Rich on the Road

Lone Star Adventuring today with photographer David Tafalla at the new off-road vehicle park just north of Bridgeport -- so new that the trails are, literally, still being blazed. In fact, the park is not actually open and won't be until some time next spring. In the meantime, volunteers are coming out on Saturdays with their four-wheel drive jeeps and atv's and making trails by making trails. Where they can't get through the brush they get out the chain saws to clear a path and then mark the way with orange ribbon.

I was really struck by the beauty of the place -- an old rock quarry with limestone bluffs overlooking the city of Bridgeport. Shallow water in the lower sections, thick woods up top and some terrific vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Off-road enthusiasts, currently, must drive three or four hours to find a legal place to run -- north to Oklahoma, east to Barnwell Mountain in Gilmore or south to Mason, Texas. Once Bridgeport is up and running DFW residents will be able to go wheelin' on day trips instead of 2 or 3 day jaunts. Believe me they are pumped about this new park and I can see why.

Folks interested in helping cut trails can contact Bridgeport's parks department and Ryan
Nolting at 940-683-3481. Or Laura White with Texas Motorized Trails Coalition at laura@texasoffroad.net

The story will run two Sunday nights from now at 9pm.

Rich