The deer strike

I"ve put this post off for a few months, but on March 24th riding down FM1323 just northeast of Fredericksburg I hit a deer. Never saw the one I hit. They ran across the road from my right to left out of a wooded field.  The first one darted right in front of me and i'm not sure how i missed it.  I didn't see (or miss) the second one.  Injuries were minor, considering.  Here's how the gear held up:   

The Ralley II Jacket took a nice hit to the left elbow.  It did its job, I had no injuries to the elbow or the left arm.  The right jacket sleeve had a few minor scrapes but no major tears--but my right arm had road rash where the left arm--below--did not.

The right shoulder pad was also punctured. But again, no injury.

I slid the last bit on my right side.  I had road rash beneath this pocket. 

No injuries to my back. 

My Ralley II pants hung over my kitchen chair during this ride, along with my riding boots.

Jeans don't hold up well.  

Knees took the worst of the impact--along with my lower left shin.  

Thank you Schuberth. Never lost consciousness. 

It took a few shots.

Whitley's heated First Gear gloves.   

They were plugged into my jacket.  Both gloves ripped completely off at some point.  

No broken bones to the right hand, but had road rash and punctures to the right wrist.

RIP 2008 R1200GSA. 

 It was totaled. The right cylinder head, rear frame, instrument panel, exhaust manifold, and fuel tank (among others) needed to be replaced.  I never saw the bike after the accident.  DB was able to get a few shots at the impound lot.

The right side crash bars sheared off.

Injuries were minor.  Road rash to the right knee, hip, side, and to the right wrist and elbow.  Left side took the worst of it: puncture to lower left shin, punctures and road rash to the left knee, broken bones in the left hand and wrist.   My Ralley pants would have prevented the lower leg injuries.

I never got the names of the three ladies who stopped to help me. I was riding alone and they were the first car to come by after about 15 minutes.  I was very thankful they stopped to help.

Hidden Falls

A few shots from our Hidden Falls ride:

The old '82 XL 250 made her triumphant return:

Got a little tight in spots, had to remove the KLR's mirrors.

The "Check on Boquillas" Ride

Saturday, January 26, 2013. Made a run to Big Bend National Park.  Left Saturday morning and met DB in Uvalde.  It was warm for January, low 80s in the park.  

The plan was to ride down to Boquillas to check on the new crossing; we heard it had reopened for the first time post-9/11.  In the good old days you drove down a gravel road, walked down to the river and a man in a little boat would row you across for a few dollars.  No border guards or passports.  You then had your choice of a pickup truck or donkey to take you up to Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico, situated on a bluff overlooking the Rio Grande. They served ice cold beer for a dollar and 3 taquitos for the same in an open aired cantina. Sitting in the cool shade looking down on the river, it was a great spot.  You felt a long way from everything, and you were.

So we had high hopes to visit it again, until the ranger at the park entrance informed us that: "No, the crossing is not open. The border station on the U.S. side is ready but there are hang-ups with completing the Mexican station. And yes, you will need your passports and you will need to fill out immigration forms."  Fucking depressing.  Border stations, forms . . . it's ruined. 

We decided not to see it, and headed for the Basin and Santa Elena Canyon instead.

The Basin was cool and deserted, which was nice.  Elev. 5,400

Then on to Santa Elena Canyon where the first pics where taken.  

View of the canyon from the main road:

The hike down to the river. (Mexico to the left and America to the right.)

The dry portion of the river bed.

 DB throwing a rock into Mexico.

America's southern border:

The mighty Rio Grande.

View up Terlingua Creek.  A ranger said it wasn't the driest she'd ever seen it but . . .

Left the canyon and the park and headed for Alpine for the night.

Sunday, January 27th.  Headed for home down Hwy 90.  Of all the times I've returned home this way I've never stopped for anything other than gas.  We decided to smell the roses a little; first stop: Judge Roy Bean and Langtry, Texas.

Overcast but warm--and very few tourists this Sunday morning. 

The law west of the Pecos.  Judge Roy Bean's courthouse, saloon, and billiards hall.

Lilly's Saloon 

Langtry sits on the Rio Grande.  We rode down to the river.

Eagle's Nest Crossing. (Mexico in the background.)

From the cliff's edge looking down river.  A historical marker said people had been crossing the river here for a 1,000 years--seems like they picked an unusually difficult spot. 

The view up-river.  The pictures can't capture the scale of the cliffs. 

Left Langtry.  Next stop, Seminole Canyon State Park. Site of the Seminole Canyon pictographs.  "We're really smelling the roses now."--DB

From the observation deck down the canyon.

View up the canyon.  The pictographs are located in the cave at the top of the picture.

Another pic down the canyon from below the deck.  Desolate country.  

A statue depicting one of the pictograph figures overlooking the canyon.

Next stop: home.  A nice quick getaway.  Round trip: 940 miles.