Trippin Around my New Stompin Grounds (NM)

<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <wunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> Having just recently moved from GA to NM and having finally got most of the moving clutter taken care of I finally got some riding in. I now live in <st1:city w:st="on">Alamogordo</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NM</st1:state> at the base of the <st1lace w:st="on">Sacramento Mountains</st1lace>.. I did this little jaunt last Sunday morning—about 75 ,miles and was home about the time my wife rolled out of bed.


First the trusty steed. "01" 1150 GS-- I did a Fly and Ride to get this bike from Steverino a few years back. Got to come home via the Blue Ridge Pkwy. I've mad e few changes of my own and "Helga" now has almost 120K on her and runs like a top.





The next couple of shots come from about a mile from my house-- up on "Scenic Dr".















Roll up towards Cloudcroft via 82 and you start climbing into the mountains. We are at about 4500 ft and I think Cloudcroft is about 9000 ft in 20 miles.















Rolling into Cloudcroft is pretty cool (temp wise too!). I used to come up here in the mid 90's when I was still active duty-- hasn't changed much.





This place has an awesome Chicken Fried Steak dinner and good cold beer.




Rolled out on the road to Sunspot solar observatory.. Stopped to shoot picks of the basin and my house below.











House is on the other side of the distant most hill..



See- I'm really there!





Had the roads "almost " to myself. About 12 miles out I rounded the corner and found------:eek1








COWS!! yep-- free range country up there.












About 16 miles out of Cloudcroft you get to the Solar Observatory-- I toured it recently and didn't go in this time.





Note the Altitude-- 9250 ft-- I had on mesh gear and chilly.













Back down the road is the Apache Point observatory-- I hadn't been there so I wandered back to it..











We have had a lot of rain since I arrived out here. Storms roll in off the mountains and it's cool to watch at night and see the action!
But there are warnings about doing that up there!! :huh





What if your not in a car??


Some of the views up there.









Out in the distance is the White Sands National Monument-- I'll take you there soon!




I'll head home now--

















There is a tunnel about 5 or 6 miles up as you start climbing in altitude. It's not long and after passing through you feel the change in Temp's no matter if your climbing or descending.



Going down-- your headed back to the desert environment and the scenery changes..



I was home in just a few minutes after this was snapped. I hope you enjoyed my little introduction into my new "Stompin Grounds". I think this weekend I'll get the wife and the Harley out and head to Ruidoso and more of our great scenery out here!!

you'll love it!!! we lived in el paso when i was stationed at ft bliss in the early seventies. used to go to cloudcroft & ruidoso on the bikes at every opportunity. came through there a few years ago on a fly & ride from phoenix back to tampa---couldn't believe how much it's grown.

We have an extra bedroom set up for any ADV strays that come by.. Door is always open!

You still suck. Both of you.

Wow, that looks like a great place to ride. I'm jealous. OH WAIT! I live there. Bahhaaaaaaaaaa!

Living in the same town and we haven't ridden together yet. We gotta change that.

I just bought a Suzuki Bandit 1200S outfitted for sport touring, so I am ready to go.

I'm likin' the new location, Bernie.

Our best to your best, buddy.

Welcome to Alamogordo! I moved here a year ago! I ride a BMW R1150R and am always looking for people to ride with. Last week, I bought a 2001 KLR 650 and am dying to find someone to do the back route up to Timberon with!

Nice pics! It is great riding country to be sure.

I'm very happy to see you have gotten unpacked enough to get a quick ride in my friend. Looks like you lucked out with another great place to ride. I'm heading up to your old stomping ground (Iron Horse) in a few weeks. Can't wait.

Remember when your back in the area be sure to let me know.

Dave...

The infamous, "Leave me the hell alone" look. Know it well.

Appreciate all the good comments from folks-- I've met some great people off this forum and hope to add a bunch more in my new local.

It's another week and another Sunday to get up sneak out for a bit before the wife gets up..

I know I mentioned White Sands before but I'm gonna wait a bit more for that. I got up this morning and decided to do some "Old West" exploring. I'm going to go out where Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett and the Apaches roamed. :eek1

I gassed up "Helga" and headed out. Now our area is known for growing Pistachios and one of the first sights after you head up the road from my place is this enormous example!


That's a big nut!


I make the turn off of of 70 to 54 in Tularosa heading for Carrizozo in Lincoln County famous for Billy the Kids adventures.





This is a Pecan Orchard outside Tularosa-- I never knew they grew well out here. We had tons of them in GA as well.





I love the wide open spaces here-- and there are plenty of them..









Outside of Tulie (Tularosa) there is the White Sands Speedway-- it's not quite a NASCAR venue yet but it provides the locals some good Saturday night dirt track action. They also have Motocross races out here. I've got to come back for them-- I used to race a little in my youth..





At least it's far enough out there shouldn't be any bitching about the noise!

You come up on 10 miles of "Road Construction" that has a 45 MPH speed limit with flashing signs the it is strictly enforced. There were no workers- no other traffic and I scoffed at it!! Scoff Scoff--



This was one of the few vehicles I came across for the next 45 miles..




Arrived in Carrizozo--



The only claim to fame they have now is this!!


:dg I hear it is really good but it was early and no signs of life..

I now take a turn onto 380 and head toward Capitan but will cut off and go through the mountains to Ruidoso. The sun was shining brightly but the temps were great.



This is the Carrizozo Golf Course & Country Club -- not very challenging



They had some land for sale at the newest subdivision--




Urban sprawl is everywhere!! :huh



I'm working on my technique of taking pictures on the fly-- I got a lot of shots of the sky today..



Dropped off onto 37 -- this starts the good part!





Horses and cattle are king out here!

















These guys had a sense of humor!













Rolled through the downtown portion of Ruidoso with no pic's-- it seems like a tourist trap to me. Took the cut off to "Inn of the Mountain Gods". That's the Apache Casino and Resort-- it's quite nice and in a beautiful location..





















Didn't stop and donate to their cause-- I had a mission to get home in time for breakfast.

Whacking the ball!



That's the ski resort mountain off in the distance-



Heading back home!!












Rolled back into the garage about 1/2 hour later-- here's the recap--



And my wonderful wife had this going on when I walked in!!



BACON!!!!!



Thanks again for stopping by and checking out my updates-- I've been in contact with a couple of local ADV"ers that I have yet to meet. Maybe next week we can give a little group report!!

I'm in.

Pot meet Kettle!

Come on Dave-- I'm a sweetheart!

(The sun was in my eyes)

Bernesto,

Great RR and pics. Now get yer butt to White Sands and add to this report!

Addios amigo,
JC

Who's up for riding this weekend?

Disco-- check your PM's...

Definitely me. Thinking Sunday morning ride to Cloudcroft, then down to Mayhill, backroad back up to Sunspot Hwy, then we can decide from there. What ya guys think? We gotta show Bernie all our roads and I need to get the Suk out for my first ride on it other than back and forth to work.

Let's lay a battleplan this evening!

Just past Mayhill is a great place to catch trout... a little spring-fed farm pod.. Slightly pricy, but the trout are delicious!

I'd like to join you all sometime. Booked up this weekend but maybe another time?