Day 16

Start mileage 93993
End mileage 94254
Daily total mileage 261
Trip to date mileage 3279

Got up this morning in Ruidoso, NM. It was 25 degrees outside. Man am I glad I wasn't in a tent last night. I would have been warm in my sleeping bag but getting up and waiting until it was warm enough to start would have been awful. But, as luck would have it I awoke from a very restful and warm sleep at the Day's Inn. Checked weather on my phone. Thought I should wait until around 10:00 am to start so it would be warmer.

Did my daily routine preparing for the start of another adventurous day on the road. Repacked a lot of the gear I brought in last night. Tried to make coffee but the darn coffee maker would not start. I pulled the plug on it so it would not start a fire. I walked over to the breakfast counter at the office. It was a cold breakfast except for the waffle maker. I proceeded to make a complete mess all over the waffle maker and the tray underneath it. Seems I can't hold  onto a little cup full of batter prior to pouring it onto the griddle. Well I got more batter and made a waffle. Told the desk girl I made a mess and she said don't worry it happens all the time. I think she was just trying to make me feel better for being such a schlep. Anyway the waffle was good. I filled my thermos with coffee for the day. I don't know why I didn't think of that before. Coffee really hits the spot when you are driving and feel like closing your eyes. Stopping and drinking several cups of coffee help make you feel so much better. Also the time off your tush and the bike is  nice.

Anyway, packed up trailer and bike. Ready for another adventure today. Started out on US 70 West again.

I was just starting out this morning when I took notice of the pine trees on one side of the road and none on the other. Of course they were on different sides of this little valley I was riding through. Here are a few scenes from the road.

While riding along in the New Mexico desert it came to me how much I missed the desert. What a thrill to be back! It is stupendous to watch mountains, scrubs, highway, Rail Roads and trains all out here in the desert. It seems so unreal.


Ran into Alamogordo NM. You might want to Google it to see what it is all about. But past Alamogordo is Holloman AFB. I passed the base and later saw a line of white from one side of the horizon to the other. I thought neat they banked up the sand to hide what they are doing out here. Much to my surprise the white banks were the edge of the White Sands of New Mexico. I stopped at the White Sands National Monument. You might want to follow this link to learn some facts about the white sands http://www.nps.gov/whsa/forkids/fun-facts.htm

See the pictures.

 There were lots of kids there on field trips.

A shot with some kids in it

 Entrance to building.

 

 



Enlarge image for a closer look

Just showing some parks in New Mexico

Ranger educating kids about the White Sands habitat.

Wow!! can be seen from outer space. It must be big.

I would suggest looking up the White Sands National Monument for lots of cool information about what it is and how it formed. Below are several pictures of the sands. I hope I don't bore you with all of these pictures. I found it really neat.

 

The white mound of  sand that goes on from horizon to horizon.

Driving through the park is really an experience.

These piles of sand are held together by the vegetation growing huge root systems and holding it all in place as the sand dune moves past it.

These ridges are made by organisms in the sand that deposit minerals and other nutrients into the sand that makes it possible for life to grow. 

The roadway around the park is unusual in the respect that the bottom layer is  hard gypsum and  some loose stuff is on top. If you don't watch out the wheels on your bike will spin out or slide sideways.

Of course I had to take a picture of the rig in the sand dunes.



Hopefully when you enlarge this picture or the ones below you can find more detail. They are just of the sand and what it looks like.



This picture didn't turn out like I had hoped since it is a little blurry but you get the idea. Many people go out on the dune and take pictures of more dunes or of themselves standing in all the white sand. 

 

 

Before leaving the White Sands National Monument I returned to the visitor's center to take off my long johns, both top and bottom that I had been wearing since starting the day. They were getting hot.

Back on the road US 70 turned into US  10/70 and I ran the highway for some distance. While running I pasted a site where all sorts of video and still cameras were setup along the roadway. I had know idea what they were for. Later I saw signs that said a mandatory Boarder Patrol check point was ahead and all had to stop. The cameras were on the other side of the road at the inspection place. When it was my turn to go up to the Border Patrol Officer he only asked if I was a citizen. I answered yes and he said have a good day. That is most curious that we secure our boarders by asking people if they are citizens or not. Now I know there is more to it than that. I bet because I was on a motorcycle and was of Caucasian decent that he let me go. I know profiling isn't supposed to be used but then who knows what protocol they are using to stop people.

After that I was rolling along and felt like a butt break and some coffee. I found a bridge with shade under it and pulled off to take a break.

I know silly me just one more picture of the bike.

 

Finally I came to a sign saying that US 70 turns off US 10 and I took the turn since I want to go into Phoenix from the east instead of following US 10 into Tucson and then traveling north to Phoenix. As soon as I got off I saw a KOA sign and said lets stop now and go with what I know to be a good place to stop. Not like yesterday when I was too silly to stop at a KOA before Roswell New Mexico.

 

Tent site today.

 

Office of the KOA

 

This bunny was right outside the office. I told him to look  at me for a picture and it seems he takes good directions.

 

While setting up my tent the wind was blowing at 14-20 mph. You would be able to win money of AFV (Americas Funniest Videos). I was real proud of myself, I didn't loose my temper once although I did say a few swear words. It was a real task to accomplish. You see the two panels of wind breaks at the tent site, well they were on the wrong side for this wind. Man at the office says it has been blowing bad for three days. I checked out the weather and the wind dies down as the sun goes down. It should also subside tomorrow but then I will be long gone by then.

 

On to Phoenix.

 

TTFN



Day 15

Start mileage 93682
End mileage  93933 - corrected to 93993
Daily mileage 248   - corrected to 308
Total mileage 2958 -  corrected to 3018

Well the evening was interesting. I went to bed it was 83 degrees, I got up it was 42 degrees. The wind was blowing at about 15- 20 miles per hour. I was very comfy and had no issues, until I rolled out and got up around 7:00 am Central time. It was still blowing some, very chilly so I put on my jeans instead of shorts and got  my leatherette jacket for warmth. Did my early morning duties and came out of the john and discovered it was raining slightly. Darn!

Well I had to have breakfast so I pulled out the cereal, peanut butter, rolls, banana and milk. The breakfast food was just as cold as the temp. I cleaned up camp and started to break camp all the while everything was getting rained upon, not severely but  just enough to make me miserable. I decided to put on my leatherette jacket under my yellow riding jacket and put on my rain pants also a thermal shirt for good measure. So off I went leaving Ft Stockton campground behind.

I got on US 285 and headed towards Ft Stockton. I discovered I had to go through town to take this route so decided to stop for gas and then back to Lowes grocery for a few supplies. I found the shampoo but all the bottles were too bid. I really didn't have any room. Leaving Ft Stockton was wet and cold. I rode about 40 miles until I couldn't take the cold any longer. I stopped and got out my electric heated jacket and took off the leatherette one that just wasn't keeping me comfortable. When I started out again with the nice heat from the jacket I noticed it just stopped raining. On we went.

West Texas is flat and has tons of oil wells some pumping and some not. Didn't see much of anything else. The next town was Pecos, TX. In the center of  town they have a big statue of Pecos Bill. I didn't stop to take a picture due to traffic but this guy did.

 

Next stop the New Mexico boarder. New Mexico is in Mountain Time Zone. So I set the clock back one hour on the bike. As I was driving through the Texas country side today I made note that when I started this morning in it was flat, gray and dark. Later it turned into flat, bright gray and some sun.

 

Made it to New Mexico and out of Texas.

 

Just as soon as I drove over the boarder the scenery changed from flat dull scrub to rolling hills and scrub. The oil wells seemed to be more numerous and newer, cleaner and well cared for. All morning in both Texas and New Mexico there were gobs of oil takers running the highways.

 

Finally got to the point I had to leave US  285 and head towards Carlsbad Caverns on US 62/180. The sign said 20 miles to Caverns. When I reached the point of the Caverns I had to turn right onto the side road. That road said seven miles to the Carlsbad Caverns. I thought well I am retired, am in no hurry, and always wanted to see the Carlsbad Caverns so lets just ride on down this road. Well as soon as you start you are going into canyon area. The vistas were gorgeous and the road challenging for a motor cycle. Towards the end of the seven miles you realize you have been climbing the entire time you were on the seven mile road. The wind was overly zealous in its attempts to blow me off the road. The temp was down into the 40's. It was a very less than congenial reception for one who drove so far. Well  I just get no respect.

  

Road to Carlsbad Caverns

 You got to have one with the bike in the picture.

 



There actually is a car way up on the far side.

The sign out front.

 

 

Just some of the sites inside.

The elevator(I chickened out on hiking in) took me down 700+ feet to the cave floor.

It is very quiet down here. Very ethereal.

There is a spot in the cavern called the Dome. It is the highest point in the cave. It is over what is called the bottomless pit. Really it is only 140 ft deep. From Dome to bottom it is some 370 ft or there abouts. Anyway I am standing there in the dark, quiet and stillness of this ancient cave and am looking up while white knuckled holding onto the railing getting exceedingly dizzy. I had to look away and walk away from the railing. It was awesome. 

 



The cave is approximately 600,000 square foot in size. About the length of 16 foot ball fields.

It took me a while to walk the 1.3 mile path around  the Big Room.

 





BTW, when exiting the building I found the wind and temps to be just as uncomfortable as they were when I went in. Silly me to expect any better. I get no respect.

Rode back to US 285 and headed for Roswell NM. The home of  the UFO Research Center.

I pasted this building the first time and went around the block. About every other building had something to sell related to the UFO's. Seems to be a big draw to the town.

Exhibit there.

Rendering of what the landing might have looked like.

Just more exhibits.

I took this picture to show the size of the UFO Research Center. It is not large and there are adjacent rooms of exhibits. I wanted to state that there are many affidavits from people involved in the entire episode of the Roswell aliens  but no substantive proof. Seems the government decide the reporting of UFO's where more of a threat to the public safety than actual aliens. The government did, as the affidavits state) threaten to kill all involved even their children if the spoke of what they knew.

Well I had enough so I got on the bike. I was looking for a campground as it was already 4:00 pm local time. To my chagrin I found nothing. I stopped for gas and was told the next little town down US 70 would probably have something. I started riding on the most beautiful roadway with absolutely gorgeous scenery that I didn't mind that the next town, Hondo, was not 30 but 50 miles away. They had no campgrounds. I thought I ought to call the wife since it was three hours later at home so she would not worry. I told her I over planned and should have stopped before Roswell and the UFO's but here I was out in the middle of nowhere on a beautiful highway that eventually would lead to a motel since it was getting so late and was so cold. I found a Day's Inn in  Ruidoso NM. They have a horse track and  casino so there are motels.

The room is warm, I  turned the heat up. I ate at Jorge's Restaurant and had chimichanga's and lots of hot coffee for supper.

Now blogging and getting ready for a nice hot shower.

Setting out tomorrow heading towards Las Cruces, NM. After that maybe on to Phoenix.

Day 14

Start mileage 93282
End mileage  93682
Daily mileage 346
Total mileage 2653

Woke up early in  San Antonio on a nice warm dry but a little foggy day. It is getting quicker to break camp after having some practice but I still just have enough room in the trailer and now I have to put one or two things into the saddlebag. I must be mindful of space limitations.

It rained in San Antonio Monday night and the mosquitos were a problem last evening and again this morning. I hope it is dryer out in the desert. But then there are the fly's.

Took off on US 10 West again. The traffic was slow getting through and around San Antonio. But after a while I am back on the open highway again. And I mean open highway. I crested a hill and looked ahead and saw nothing but rolling highway as far as I could see. One other thing of interest, once you get away from the cities the speed limit goes up to 80 mph. You can really make time at that speed or a little faster.

As I was running down the highway it felt as if I was getting glassy eyed and was not as alert as I ought to be. I saw a sign for a rest stop just ahead. I pulled in and parked the rig. I found a nice pavilion without anyone using it. It was in the shade and there was a nice breeze. I pulled my wool seat cover off the bike and placed it in front of the wall at the pavilion. I sat down with my jacket, gloves and ear plugs on. It was quiet, shady and breeze, just right for a cat nap. I was only there about 20 minutes but that made all the difference. I got back on the bike refreshed and read to do some more miles.

Running along at 86  mph creates a problem since the gas mileage is not very good. So I stopped in an area called "Ozona" for gas. I noticed there were five or six bikes getting gas or sitting in the shade in the next parking lot. I got a fill up and some ice. I pulled into the shade and asked where they were from? They were all Texans out for a ride. When I told them I was from Pennsylvania and headed to the Pacific Coast Highway several said OH! I want to do that some day. I then told them it was my retirement celebration doing this ride. Several riders shook my hand and congratulated me on retirement. I made my lunch and ate and chatted some. Then I asked if it was ok to take a few pictures. Of course it was ok, Texans are really nice people.

One of the bikes.

One of the bikers.

 



Silly me, while riding along I noticed lots of partially erected electrical towers running as far as the eye can see. But I never stopped to take a picture cause I didn't think of it until I was past them all. I did however start thinking about taking pictures to show you.

I marveled at the highway here. If a hill gets in the road of the road, well just cut it down.

I believe Texas has the most windmills in production in the country. There were all over the hills in West Texas.

Just another view of windmills.

 

While riding along I passed an older Goldwing. I am not sure of the year but it looked something like this.

 

He was motoring along at about 70 and kept it at that pace.

 

I finally got to Ft Stockton, TX. I got off the interstate and drove down the middle of town until I found a Lowes, a local grocery store. Purchased some chicken thighs for supper and some veggies for supper tonight. I was looking for a seasoning to put on my entrée, I had started to get a hankerin for something beside just salt and pepper. I looked at McIhenny pepper sauce but it was just too expensive, especially since I still have two samples left. I did find some Catalina dressing and thought that might make the chicken special tonight. I stopped at the Visitors center to see what this Ft Stockton is all about. Turns out, out here in the middle of nowhere there was an artesian well close by. All the Indians going south or coming back north stopped here for water. The government then decided to protect the well but as time went by the well ran dry since settlers were drilling wells and draining the aquifer of it precious water. The rulings on water rights came about from this issue.

 

Ft Stockton Visitor Center

They make use of Windmills and solar panels here.

I water feature to represent the original Comanche Springs found here. 

You probably can not read this plaque but you might want to look up the Comanche Springs in Google. It is a very interesting area and the history is intriguing

Same way look up The Great Comanche War Trail.

Comanche Indians in silhouette.

Just a church I found here that looked interesting.

 

I was advised at the store to go to the KOA five miles back, I had pasted it on my way into town but had looked it up last evening and it is not a KOA any longer. Reviews were not so hot either but I thought what the heck, travel back and check it out. Turns out it is a Good Sam member now. Still an RV park. Went into the office and the nicest ladies were there to sign me up. It turns out the tenting site is in the yard in front of the office. It is in the shade all the time and I have water and electric. And the office is right here so Wi-Fi and restrooms are really close by. As I am connected and blogging while others in the RV park are not able to get connected. Sucks to be them!

 

That is me at the end of my ride in the 95 degree temps. Believe you me it did not take long until I put on my shorts and sandals.

The perfect campsite.

Office.

Well enough for today. I am looking forward to a nice hot shower and some good grub after my day on the road.

 

BTW, bike is running like a top. It is like the Timex watch just keeps on going and going and going. Thank you Honda!

 

TTFN