Homeward bound

Note: to read trip from the beginning, go to The Alsace Hotel, Castroville

We originally planned to travel the 600 miles to home in two days, stopping somewhere overnight on I10. But Bettie wanted to see if we could make it in one day, and indeed we did. This was her "graduation" into long distance motorcycling, as was my trip to Colorado last year. Now we are looking forward to the Grand Canyon next spring. 

Last day in Davis Mountains

(These notes are added after getting back to Houston)

Our last day was limited by the recent and on-going wildfires in the Davis Mountains. The preceding photos show the general devastation in the country side and extensive damage in the city itself. We were unable to complete our "scenic loop ride" that passes McDonald Observatory and circles around the mountains. The road was closed just past the observatory because active wildfires were still a threat. On the roads around Fort Davis we saw large areas of grass and hillside blackened by fire, along with untouched areas in a seemingly random pattern. In the city a burnt yard, fence, and house was next-door to our hotel Limpia. 

Fence and yard burnt by wildfire in town, next door to our hotel

Field south of Fort Davis ravaged by wildfire

Hotel Limpia, Fort Davis, built 1922

At McDonald Observatory, Davis Mountains

The River Road

The river road (highway 170) between Lajitas and Presidio is
considered one of the 10 best motorcycle roads in the nation, and we
take no exception with that. My bike thermometer read 100, but a
little ice water squirted down the collar of the riding jacket works
wonders.

Leigh Anderson
Sent from my iPhone

On the River Road between Lajitas and Presidio

Eric, met riding a VStrom on River Road

Fort Leaton near Presidio

Breakfast at Lajitas

Lajitas Resort

Lajitas Resort

Terlingua Cemetary

Santa Elena Canyon

Old house in Castolon

Historic trading post in Castolon

En route to Santa Elena Canyon

Honor System

At the Boquillas Canyon Overlook there are rocks decorated with
painted sticks and simple animal figures. We wondered if we had
stumbled onto some secret Tarahumara ritual offering. It was rather an
offering of souvenirs to benefit the small school on the Mexican side.
Presumably the vendors sneak across the river (illegally of course),
place the wares, and depend on the honesty of park visitors to put
payment in a can. The rangers surely know about this and turn a
charitably blind eye. No need to trouble the Border Patrol about it.

Rio Grande @ Boquillas