Looking at putting together a bigger ADV trip if folks want to join in!!
Exact dates TBD, but sometime in late February/early March-ish.
Plan is to ride some parts of the southern portion of the NMBDR as a way to get down to TX, then head down towards Big Bend NP, and do a variation on the BDR-X down there. Camping off the bikes and just enjoying some early season riding while we are still snow covered.
Will be a lot of slab and easy gravel/dirt. Nothing too technical, so good option for inexperienced riders to get out and explore!!!
Still working out route specifics but likely start and end in Socorro, NM (trailer, van, ride to start) and be out on the road for 5-6 days or so.
Feel free to email me at sbraven63@gmail.com to express interest in being on the list to stay in the loop.
Did Big Bend BDR X with @MotoJason last year. It was a great ride. We started in Marfa, which is an anomaly of an in-the-middle-of-nowhere town and added an unexpected cultural twist to the ride. We enjoyed the loop and the landscape very much, especially camping along the Rio Grande with a herd of wild horses nearby. We were unable to explore the option A-routes for a mechanical reasons, so the riding was largely straightforward and a good mix for those getting their multi-day feet under them. Remember to check in at the Ranger Station to secure your campground. We heard of a guy who rode the loop a few weeks later, camped in the same area we did without booking, and got detained by border dudes in night vision goggles, or something like that. The ride ended in dramatic fashion with a full-blown sand storm headed back into Marfa. It was so thick that I could barely see the white stripe at the side of the road looking sraight down at my footpeg while trying to stay on the pavement. An excellent adventure.
Thanks for the notes! And for the reminder on camping in the park. Planning one night in the park, then out through Terlingua and up to stay at Chianti Hot Springs!!
And yes, a stop at the Prada “store” for giggles and photo op!!
We stayed at the Chianti hot spring too, accommodations were quaint. Stopping in Terlingua is better in the evening when the bar is open than during the day. The Judd Foundation detour was especially good too.
Check on road conditions in the NP, there were severe floods in the Big Bend area last July. Portions of River Road are still closed, so you would not be able to do the BDR loop as mapped currently.
Most of the southern NM BDR route is at high elevations. I have ridden in much of that area in February and it was miserable, two of the coldest most dangerous days I have spent on a motorcycle in the past 30 years were from south of Ruidoso over to Alpine, AZ. That area is better ridden from mid-May on. You could get lucky or you could encounter snow, ice, and temps in the teens.
Ha! I used to live in Alpine, so well aware of the elevation over there!! Yeah, plan is to ride along Guadalupe Rim and then bounce out towards Carlsbad Caverns, then go straight south towards Marfa area.
Thanks for the heads up on possible road conditions. Will certainly check with the Park before heading out.
I rode the Texas Big Bend BDR-X last February (in late Feb) and our weather was perfect. We camped every night and it got cool but we had a fire to sit around. That said, about 10 days before our trip they had a cold snap and it got down close to single digits. I think late March/April is a good time to get the most lucky with weather in the Spring at least. By May it can be 100 degrees in places. Just my preference I would rather gamble on cold than heat but others will disagree.
With you on the gamble on temps!!!
Early March is the latest I can get a hall pass, as my wife does tax work and by mid-March she is full on busy, so I will take the chance on acceptable temps and dress appropriately!!
Cheers
Hey there,
Nothing definitive on dates yet, as waiting to see whom else may be really interested and if there are preferred dates, although learning towards first week of March-ish!!!
Still looking at “official” start out of Socorro, backwards on NM BDR along Guadalupe Rim, out past Carlsbad Caverns and down towards Big Bend, camp one night in the park and back to Socorro via White Sands area!! Could look at starting in T or C/Elephant Butte area too, to help cut the mileage a bit, especially on return.
1400+ miles, but a lot of gravel, a bunch of slab and mostly just a chance to get out and ride in some hopefully warmer weather, see cool vistas and camp out!! Prob 5 days of riding!
Cheers
OK folks, for anyone interested in going, plans are coming together!!
Departure out of Socorro, NM late morning on Tuesday, March 3rd.
All camping, no hotels planned. Camping and eating at camp.
Route will be to bop over through the Ruidoso/Cloudcroft area, down along the Guadalupe Rim, swing out east of Carlsbad Caverns, then straight down towards Marfa TX area, do a big loop around Big Bend (exact route depends on what is open in the park after some recent weather impacts to road conditions) and back up to Socorro via White Sands area.
Pretty easy off road riding with a bunch of slab too, so bigger bikes recommended (unless you really want to do several 2+ hour slogs on a 500EXC!!) Just want to get down into some warmer sunshine and explore an area never been thru on a moto!!
4.5/5 days on the bikes, so a full week away from home. Back to Socorro Sat afternoon (3/7).
Trailer bikes or ride to start. Your call. 8 hours from Boulder/Longmont to Socorro.
Let me know who wants to go!
Rock and Roll
Interested but don’t know if I can take that much time. Once you have the route mapped I might assess connecting for 2-3 days if that were to work out for the group. I’m also going to try to register tomorrow for the Rhino Rally race in St George UT on 2/28. If I get in that would preempt my ability to do a trip the following week.
