Bossman]

In

 

[pmccraney]

I'm in. That side boob pic was all state! What else is there to see and do? (Joking).

 

[wngrog]

Red gave me a hero's welcome home. She knows how to treat a guy who tempts fate.

 

[Nottajeep]

She liked your bumper more than her bra.
#burnit

Again decision time.

I'm at the farthest point west. Left to I 10. Put some hours in. It doesn't get dark on this edge of the central time zone until 10:00

Camping still wins so I head south yet again to Davis observatory and the State park.

View attachment 1108651

I pull up at the same time as a couple in a new Range Rover. They got out while I was sitting there and the girl told her fella he needed one of those big bumpers for his "jeep" pointing at my truck.

I caught a glimpse of some sideboob as she pointed and I went into expert creep mode.

View attachment 1108652 View attachment 1108653 View attachment 1108654 View attachment 1108655

 

[Fireman]

Pick me up on the way through.

 

[BMThiker]

I just got off of it. I can see why it would easily get closed. It's a series of washouts. 100% different than the high speed gravel road that is east River Road.

I'm not how to plan a trip around ensuring West RR is open since a flash flood will change everything

This was the most amazing trail. After doing it I would be crushed if I came back and it was closed. Unreal experience.

Sorry to be that "you missed it" guy but.....

View attachment 1108090

Glad you got to run it!
I was a little heartbroken at the time because I had done a bit of research before we arrived and knew of it's unique aspects compared to the other roads. Nonetheless, it was an epic adventure and I completely dropped my attitude after a few hours of amazing vistas and vast emptiness. I would like to run it one day, but there are lots of other bucket list places I'd like to check off before heading back: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Rubicon, Death Valley...

 

[wngrog]

@BMThiker i think the fact that it is relatively close that has me so excited

Speaking to my new friend @Ranger Yeti , in the 4 years he has been there they have only closed it 5 times.

They are paid by border patrol to keep it open do they try. Also they don't want to limit access to visitors. Great open access attitude they have.

I think it would be like a Camel Trophy situation out there if you tried to cross it wet. There were seriously deep washed I crossed.

I want to go when cool to be able to point to point camp those remote areas by the river.

Hard to find a more remote spot in the U.S. than this.

 

[ntsaint]

Let's do the Winter run for sure. And camp here one night...

 

[Bomar]

I am game pending ice ice baby. We need all the gun nerd to roll deep with us. I want drink beer and zone out. I don't want to have to think about El Chapo and the rest of everyone wanting to use my fatass as a trophy.

 

[Nottajeep]

Let's do the Winter run for sure. And camp here one night...
View attachment 1109220

It would be nice to sit out there with my .308 and see what you can hit 1500yrds out

I'm game for 1/18/16.

 

[wngrog]

What site is that Andy?