My winter trip

[Elevenator]

You're da--ed lucky you didn't hit a snow storm @ Cloudcroft (9000 feet).

[XSokieSPECIAL]

Gonna go down to Rodeo, NM then over to Tombstone, AZ.

Tombstone, now that sounds like a real peaceful place.

[oseaghdha]

Bisbee is cool! It was the AZ State capitol back in the day.
You'll like it.
The 82 W after Tombstone to 83N has some twisties on it also.

Where you going after Tuscon?

[trbig]

Well, I've got plans. Gonna go down to Rodeo, NM then over to Tombstone, AZ.

Thanks for the suggestion though.


Tod

[oseaghdha]

Tod,
You should grab the 180 out of Deming North to up by the Gila.
Take 78 to 191 back down to Safford, then cut back down to Tuscon on I-10. It's a decent ride. You'll see Mt Graham to your West.

I10 kinda sux: b-o-r-i-n-g.

[trbig]

I woke up this morning to another beautiful day in Carlsbad to clear skies and the smell of curry when I went to the front to get some coffee. I loaded up and headed out after a quick stop at Wally World to replace the sunglasses I dropped some-frikkin-where in the Carlsbad Caverns trying to get you guys some decent pics. I had to get some high dollar ones I found, so you guys need to all pool up some money and send me that $5 I had to spend on them!

I headed north out of town which has been the most expensive place for gas so far at $2.75 for 86 octane. Bike didn't seem to mind the 86 at all. I passed a Dennys that was advertising a free grandslam breakfast in trade for a working email. Not sure of the twist behind that, (Come inside for details!) and leery of “free offers”, I decided to keep going. I made it to Artesia, NM with only a little over 40 miles on the tank. I thought about topping off, then saw the little towns in the path going to Cloudcroft, and decided to just fill up at one of them.

There are more loooong straight-aways, but you slowly gain altitude as you head west from there and the temperature seemed like it was dropping a few degrees every few miles. I have pretty much decided that where I’d been so far in Texas and New Mexico, surveying would be just about the easiest job possible with a clear sight for miles and no trees in your way. Here’s where I finally started getting my hopes up for a change. Snow! WAAAAY off in the distance.




As flat as everything still is, it's still a bit hard to trust this sign..






I decided I was pretty much in the middle of nowhere still, so I decided to stretch the bike’s legs a bit, and ran up into the triple digits for a while.. you know.. since I was going to fill up soon anyway. A nice motorist flashed their lights at me to warn me, and saved me a lot of money from the nice highway patrolman a few miles ahead. I just rode on @ the speed limit after that.

So I get to the first town, and see a station ahead. As I get closer, I see that they haven’t had gas since Kennedy was the president. So I look at the GPS and think, Hmmm.. I should be able to just make Mayhill.. and continue on. About a mile from Mayhill, I had to switch to reserve. Arriving at Mayhill, they had a bustling store with two restaurants, and NO GAS STATION. I was told there was gas at Cloudcroft though.. a little over 20 miles away. What else to do.. that was a lot closer than the way I’d come.

So, about 11 miles from Cloudcroft when the bike sputtered to a stop on the side of the road, I was pretty happy with myself for stretching the bike’s legs. I saw a house, walked up the hill, and was promptly attempted to be eaten by the killer attack dog on the premises. We both agreed that was his yard, and I backed away to find a little more hospitable home. The second house had attack dogs also, but being Pomeranian size, I decided I was the alpha male here and went to the door. Short story long, they had a can of gas and wouldn’t take any money for it as they wished me a Merry Christmas and a safe trip.

So, I fire the bike up, and take off down the road. I’m grinning ear to ear thinking about the nice people and my good luck up until then. I'd gone probably well over a mile and went to take a left curve a little hotter than posted… and was met with a horrible grinding sound and an inability to turn! Do you ever have one of those “Oh Chit!” moments, realize it was your own fault for doing something as stupid as to leave a frikkin kickstand down, and think to yourself that anything that happens to you is your own idiotic fault… all in about 1/10,000th of a second? I hit the brakes hard, tipped it right, kicked the stand up and leaned it hard back left and made the curve just fine… but I was picking out which exact spot in the bank I was going to hit. Yeah, the wife will just LOVE reading that part. Lol.

So.. on to Cloudcroft for fuel without any further mishaps.








First signs of the white stuff…





A river runs through it! OK.. maybe just a stream.









The Cloudcroft skiing and tubing area.



After leaving Cloudcroft, I rounded a curve and saw this. You can see clear to the next mountain range and the white sands national park at the base of them



A couple random shots on the way down.






There’s a nice long hill coming down the mountain into Alamogordo. I could see the town coming up, so I decided to stand up on the pegs for a few to stretch my legs. After several miles, I sat down and immediately realized the glove I had set in my crotch while I took pics… was no longer in my crotch. So… I got to ride back up that hill to find it.. then ride back down again. See why it’s better for me to ride alone sometimes?? Lol.

After a fuel stop in Alamogordo, I headed out and went past the White Sands National Monument… whatever the hell that was exactly. I turned in to the park to get a shot of the white sand.. but you had to pay to see the white sand, (See last posting about cheap-azz) and I was running a bit late. I wanted to make Deming, NM by dark.

So back out to the highway and a 75 mph speed limit where I could run 80-85 safely and got the next few shots.















And my last shot on the west side of Las Cruces, NM with the sun (And the temp) going down.




Shortly after this, I had to go through a border patrol inspection on I-10. I thought, “How crazy, on U.S. soil?? They also had a bunch of blimps out..(Yeah, you read that right) I guess watching the border. They say they’re hiring if anyone is really wanting a job?? Just a thought.. lol.

So here I sit in Deming, NM. Off to Arizona tomorrow with plans to stay in Tucson if things go according to plan. I have to throw out a quick Thank You to Tarzan for the 750 final drive. It's working great!

Keep the tires down, and the kickstands UP!


Tod

[XSokieSPECIAL]

DARNED NEWBIE!

[MaximPhil]

Yea I have asked dad his opinion on the Suzuki Vstroms, but I suppose it would be easier to just get an xj since we have i think 4. I like the vstroms, and I have read some good reviews about them, but no personal experience with one. I dont know how the moderators around here are. I hope talking about potential bikes isnt against any of the ride report technical info. Just out of curiosity what is your mpg like now dad? I know you said your brake was dragging before and you fixed that, but now you added a lot of junk on the back just seeing if it has changed.

Hi 4.0XJ,
I have a few friends who ride Vstroms. For one up riding the 650 is the better choice. Better power to wieght ratio. Very comfortable.
Maxim Pihl

[Wildkat]

Well I would prefer to keep mom out of it. She tends to get her way with most things. I have figured out the hard way that when it comes to me if she is not happy, I am not happy.

that's what I thought...
lol

I dont know what you guys are talking about keeping a close eye on us. You act like we are doing wheelies with 30 year old bikes and taking turns like we are on a R1 or something.

Gosh... none of us do THAT... Where would you get such an idea?

If it makes you feel any better I wanted a nice mustang for a car, but i knew I would just drive it hard and fast and thought it would be wise to get a jeep so that I could just by parts and not tickets. So not I have a jeep that I only do 65 down the highway. I love going fast and taking things to the edge.(Still dont understand where this came from), but I also know there can be some bad consequences for going over the edge.

Your Dad taught you well... either that... or you learned quickly SOMEwhere... whatever it is... niiiiiiiiiiiiiice

At any rate... welcome again...
Nice to have you around!


Seems to me that some members have (or had) Vstroms... wouldn't hurt to put a post in the "Other Bikes" forum and ask about them for some opinions...

[4.0xj]

We keep a closer eye on your Dad than I think we'll have to with you... besides... if you don't behave... I'll tell your Mom...
lol

Well I would prefer to keep mom out of it. She tends to get her way with most things. I have figured out the hard way that when it comes to me if she is not happy, I am not happy.

I dont know what you guys are talking about keeping a close eye on us. You act like we are doing wheelies with 30 year old bikes and taking turns like we are on a R1 or something.

If it makes you feel any better I wanted a nice mustang for a car, but i knew I would just drive it hard and fast and thought it would be wise to get a jeep so that I could just by parts and not tickets. So not I have a jeep that I only do 65 down the highway. I love going fast and taking things to the edge.(Still dont understand where this came from), but I also know there can be some bad consequences for going over the edge.

[Wildkat]

but I suppose it would be easier to just get an xj since we have i think 4.

I can see it now... you and your Dad fighting over parts for the bikes... you might be better off going for something different.. just don't let your Dad ride it... lol

I dont know how the moderators around here are.

One of them is a real *itch... but the rest of 'em are pretty cool... you're good...

(I'm one of the moderators)

We keep a closer eye on your Dad than I think we'll have to with you... besides... if you don't behave... I'll tell your Mom...
lol

[latexeses]

trbig,
Great photos! A person can't help but stop once in a while and marvel at the show mother nature provides. Providing we are willing to take the time and look around.

Thanks for sharing you trip with us.

Rodger

[4.0xj]

Yea I have asked dad his opinion on the Suzuki Vstroms, but I suppose it would be easier to just get an xj since we have i think 4. I like the vstroms, and I have read some good reviews about them, but no personal experience with one. I dont know how the moderators around here are. I hope talking about potential bikes isnt against any of the ride report technical info. Just out of curiosity what is your mpg like now dad? I know you said your brake was dragging before and you fixed that, but now you added a lot of junk on the back just seeing if it has changed.

[Wildkat]

Geez Don! I did it all wrong... My parents would never let me have one... My first husband wouldn't let me get one... I had to wait until I found a guy who rode before I could even MENTION it... luckily... John became the right one... so I was 23 before I started riding... but I'm making up for lost time now...


I suppose, if I had just brought one home first... I never would have met him, so at least it worked out well for me... but poor John...
lol

[DGXSER]

Hey Tod,

Being an advid caver for decades I am somewhat jealous of those amazing pictures. I enjoy it alot more when I get to climb in and crawl and climb and slide my way to the cool parts of the cave though. I could type my fingers raw telling cool stuff I have seen in caves, but the most interesting thing was when they drained Lake Cumberland in Ky and I go to go in sections of the cavign system that actually run UNDERNEATH the cave. That was incredible as I knwo no human being had ever set foot or hand or belly in those rooms for all the formations and how close they were. I've also rapelled into a cave on a rope, of course, down about 60 feet to get in. Getting out that way was REALLY fun, in a laborious kinda way. Anyhow, love the pics, looks like your having a REALLY awesome ride, and seeing some cool stuff!

David, no matter what you read here, your Dad is still an ok guy. Oh, and I was always told that if I brought a motorcycle home I would be kicked out of the house, until I brought one home, at which point I just got the usual sighs and groans and harsh looks from my Dad. Was kind of the same look when I told my wife I was buying the XS1100 last year. It always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!