Rally the troops for the next great trip! New Mexico and Arizona bound!
Who is in, “Easy G”, “Roadrunner”, “Redi Doug”, “Dorm Lady”, “Taz Tim” and myself. Departure date, Thursday May 22. Meet at Isaacs in Junction. After a full belly, time to roll west.
I-10 through Sonora and Ozona. We cut off up through Crane and Odessa. What a large mistake! Hot and not much to see. At Odessa we turn left to Kermit, Kermit to Jal, New Mexico. The armpit of the world! Never make this mistake again! Nothing but oil tankers running 50 mph. No place to pass! Trys your patience! After what seems forever we make Carlsbad. Travel north to Artesia. Connect with hwy 82 and travel west. We go from flat lands to rolling hills then mountains. Run through Mayhill, use to stop here years back. Back in the days of the bike rally in Ruidoso.
On to Cloudcroft for the evening! Brewery and eatery right across the street from the motel. How convenient. Cold brew and some food hit the spot. After a few brews time to make it across the street to the upper deck patio. Great view of the traffic coming into town and a good place to unwind and discuss the days travels. After a few crowns, time for some rest.
Next morning, it’s time for the descent down the mountain. A great ride down with several pull-out areas. Gas in Alamogordo. On through the White Sands area. Incredible white sand! At Las Cruces connect with I-25 and head north. Run to Hatch. Stop at Sparkys in Hatch for a burger. After our fill, time to move onward. Catch hwy 26 to Nutt, turn right on hwy 27 to Hillsboro. We pass the spot where “Roadrunner” went down a few years back. Always mindful of what can happen!
Make our usual stop at Percha Creek, The creek is dry as a bone. This area has been hit extremely hard in the last few years’ after a cold cerveza, time to move along. We catch hwy 35 to Gila Cliff Dwellings. We arrive at the cliff dwellings at 4 minutes after 4, guess what they close the park at 4! You’re kidding me! No entrance! Well about 4 hours of travel for nothing. Well maybe not! The scenery is great! I cant believe they are not open till 5pm.
We make our way down the winding road back to Silver City. I am in the back, The rest of the crew likes to run faster than I! No problem, I will catch up! I round one of the curves, Redi Doug is laid over on the edge of the road. He is trying to pick up the bike. “Hold on I am coming” Another
guy stops in a truck and helps us stand it up. Just a skinned elbow, could have been much worse.
We fire it up and continue on to Silver City. We caught the rest of the bunch at the hotel. We checked into the hotel and walked down the street to the brewery and eatery. We find out that there’s a blues festival the next day in town. Live music is happening tonight at the brewery. Getting me warmed up for tomorrow!
Next morning, the rest of the crew head west to the old route #666. Except “Redi Doug”. His shoulder is hurting! Hes going home. I am sticking around for some music! Everybody leaves around 8 am. The music venue doesn’t open until 10 am. Got to kill some time! More coffee and donuts!
10 am finally arrives, what a nice venue! Green grass and a lot of shade trees. A pavilion sits in the center of the park. A very pleasant sitting! The music begins at 11am, the opening act was super! Sounded like Bonnie Raitt. It was hard to leave this place, every act was better than the last. Got to leave by 3:30 pm or I can’t make Pine Top before dark.
I pull out around 330 going west on hwy 180. The rest of the crew is in Arizona by now. I continue up hwy 180 through Alpine. Lot of mountainous area around Alpine. A lot of elk in the area. I come out of the winding curves in to a straight away just south of Eagar. I smell burning rubber, not a good sign! I pull over, my rear tire is almost flat! Its getting late, want to get to town before dark.
A couple stop to assist. He has a plugging kit but no compressor. Meantime another guy stops with a compressor. We plug the hole, but there is about 3, one is on the side wall, not good. Try to plug it but it will not hold. The kid says I got a trailer in town I will go get it! Wow, what good people!
He comes back in 30 or 40 minutes. We load it up and head to Eagar. In the meantime, the boys have a wrecker coming to take me to Pine Top. The wrecker meets me at the Best Western hotel in Eagar. We load it up and head to the 9 Pines motel in Pine Top. The guys are waiting in the parking lot when we arrive. Unload the bike, by this time it is dark. Its Saturday night on the Memorial Day Weekend. Guess what , nothing will be opening until Tuesday morning.
I called all the bike shops in the area, nobody has a tire. I talked with some local bikers, maybe Jeremy at a local shop has a used one! I called Jeremy Tuesday morning. I got a used one that might get you home. Meanwhile nothing for my crew to do, they continue on their trip. I am Busted with a flat in Pine Top.
When we first arrived we met Danny, he does maintenance at the motel. He tried to hook me up with a guy that could repair the tire. I didn’t feel good about repairing a tire on the side wall. Danny borrowed a trailer to haul me two blocks to the repair shop. Thanks Danny! Over and above the call of duty! Got the bike delivered to Jeremy, 2 hours or so later got it installed. Tire still had plenty of tread on the tire. Want to thank Jaime and Danny for all they did for me! I will definitely stop again at the 9 pines motel in Pine Top.
I wanted to try and make Silver City before dark, but it was just too late in the day. Went to Springerville and got a room. Food and drink next door all good!
After a good nights rest, its time for the journey home. I hit hwy 60 east towards Pie Town, and on to Socorro down to Carrizozo towards Roswell. Grab a quick bite to eat in Capitan. I hear a noise in the front wheel area. Maybe a wheel bearing? Have it checked at the local harley dealer in Roswell. They said front tire was loose and rubbing on the disk? Hard to believe the axle nut was loose! Anyway torked everything down. I am on my way again. Continue east on hwy 380,through Tatum. Make to Brownfield down to Lemesa. Stop and call Don in Big Spring. He says come on down you got a place to stay. Thats great, we meet on the outskirts of town and go to the eagles for a cold one. As luck would have it, they had a full spread of food. Fajitas, rice, beans, the works, good timing I guess. After a few and meeting few people off to Dons place. After a night cap off to bed.
Next morning, Don heads to work and I head south. Its been an interesting trip, got to try the patience a bit! Everyone made it home safely, thats always a good thing. I found out on this trip there is still some good people out there! People were friendly and courteous!
Like I always say live life to the hilt you never know when its your last trip!
RIDE FREE AND RIDE OFTEN
DAD
0 Comments