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The 8th Annual Ride
For Trails motorcycle rally was a huge success despite
threatening weather and state wide rains. A large turnout of
250 registrants plus many fans gathered in Study Butte to
participate in this growing fund raising event. Thanks to
very generous sponsor and participants, $12,078.74 dollars
was raised to support youth groups and volunteers in
maintaining hiking trails within Big Bend National Park!
Friday night welcomed the bulk
of the riders as they seemed to take advantage of the
weather window from early week rains. All motel rooms were
booked as many riders rode or came in with RV’s and tents to
set up camps. Vendors offered tastes of authentic local
foods as well as leather, goods and silver. Riders settled
in for the evening at local motel gatherings and restaurants
to catch up with old and new friends as we kicked off the
event.
Saturday morning began bright
and early with check in for the day’s poker run event.
Bikers were slowed by the morning’s cool temps but rallied
to hit the Big Bend roads with the warming sun. Local
bicycle riders Mark Yuhas and John Morlock pedaled the 70
mile, multi-elevation route from Terlingua town into Big
Bend National Park. They won both categories in the bicycle
portion of the event. Stops included Sotol Vista overlook,
Chisos Basin and Panther Junction so you know those boys
were tired.
The afternoon sun warmed the
air and presented excellent desert weather for the annual
bike game events. Riders participated in the slow race,
slalom, ball and cone and weenie bite to the laughs and
entertainment of the crowd. The games ended with a new
“barrel race” which thrilled the crowd with some very
skilled motorcycle riding looping around 3 barrels and to
the finish line for time. Following the bike games an
auction was held raising more funds through offerings of
donated goods such as a Legacy Harley-Davidson leather
jacket, hand quilted motorcycle pillows, a massage, Big Bend
Cycle shirts and gear and more. The 2005 Heritage Softail
Springer with a trailer was raffled off on the rally site.
John Ward of Alpine, Texas was the lucky winner with a one
ticket purchase. The annual bike blessing took place
followed by the annual Tony Aguilar annual motorcycle parade
to Terlingua Ghost Town and back. By then appetites were big
and so was Nancy’s Mesquite Bar-B-Q of Iraan, Texas who
provided an incredible feast of classic West Texas Bar-B-Q
for all participants.
The evening’s events moved over
to La Kiva where Blind Pig Records recording artist Harper
began the nights show. Harper played a fusion of rock, blues
and world music featuring the didgeridoo, harmonica and a
voice that won him best blues vocalist 2005. Pinche Gringos
headlined as they played into the night with cumbia’s, rock,
blues and originals that kept the dance floor full. Sunday
morning was cool and damp making for a slow startup, packing
bikes, saying goodbyes and beginning the trip home.
Everyone had a great time and
remarked they would be back with a new group of friends next
year. Mark us on your calendar for October 13-15, 2006 in
Study Butte/Terlingua. We will update the website: <bigbendfriends.org/ridefortrails>
for next year’s rally information. Don’t forget to make your
motel reservations early as they fill up every year.
A big thanks to all our
sponsors as well as the many volunteers that put in so much
planning and work to make this event happen.
A very special thank you goes
out to all the participants for their generous support. See
you all next year. |
