Pleasant Returns

I'm back from my little voyage. It was wonderful in many ways, and I intend to share pictures, experiences, rides, my thoughts about motorcycle travel and personal insight over this week and the next.

In general, I went to West Texas and toured the area around and north of Big Bend. I stayed in Davis Mountains State Park (which I heartily recommend to anyone) for two nights, using it as a base camp for visiting the surrounding areas.

I traveled down the infamous (and remarkable) River Road, the scenic loop around the Davis Mountains, did a "star party" at McDonald Observatory and hiked in Guadalupe National Park. I did swing through New Mexico, but for the most part I found it dissatisfying and probably will not take the same path again.


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My accessory lights paid for themselves on the way back home. A deer and been hit and then hit again as it was split in two on the highway. (I saw an immense amount of roadkill throughout the trip.) Thanks to the lights, I was able to see the obstacle and make evasive maneuvers to avoid a disastrous impact.

I squeezed in a little reading - something I rarely accomplish at home nowadays. But the major idea I brought home from the reading and camping (and even the riding) occurred to me on the way home: when you take care of life first, you will enjoy it more. It seems bizzare that it needs mention, but I needed to vocalize it. I've been in the process of rearranging my priorities (especially since I'm going to be a new father) and this simple idea helped clarify and focus that process.

This is also the first trip where I greatly missed my wife. Usually I enjoy getting away so I can recharge and "refresh my batteries" but this time I really wanted her to be with me to share my experiences. So I'm working up in the back of my mind a plan for such a voyage...

I'd like to thank the many friendly and largely anonymous people that I met along the way for making this trip so enjoyable: The guys who rode in from SA, Rex on his R80, the biker from Houston, the friendly staff at the Davis Mountains State Park and the older couple hiking in the Guadalupe National Park. I'd also like to thank my wife for letting me go (see I came back - no leash necessary!) who I love very, very much. I thank God for a safe trip.

Later!