All roads lead to Gunnison

[motoman]

Y'all have a safe ride! With the high temps, I'd even consider a 4a.m. leave time from Mesquite to G. Junction.

[JeffH]

Sadly its time to head back to Georgia


2,850 miles so far. Figured i should check oil & tire psi. Put in 3/4 quart just cause.
That should get me the planned 1,450 miles back to Atlanta.

Monsoon season which means trouble - CO145 out of
- About 6 miles where mud covered road from previous nights heavy rain

Seems CODOT doesn't mess around and gets things cleaned up quickly


ALWAYS GREAT FUN to Ride the Million Dollar Highway

- probably called that because US550 is always falling down the cliff and under repair
- Got that same identical picture from ride in 2016



Many smiles per mile on the wildly smooth hairpin 'S' curves on the Million Dollar Highway
switchback after switchback 'S' grinding up the mountain

- a good place to practice grinding metal on your bike


Million Dollar Valley on the Million Dollar Highway
- up ahead, going to get wet - going to get COLD soon

- interesting how the highway breaks left and meanders across the valley


This was Monday's ride after leaving KOA in Gunnison. Went to Telluride then back to US550 to Ouray to Durango. Rained for about 30 miles going into Durango. Stayed in Durango on Monday night.

Jeff

[JeffH]

Came across a metal cattle grate on a Colorado highway. Forgot where it was
But is was in a fairly tight curve and the metal tubes were pretty far apart, plus set at an odd angle And it was raining so the tubes were slick. WOW a motorcycle accident waiting to happen.

Drove 2,000 miles to access 'my' Public Lands, and the gate was closed and locked - what the heck
- that sign says Public Lands Jjito



Wanted to drive out and explore Chaco Canyon but no food, no water and Monsoon storm was brewing




Was tempted to try it, BUT that slick sandy surface was a problem waiting to happen
- heavy monsoon rains the day before made it mucky and extremely slippery

- actually rode across and to the top of the hill - tough going unless on dirt bike


Had planned to take NM126 over the mountain but monsoon trashed that plan


Did have fun poking around a bit on the journey from Durango to Los Alamos.
Went across Jicarilla Apache Lands, Zia Pueblo Lands and Jemez Pueblo Lands and in their Tribal Village.

Jeff

[JeffH]

Photobucket seems to be cooperating, so a last few pics of the ride into Los Alamos NM



Storms a brewing again, so planning to get wet
- though never bothered to put on any rain gear the entire trip, just ride and smile




the Jemez Pueblo tribal lands



Monsoon rain from the storms in the first picture did this
- on the road down the mountain into Los Alamos NM - City and National Laboratory in the distance

- not a good place to be riding WOT, if there really is one besides at a race track



Nice pic of the ride off Valle Caldera - really was spectacular




In Los Alamos for two nights. Took some tours today and learned about some of what's going on at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Now they gotta kill me. The atomic bomb story. Its interesting to be here and see some of the stuff.


Blasting off for Atlanta tomorrow.

Jeff

[motoman]

Always some nice pics!...…….we love pics!

[DiverRay]

Jeff, the fun REALLY starts when you are inside the gates! I've been to Los Alamos a few times, and got to play with the neutron beam! Testing chips for a company I used to work for. Great town, but we always stayed in White Rock, about 10 minutes away. Hotels were cleaner, and a nice place for dinner close by back then. The Bradbury Museum is GREAT, a must see for anyone who has the chance to ride through there.
Love the ride report, only wish I could have made the CO rally this year.

[JeffH]

Yes, we missed riding with you in Colorado. I guess you were on some volcano, surrounded by tropical seas. Likely having a pineapple something. Likely you had a splendid time.
We missed spending time and riding with Greg & Bob & Ty & Chuck too. Same for Sebastian and CapZap. We were disappointed they couldn't be at Gunnison for the Rally.

I spend a couple days wandering around Los Alamos. Real engineer and geeks paradise. Stayed right downtown in nice Comfort Suites which is the only motel downtown right now. Visited the Bradbury too. And took a personal guided tour around the area too to learn its history and events. Everything in walking distance which was great. Free city bus system around town and out to the National Laboratory. Variety of good restaurants too. Had a blast. Didn't buy the A Bomb t-shirt.


hydrodynamic shock to simulate the implosion process in nuclear bombs
the events that triggers the nuclear detonation

one of those don't try this at home things


Ah, the B61 with up to 340 kilotons of beasty

quite unnerving standing there realizing what this one weapon can do
read that 3,155 of these were built. 540 still in inventory


Robert Oppenheimer and General Groves (in bronze of course )

Interesting to learn more details about Project Y and why the remote and very tough to get to Fuller Ranch (prep ultra elite boys school) was chosen


Deck / Patio with a great view for a Grocery Store (downtown Los Alamos)

that's Sashimi if you were wondering Great place to relax (for a grocery store / super market)
sadly none of my super markets here in Atlanta offer this deck with view deal

Some serious science going on a the National Laboratory. Apparently Los Alamos has the highest PHd population in the USA. Probably per capita.
As Ray mentioned, a great place to visit if you like History or Science & Technology.

Jeff

[JeffH]

in New Mexico I must have made a guy riding a KTM Super Duke GT mad.

I departed Los Alamos 10am and rode east to Pojoaque then NM503 to Cundiyo. Spectacular ride. Then NM76 past Truchas, Trampas and Chamisal.
Really amazing road and scenery.

So i'm tootling along enjoying the day and some guy with his fancy KTM Super Duke GT passes me. So I turn up the volume and stay with him. He carves up a bunch of sporty curves and I'm on his tail with my big ol' GL1800. That apparently made him mad. So behind Electric Utility truck his wot passes the truck, I'm on his tail. More technical curves. I'm on his tail. The road finally ends at a T at NM75. I pull up beside him. He wouldn't look at me. I waved but didn't do any good. It was pretty comical. He went left and I went right to get out to Las Vegas (NM) and eventually Tucumcari.

Pretty funny. Maybe his Super Duke GT wasn't running too well that day.
It is pretty embarrassing with fancy bike and fancy gear and got a Wing glued to your 6.

btw: that NM104 from Las Vegas to Tucumcari is one lonely highway. Rolled into Shell station in Tucumcari and tumbleweed was blowing around the pumps. Guy in car pulls up, gets out and his hat is ripped off his head by the wind. Luckily the wind didn't last too long.

Jeff

[JeffH]

A few final pics. Had a great ride and the Colorado Rally was excellent.
On the way home Oklahoma was a survival challenge. (3Phase, good you went west instead of attempting this every man for themselves challenge) Staring down a forecast 113 heat index I rode 600 miles to get to Oklahoma City. It was a bit rough. To beat the 113 degrees I left OKC at dawn. Was sticky nasty 100 by 10am. Yikes. Amazing that when I got into western Arkansas the temps dropped into the low 90's. Still humid but tolerable. Late lunch at Los Pinos in Brinkley AR. Great food, nice place, but awful service. Food was so good I gave the server a pass on bad service. Then played Can't find a motel for a couple hours. A Friday night and apparently a lot of Reunions and Weddings. Hot and tired so I just paid too much for a Hampton Suites in Clarksdale Mississippi.



Ride bits and pieces of Route 66 when I can

last time on 66 I think was in 2017 in Illinois on the way to XS Colorado Posted a pic I think



A Legendary Rte 66 mural in Tucumcari New Mexico



Heading home - crossing the Mississippi River on US49 with Helena Ark in the mirror

Always enjoy crossing the Mighty Mississippi, its like actually going somewhere
That Talimena Scenic Highway and Queen Wilhelmina Park sure is a hidden treasure I enjoyed riding AR88 and OK1


Trouble free 4,350 mile trip completed

southern route this time back roads adventure GA, AL, MS, AR, OK, TX, CO & NM


Guess that's it.
Back home and gotta start wrenching on an XS11 or two for the VYR Rally at Iron-Horse Sept 28-30. Plus shirts and banners and stuff for the Rally.
Hope you can attend. Look forward to seeing a lot of you there.

Jeff

[3Phase]

Thank you, Jeff!

I always enjoy your trip pictures and anecdotes and I'm really glad you made it home without meeting up with any monsoons or tornados.

[MaximPhil]

Thanks Jeff,
Always enjoy your ride reports. Sounds like a wonderful trip.
That KTM dude had no idea what he was up against.

Phil

[madmax-im]

Thankyou Jeff..Love your pics and narration too...I worked for 10 yrs for a company in NJ that supplied scientific grade cameras used at Los Alamos..I was the specialist involved in the assembly and testing of the final product before it went to Los Alamos where they were anaylizing explosions..and my stuff was blown up in the process..to the tune of $120K per camera.

[Jerry]

Excellent photos and narrative. Thanks! Highly enjoyed this thread and similar ones. For me, riding is what owning a bike is all about.

[Radioguylogs]

Jeff: Thanks for letting us join your adventure via the text and pictures.

Trouble free 4,350 mile trip completed

Did you see the House of Cards episode about the water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina painted like a peach? (You had to be there)

[JeffH]

Did you see the House of Cards episode about the water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina painted like a peach? (You had to be there)

Ah yes, the Peachoid
Son lives in Fort Mill so go by the Peach regularly. Its off Peachoid Road, i85 & NC11.
NC11 is Cherokee Foothills National Scenic Byway along the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. A nice 125 mile / 3 hour drive and scenery.

Georgia Peaches are great but a million gallons of juice (really H2O of course) in this jumbo SC peach


Jeff