written by Kay and Charlie
If you’ve ever been thru the great State of Texas, then you know that you can see all kinds of terrain. You also know that the terrain changes. If you’ve ever driven thru the western part of the state, then you know how flat and desolate it can get. The roads are dangerous. Dangerously monotonous, that is. They are long and straight. It doesn’t matter what form of vehicle you choose to drive, the tediousness will put you to sleep. And, it’s nothing unusual for towns to be located 75 or more miles apart.
Members of the Iron
Dragons Chapter are spread over a hundred miles in any direction.
Kermit,
Monahans, Midland, Odessa, Gardendale, San Angelo, Alpine and even as
far away
as El Paso! We are located in West Texas in an area that is called the
Permian
Basin. This area is chock full of mesquite, cacti and tumbleweeds. But!
We are
also located in the world’s largest oak forest – forty thousand acres
to be
exact! Shrub Oak, that is. There are billions and billions of em
everywhere –
but they only grow on average about knee high. So, for the Iron
Dragons, it is
a struggle to find a road that is “enjoyable” to ride. The group has to
pull
from their past riding (and driving) experiences to come up with what you
would call a “good” ride.
This is why, on the weekend of May 14th and 15th, 2005; a trip to the Davis Mountains was planned. It is sort of a joke for us when planning trips. Depending on which direction we are headed – North, South, East or West - Just who is it this time that has to get up earlier? This time, it was Sandy, in Midland. She and Claretta “Charlie”, from Gardendale met Kay, Benny and Tom in Kermit. We rode to Balmorhea, where we met Linda, who lives in Alpine. A quaint little village, Balmorhea dates from 1906 when someone figured out that the water from San Solomon Springs was flowing faster than they could drink it. Four miles to the west is Balmorhea State Park. And, believe it or not, Scuba Diving! No, we didn’t go … this time.
We gassed up and when we were ready to leave, Sandy said she would take the lead. She wanted to take us on a little ride. We turned off onto a short 12-mile strip of road that was full of twisties and gently rolling hills. At the end of this road is the Boy Scout Ranch where Sandy oftentimes helps out, during the summer months. A young man named Kevin Yancey greeted us and took us on a tour of the ranch. Now, imagine this: You are nestled deep in the Davis Mountains, miles from anyone. It’s quiet, peaceful and so serene. When all of a sudden, there’s a rumble! Thunder? You ask? Can you imagine their thoughts when they heard this rumble and saw bikes coming thru the mountains? Kevin took our picture in front of Buffalo Hall.
Sandy, Kay, Linda, Charlie, Tom and Benny
This is why, on the weekend of May 14th and 15th, 2005; a trip to the Davis Mountains was planned. It is sort of a joke for us when planning trips. Depending on which direction we are headed – North, South, East or West - Just who is it this time that has to get up earlier? This time, it was Sandy, in Midland. She and Claretta “Charlie”, from Gardendale met Kay, Benny and Tom in Kermit. We rode to Balmorhea, where we met Linda, who lives in Alpine. A quaint little village, Balmorhea dates from 1906 when someone figured out that the water from San Solomon Springs was flowing faster than they could drink it. Four miles to the west is Balmorhea State Park. And, believe it or not, Scuba Diving! No, we didn’t go … this time.
We gassed up and when we were ready to leave, Sandy said she would take the lead. She wanted to take us on a little ride. We turned off onto a short 12-mile strip of road that was full of twisties and gently rolling hills. At the end of this road is the Boy Scout Ranch where Sandy oftentimes helps out, during the summer months. A young man named Kevin Yancey greeted us and took us on a tour of the ranch. Now, imagine this: You are nestled deep in the Davis Mountains, miles from anyone. It’s quiet, peaceful and so serene. When all of a sudden, there’s a rumble! Thunder? You ask? Can you imagine their thoughts when they heard this rumble and saw bikes coming thru the mountains? Kevin took our picture in front of Buffalo Hall.
Sandy, Kay, Linda, Charlie, Tom and Benny
We arrive in Fort
Davis just in time for lunch
at Sherlock Holme's
Outpost and,
that is when things really
started to change! Discussion was that
we had all been to Fort Davis and we had all driven the Loop around the
mountains. Let’s Do Something Different! And, off we go thru Marfa on
to
Presidio.
Marfa, home of the mysterious Marfa Lights, their slogan is: "We've been leaving the lights on for you for 120 years."©. Which, after all these years, is about all you can say about them. There are lights, and they're a mystery. I can say that I have been there at night, waiting, waiting, but have never seen them. Linda had prior engagements and couldn’t continue with us on our trek. It was great to finally meet Linda and we all enjoyed her company. So, we departed ways at Marfa, she to Alpine and us to Presidio.
Presidio is right across the Rio Grande River from Ojinaga, Mexico. Ojinaga and Presidio were once the same city, until the river that ran through town was made into an international border. The most unspoiled border town in existence - it is just like being in the interior of Mexico.
The day’s ride was a nice 290 miles. Tired and hungry, we got rooms at the Riata Inn Motel. Charlie told us that there was a really nice café in Presidio that served Margaritas. She was ready for one! She couldn’t remember exactly where it was, but did remember that the restaurant had Palm Trees around it. We didn’t want to ride the bikes around town looking for it and certainly didn’t want to ride the bikes back after satisfying our thirst. So, the Presidio Taxi Company was called. Being this close to the border, we took extra care to secure our bikes. But, Sandy and Tom didn’t bring their locks. Needless to say, their bikes spent the night with each of them in their motel rooms. We all know that if you love to ride, then you love your bike. But, Sandy loves her bike so much, that she wanted to sleep on it.
Marfa, home of the mysterious Marfa Lights, their slogan is: "We've been leaving the lights on for you for 120 years."©. Which, after all these years, is about all you can say about them. There are lights, and they're a mystery. I can say that I have been there at night, waiting, waiting, but have never seen them. Linda had prior engagements and couldn’t continue with us on our trek. It was great to finally meet Linda and we all enjoyed her company. So, we departed ways at Marfa, she to Alpine and us to Presidio.
Presidio is right across the Rio Grande River from Ojinaga, Mexico. Ojinaga and Presidio were once the same city, until the river that ran through town was made into an international border. The most unspoiled border town in existence - it is just like being in the interior of Mexico.
The day’s ride was a nice 290 miles. Tired and hungry, we got rooms at the Riata Inn Motel. Charlie told us that there was a really nice café in Presidio that served Margaritas. She was ready for one! She couldn’t remember exactly where it was, but did remember that the restaurant had Palm Trees around it. We didn’t want to ride the bikes around town looking for it and certainly didn’t want to ride the bikes back after satisfying our thirst. So, the Presidio Taxi Company was called. Being this close to the border, we took extra care to secure our bikes. But, Sandy and Tom didn’t bring their locks. Needless to say, their bikes spent the night with each of them in their motel rooms. We all know that if you love to ride, then you love your bike. But, Sandy loves her bike so much, that she wanted to sleep on it.
Our “taxi” shows up
and we all pile into a 1985 Chevy Suburban. The driver brings a friend.
The
driver tells us that the taxi company belongs to his parents. Charlie
asks the
driver, “What’s your name?” He says, “Ricky” Charlie asks him how he
pronounces
it in Spanish. Ricardo, he says. She asks his friend the same, “What’s
your
name?” Eric, he says. “And, how do you pronounce that in Spanish?” …
Eric … he
says. (Duh)
We tell Ricky about the restaurant that we are looking for – the one with Palm Trees and off we go in search of this wondrous café. It’s hot and the air conditioner doesn’t work. The windows go down, the wind blows, the dust comes in, and the windows go up. It’s hot - roll em back down. Then, there’s a noise, a horrible noise! Loud, banging, clattering! Those in the front thought it was coming from the back fenders. Those in the back thought it was coming from the roof. All of a sudden, the noise stopped. “Hey, Ricky, you just lost your luggage rack!” Ricky thought a moment and says, "Oh well, we never used it anyhow" and went right on driving around looking for this wonderful restaurant while we were all getting very thirsty for those cool margaritas!
We made many stops searching for this elusive café. Do you know how many cafes in Presidio have Palm Trees? We finally give up and Ricky tells us of a really nice restaurant in Mexico. The only way that we will go is if HE would come back and pick us up. Nervous and more than a little worried, off we go, over the Rio Grande River, pass the International Border, into Ojinaga, Mexico. When we arrive at the restaurant, we check to make sure our cell phones would reach him before we let him leave. Charlie offers to buy their meal if they would stay with us. But in the noise of the group, the invite went unheard.
“Los Comales” – The Griddles, owned by Juan Anaya Coronel, is absolutely the cleanest, nicest restaurant in Ojinaga! You would have thought we were uptown in New York City. The atmosphere was pleasant, the food was wonderful and the margaritas were excellent!
During this whole weekend, thunderstorms rolled across the entire state of Texas. The girls that couldn’t make the trip were worried about us. They just knew we were riding in foul weather. Not so! The sun shown above our heads throughout the weekend – we never received a drop of rain. As a matter of fact, the only rain we saw, happened while at Los Comales. It started after we got there and stopped when we were ready to leave!
Ricky and Eric dropped us off back at the motel before it dawned on us that we didn’t take their picture. We called em back. Charlie even took pictures of the broken luggage rack, of which the boys had went back and picked up. The next time you’re in Presidio, call the Presidio Taxi Company, tell em you want to eat at Los Comales – and don’t forget to ask for Ricky and Eric!
Sunday morning, we take what is called the River Road from Presidio to Lajitas. A winding, 50-mile paved highway through spectacular canyon and mountain country along the Rio Grande. This highway is one of most scenic drives in Texas. The road follows the Rio Grande through Colorado Canyon; a rugged defile cut through the lava flows of the Bofecillos and Sierra Rica volcanoes. The road twists and winds and has very steep grades of 15 percent in places. The drive ends in Lajitas, a small resort town located next to the western boundary of Big Bend National Park. This is also home of Clay Henry, the beer-drinking goat!
Charlie, Sandy, Benny, Tom and Kay
We tell Ricky about the restaurant that we are looking for – the one with Palm Trees and off we go in search of this wondrous café. It’s hot and the air conditioner doesn’t work. The windows go down, the wind blows, the dust comes in, and the windows go up. It’s hot - roll em back down. Then, there’s a noise, a horrible noise! Loud, banging, clattering! Those in the front thought it was coming from the back fenders. Those in the back thought it was coming from the roof. All of a sudden, the noise stopped. “Hey, Ricky, you just lost your luggage rack!” Ricky thought a moment and says, "Oh well, we never used it anyhow" and went right on driving around looking for this wonderful restaurant while we were all getting very thirsty for those cool margaritas!
We made many stops searching for this elusive café. Do you know how many cafes in Presidio have Palm Trees? We finally give up and Ricky tells us of a really nice restaurant in Mexico. The only way that we will go is if HE would come back and pick us up. Nervous and more than a little worried, off we go, over the Rio Grande River, pass the International Border, into Ojinaga, Mexico. When we arrive at the restaurant, we check to make sure our cell phones would reach him before we let him leave. Charlie offers to buy their meal if they would stay with us. But in the noise of the group, the invite went unheard.
“Los Comales” – The Griddles, owned by Juan Anaya Coronel, is absolutely the cleanest, nicest restaurant in Ojinaga! You would have thought we were uptown in New York City. The atmosphere was pleasant, the food was wonderful and the margaritas were excellent!
During this whole weekend, thunderstorms rolled across the entire state of Texas. The girls that couldn’t make the trip were worried about us. They just knew we were riding in foul weather. Not so! The sun shown above our heads throughout the weekend – we never received a drop of rain. As a matter of fact, the only rain we saw, happened while at Los Comales. It started after we got there and stopped when we were ready to leave!
Ricky and Eric dropped us off back at the motel before it dawned on us that we didn’t take their picture. We called em back. Charlie even took pictures of the broken luggage rack, of which the boys had went back and picked up. The next time you’re in Presidio, call the Presidio Taxi Company, tell em you want to eat at Los Comales – and don’t forget to ask for Ricky and Eric!
Sunday morning, we take what is called the River Road from Presidio to Lajitas. A winding, 50-mile paved highway through spectacular canyon and mountain country along the Rio Grande. This highway is one of most scenic drives in Texas. The road follows the Rio Grande through Colorado Canyon; a rugged defile cut through the lava flows of the Bofecillos and Sierra Rica volcanoes. The road twists and winds and has very steep grades of 15 percent in places. The drive ends in Lajitas, a small resort town located next to the western boundary of Big Bend National Park. This is also home of Clay Henry, the beer-drinking goat!
Charlie, Sandy, Benny, Tom and Kay
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Tom
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It was a wonderful
ride loaded with tons of laughs. After a nice two-day ride of 600
miles, we
were all back home by 7 that afternoon. Do something
different? We sure
did! Our next adventure is a weekend trip
scheduled
for July
9th and 10th to Cloudcroft, New Mexico – Hmmm,
wonder
where we’ll end up?
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