Edclicking Keyword Cloud
By Dr. Harry Tennant
Friday, March 9, 2012 Education Ride 365: Most Scenic Rides/Drives In Southwest Texas! I have lived many years of my life in Texas, but before Education Ride 365 had not spent any time in Southwest Texas south of I-10 in Big Bend Country. Days 52-55 were days I added to my stay in Southwest Texas because of the sheer beauty and other-worldliness of the place. In this post, I thought I'd share with you a few of what I found to be the most scenic roads in the area. They are extra fun riding a motorcycle!
 1) Heading into the Alpine, Marathon, Marfa, Fort Davis, Big Bend region of Texas, I recommend TX-90 from Del Rio to Marathon. Like on all of the roads featured below, there are interesting elevations, numerous curves, "old west" scenery, and wide open areas unspoiled by development.  You will cross the Pecos River Bridge, which is much higher than these pictures may suggest to you.   This bridge (seen in the two pics above) and Eagle Nest Creek (below) are spots to stop and take in the scenery.  2) Quite possibly the most challenging, most scenic road in all of Texas is "The River Road" between Terlinua and Presidio, TX---> FM170. Go the speed limit! There are many, many blind hills that immediately curve off to the left or right just as you crest the hill...and there may be animals such as cows, goats, javelinas, or the like milling about the road.  You are riding/driving right along the Rio Grande River and some beautiful mountains. The cyclist below will greet you right before you arrive in Terlingua!  You will also come across an old movie set pictured at the bottom of my March 6th post and in the picture below as well.  Which direction this road (and so many others) falls off to after the rise you will only know once you climb it!  Big birds seem to be more common out here than other motorists are!  3) Do this one on a loop from Fort Davis and back to Fort Davis, which is a neat little town and an EdClick customer!  I pictured it on two maps because I had an impossible time highlighting both roads on one map! Leave Fort Davis on TX-118. This is a road full of rises and the famous McDonald Observatory, which I highly recommend!  You can see the second road of the loop on the map above, but it is highlighted on the map below, TX-166. Return to Fort Davis on this road.  TX-166 is a WIDE open road, no development whatsoever, little to no traffic, mild swells just often enough to make riding it quite fast on a motorcycle a ton of fun!  Above see the only friends I made on TX-166. In fact, they and their friends were the only other land creatures (including humans) I saw on this road before the last ten miles!  I did see plenty of very cool rock formations on this loop though!   Southwest Texas----> Big Bend Country----> simply a wonderful place to drive. An even more spectacular place to ride! Riding Stats: Day 52---153 miles traveled, 3 hours and 1 minute of moving time, 4 hours and 11 minutes of stopped time, 50.7 miles per hour average moving time, and 21.2 miles per hour overall average. Day 53---73.97 miles traveled, 1 hour and 17 minutes of moving time, 1 hour and 11 minutes of stopped time, 57.5 miles per hour average moving time, 29.9 miles per hour overall average, and a max sped of 85.5 miles per hour. Day 54---190.5 miles traveled, 4 hours and 36 minutes of moving time, 3 hours and 44 minutes of stopped time, 41.4 miles per hour average moving time, 22.9 miles per hour overall average, and a max sped of 86.7 miles per hour. Day 55---175 miles traveled, 3 hours and 17 minutes of moving time, 1 hour and 16 minutes of stopped time, 53.1 miles per hour average moving time, 38.3 miles per hour overall average, and a max sped of 90.1 miles per hour. Posted at 9:18 PM Keywords: Education Ride 365 , EdClick , Cycle Of Education , Big Bend Country , Southwest Texas 0 Comments |