Recommended Rides
By JOHN Ogden Jr
Total Miles:
Ft Davis Mountain Loop
75 miles / 2 hours
Fort Davis Southern Loop
250 miles / 5 hours
Attractions:
Lupita’s - Ft Davis, TX
Ft Davis Drug Store
Marfa Lights
Shafter, TX
El Patio - Presidio, TX
Dom Rock
Chili Pepper Cafe
makes a ride worth doing?
Answering this question is
the beginning of a great ride and where I
will start. An interesting ride has many
aspects to it that make it desirable. A
good storyline helps, historical events are
interesting (such as Tombstone or
Gettysburg), and old folklore helps as
well, such as the famed Devil’s Highway
666. These stories bring in the tourists
and allow the mind to connect with the
past, real or assumed. Scenery is a wel-
comed gift to a nice ride. From coastlines
to mountain roads, all offer something
pleasing for the eyes. Last but not least,
are the curves and elevation changes of
the road. People will travel great dis-
tances to ride The Dragon of North
W HAT
Carolina just for the curves. Rallies have
even been built around those roads.
This ride report is going to include all
of the above and will give you time to
plan it and still get to it in time to see the
blue bonnets in bloom (remember that
scenery part). This is a ride that can be
taken on your way to the Davis Mountain
Rally (or Texas – West State Rally) in Fort
Davis, Texas that happens on Run for the
Son weekend. Let’s start in West Texas,
home of ranchers and oil wells. The first
time I was on this road was in 2008, and
I have ridden it several times since. Fort
Davis is full of history and old western
town charm. It is stuck in a time when
cowboys roamed the area. You can still
get a custom made cowboy hat right on
main street, or if you want to step into
the modern era, you can look at the stars
in the Observatory. One of the best times
to ride this route is April 30-May 3, so
you can make it a Run for the Son ride
and meet the Ministry Partners who
gather here to pray over the year’s RFS,
an amazing time all by itself.
There are several places to stay, I pre-
fer to base out of Fort Davis. Davis
Mountain State Park has motel rooms
and plenty of camping available, and
there are several small motels in town.
You better make reservations if you are
coming during the Davis Mountain Rally.
The first ride is just a small loop that can
be part of the main ride or just as a short
75 mile, 2 hour drive. The Davis Mountain
Loop has tight curves and plenty of ele-
vation changes with scenery you would
not believe is in West Texas. Plan extra
time if you like taking pictures. My pre-