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Well?Squeaky said:
-
Welcome to the Two Wheeled Texans community! 
Feel free to hang out and lurk as long as you like. However, we would like to encourage you to register so that you can join the community and use the numerous features on the site. After registering, don't forget to post up an introduction!
Four Bikers and a Monkey
- Thread starter Squeaky
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24 hours and they are already missing. 
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Missing or lost?txmedic said:24 hours and they are already missing.
Gilk51
2
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Their blog still reads "5 days to go" - should we send out a search party?
Maybe they are still in Houston?
Maybe they are still in Houston?
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Had the post ready to go last night but couldn't get a connection. Tonight we found WiFi, so here it is...
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Day 1
March 25, 2006
Houston, TX to Sonora, TX
“Is that frost on the windshield?”
It was early and it was cold. Not as early as it should have been for the aggressive plan to get out of Texas in one day, but also not as cold as it could have been considering the oddities of the weather in Houston.
“At least it’s sunny,” and that it was. Clear skies and open road awaited the group as we headed west. First stop was the gas station on the corner to top off the tanks and adjust the tire pressure on the now heavily loaded bikes. Breakfast from a gas station is never great, but it’s fast, and easy, and cheap.
Traveling down the freeway, each rider had an issue that warranted a stop. Oddly enough, none thought to pull over before Erik finally made the “over there” hand signal near Luling. Seems nobody wanted to hold up the group with their own issues, not realizing that they would be helping the others out with the stop as well. Gavin had a severely runny nose, Rebecca had left some vent zippers open on her jacket and was freezing, and Deb and Erik were both in pain from their earphones. We topped off the tanks again while we were there, and headed back out with even more determination to get some miles under our belts.
As we hit San Antonio’s city limits, the clock showed 12:01. We’re not making great time, but we should be able to make up for it after lunch. Or so we thought…
Stopped for lunch in Boerne (pronounced Bernie, go figure) at the Flagstop Café. It seems Gavin and Erik had eaten here once before and were pleased with the selection and quality of food.
Spank made it known that he was being tossed around on the back of the bike – enough that his tail and foot were hitting Erik’s rear tire.
We tried to make it up to him by treating him to a big lunch, and some fresh brewed iced tea to wash it down.
![url]](http://[url]http://delusionalone.smugmug.com/photos/61561527-M.jpg[/url])
Erik showing off his woman and his mug of fresh coffee…
Another stop in Junction, TX for some wake-me-up and more go-go- juice, and we concede to failing at our first mission: high-tailing it out of Texas on day one.
We knew it was a stretch goal, but we didn’t make a very valiant effort. Each gas stop took almost an hour, and lunch even longer. To make matters worse, we stopped twice as often as we had planned based on fuel consumption – the smallest tank in the bunch can handle about 175 miles, but we stopped at just under and just over a hundred. Only once did we actually go until Deb’s low fuel indicator came on.
We had to choose between a campsite 8 miles away or 60 miles away. Hmm… we all agreed we wanted to get as far as we could before the sun began to call it quits. We pass through Sonora and arrive in Ozona, but the “campsite” was actually an RV park. New plan – head into the adjoining restaurant to look up some campsites and sit a spell.
Drinks all around, and some toast for Rebecca. The waitress suggested Sonora as the nearest town with a decent campsite. A quick call to the Caverns of Sonora confirmed the availability of a primitive tent site for $11. We were on our way!
Arrived with enough time to set up the tents and hammock in the remaining half hour of daylight, and then we headed up to the store/souvenir shop/tour center. They run guided tours through the caverns every half hour, and we might do that in the morning before we head out. They also make their own fudge, so a sampling was in order. YUM!
As we walked back to our site in the dark, one glance upward revealed one of the reasons we were out here on this trip: the stars. Without all of the city lights polluting the view of the night sky, the most amazing field of astronomical miracles makes itself known. It’s a shame they hide behind all the smog back home – more people might be tempted to see them and enjoy the calm of the country if they knew what the universe had to offer in place of the evening news. (Note: Our feeble attempts at photographing the night sky were useless. You’ll have to take our word for it or get out from behind your computer and come see it for yourself.)
Sleep begins early for weary travelers. Although the mileage wasn’t impressive, it was a good start to our journey. Then again, any day on the road that ends with all of us alive and well sleeping peacefully in our tents is a good day. Might be a good night too, that is if the sheep will stop with all that racket and go to sleep already!
March 25, 2006
Houston, TX to Sonora, TX
“Is that frost on the windshield?”
It was early and it was cold. Not as early as it should have been for the aggressive plan to get out of Texas in one day, but also not as cold as it could have been considering the oddities of the weather in Houston.
“At least it’s sunny,” and that it was. Clear skies and open road awaited the group as we headed west. First stop was the gas station on the corner to top off the tanks and adjust the tire pressure on the now heavily loaded bikes. Breakfast from a gas station is never great, but it’s fast, and easy, and cheap.
Traveling down the freeway, each rider had an issue that warranted a stop. Oddly enough, none thought to pull over before Erik finally made the “over there” hand signal near Luling. Seems nobody wanted to hold up the group with their own issues, not realizing that they would be helping the others out with the stop as well. Gavin had a severely runny nose, Rebecca had left some vent zippers open on her jacket and was freezing, and Deb and Erik were both in pain from their earphones. We topped off the tanks again while we were there, and headed back out with even more determination to get some miles under our belts.
As we hit San Antonio’s city limits, the clock showed 12:01. We’re not making great time, but we should be able to make up for it after lunch. Or so we thought…
Stopped for lunch in Boerne (pronounced Bernie, go figure) at the Flagstop Café. It seems Gavin and Erik had eaten here once before and were pleased with the selection and quality of food.
Spank made it known that he was being tossed around on the back of the bike – enough that his tail and foot were hitting Erik’s rear tire.
We tried to make it up to him by treating him to a big lunch, and some fresh brewed iced tea to wash it down.
Erik showing off his woman and his mug of fresh coffee…
Another stop in Junction, TX for some wake-me-up and more go-go- juice, and we concede to failing at our first mission: high-tailing it out of Texas on day one.
We knew it was a stretch goal, but we didn’t make a very valiant effort. Each gas stop took almost an hour, and lunch even longer. To make matters worse, we stopped twice as often as we had planned based on fuel consumption – the smallest tank in the bunch can handle about 175 miles, but we stopped at just under and just over a hundred. Only once did we actually go until Deb’s low fuel indicator came on.
We had to choose between a campsite 8 miles away or 60 miles away. Hmm… we all agreed we wanted to get as far as we could before the sun began to call it quits. We pass through Sonora and arrive in Ozona, but the “campsite” was actually an RV park. New plan – head into the adjoining restaurant to look up some campsites and sit a spell.
Drinks all around, and some toast for Rebecca. The waitress suggested Sonora as the nearest town with a decent campsite. A quick call to the Caverns of Sonora confirmed the availability of a primitive tent site for $11. We were on our way!
Arrived with enough time to set up the tents and hammock in the remaining half hour of daylight, and then we headed up to the store/souvenir shop/tour center. They run guided tours through the caverns every half hour, and we might do that in the morning before we head out. They also make their own fudge, so a sampling was in order. YUM!
As we walked back to our site in the dark, one glance upward revealed one of the reasons we were out here on this trip: the stars. Without all of the city lights polluting the view of the night sky, the most amazing field of astronomical miracles makes itself known. It’s a shame they hide behind all the smog back home – more people might be tempted to see them and enjoy the calm of the country if they knew what the universe had to offer in place of the evening news. (Note: Our feeble attempts at photographing the night sky were useless. You’ll have to take our word for it or get out from behind your computer and come see it for yourself.)
Sleep begins early for weary travelers. Although the mileage wasn’t impressive, it was a good start to our journey. Then again, any day on the road that ends with all of us alive and well sleeping peacefully in our tents is a good day. Might be a good night too, that is if the sheep will stop with all that racket and go to sleep already!
Last edited:
short report.....how's the monkey? 
mjacks
0
Sounds like you made some good progress for your first day. Doesn't really look like you had any major SNAFU's. Keep it up. 
Tx Ex
0
And no snakes were killed in the making of this film...
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371 miles according to my recreation of your map. You guys could have had pie!
CycleCat
0
Squeaky said:
My grandparents used to have a post card stuck on the fridge that said:
"The sun has riz and the sun has set, and here we is in Texas yet!"
Probably the best way to get out of Texas in a day when coming from Houston is to ride to Louisiana!
you gotta stay on the bike and away from the pie to make miles. This is the two wheeled texans site not the texas pie eaters???
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- Rennick
Gilk51 said:
I thought you were heading up the 'stalking team' dang, did I miss it?
Gilk51
2
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Oh, well, I thought it was Steve (Cruzintexas).Georgiapeach said:
Actually, I have taken a different approach - this is all a scam and those four never got out of Houston - they found a condo somewhere and are busily photo-shopping the ride images from TM's 2005 exploits & ride reports to support their deception. They may venture out to add some legit images but they ain't goin' nowhere! See? It never happened...
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No hoax, just limited wireless access out in the middle of nowhere. Here's the next installment. Thanks for your patience and continued support!
Day 2
March 26, 2006
Sonora, TX to Carlsbad, NM
(sung to the Folgers theme song) “The best part of waking up is Debbie in your bag”, but we’ll have to take Erik’s word on that. He says it wasn’t too cold for him last night because she’s a good conductor of heat. Heat was certainly a good thing – the overnight low temperature tied a record low for this day in history here at a blistering 30 degrees. By midnight, the livestock actually started to quiet down – which helped those of us who were restless and cold and having trouble sleeping.
Sunrise came and went, but the huge globe of fire hadn’t warmed up the air much even a couple of hours later when we finally emerged from our nylon shells. We quickly layered on clothes and got the camp stove fired up to boil some water for breakfast: oatmeal and cocoa. We realized we hadn’t gotten any pictures of the campsite last night, so we snapped a few and then set to the arduous task of packing everything back up and back onto the bikes.
The wind was clearly attempting to have us stay put – it was a hard, steady wind with unpredictable gusts that made packing up tents look more like flying a kite. We finally got it all tethered and hit the road.
First stop, Déjà vu. Ozona – the same gas station that we had stopped at yesterday when trying to find a campsite. This time it was quick – nobody even removed their helmet (which appears to make all the difference in the world between a quick refueling and a break lasting at least a half hour).
Back on the road, the wind was throwing us everywhere. Even at the “calm” spots, it was pushing us steadily enough that the bikes were all leaned over despite riding in a straight line. We arrived in Fort Stockton for some lunch, but we don’t want to hit the local DQ. The GPS says there’s a Mexican restaurant only a mile away, so we head in that direction. La Rosita – small, quaint, and decent food.
The service left a little to be desired, but it was obvious that the locals were catered to more than these funny-looking travelers. Spank enjoyed the chips and salsa (once we got the waitress to bring some, that is).
New Mexico, here we come!
The goats were the demise of Erik’s fuse. Yup, you read that right. Somewhere around Red River Gorge Erik wanted to find out if the goats on the side of the road were “fainting goats”. These are animals that freeze and simply fall over when they hear a sudden noise. They aren’t harmed, just a little dirty. Maybe Erik was being taught a lesson about being mean to them, because the use of his horn (a new one installed just last week) caused the fuse to blow and the loss of not only his horn, but his brake light and turn signals as well.
The horn would have come in handy a half hour later when he was trying to flag down our self appointed fearless leader on our way up into Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We’d entered the park without stopping, but Deb and Erik were soon realizing fuel was low and there was no indication of fuel or camping up this road. Deb and Rebecca both watched and laughed as Erik got right up behind Gavin, waving his arms in the air with exaggerated movements. No sign from Gavin that he saw him. Was his gear blocking his view from his mirrors, or was he simply having too much fun on these twists and turns due to the absence of any twisties the entire ride here?
Not wanting to run out of gas, Deb, Erik, and Rebecca pulled off into a small parking lot for an “exhibit”. Not sure what (specifically) was being exhibited, but the scenery was outstanding.
Gavin eventually came back for us, having reached the end of the road, taking some pictures, and asking someone about camping. We managed to make it back down the hill before running on fumes, and once refueled we headed towards the city of Carlsbad to find a campsite.
Billboards were everywhere promoting hotels and motels, but only two for campsites. The Carlsbad RV Park and Campground with WiFi, an indoor pool, and “family fun”, and the KOA 20 more miles north. We had decided during the planning stages of the trip that we’d be keep it cheap – no fancy hotels, motels only when absolutely necessary, and no KOA due to the price.
The Carlsbad Campground was rustic (to say the least) and was right on a major highway. It was $16.50 a night, but the tent sites were a mere hundred yards from passing cars with no screening.
Despite the low price, we all agreed we’d have to spend a little more than we had planned and we moved on. A quick stop at Autozone for some fuses for Erik and a call to the KOA, and we were back on the road for 20 more miles.
The KOA had a gravel parking lot, but thanks to Deb’s new lowering links it wasn’t much of a hassle. By the end of this trip, we should be pros at maneuvering in less-than-ideal conditions. We chose the “tent village”, which amounted to a grassy area for the tents, gravel parking for the bikes, and a covered area with storage, a picnic table, and electricity. To top it off, there was a grill, a fire pit, and electricity on the site. Clean bathrooms and hot showers, a general store, and friendly staff. It was worth the $40.
The sun was setting and we got the bikes parked, then headed over to the store/restaurant to see what we could muster up for dinner. There had been a pot luck, but it was already over and the banquet room was mostly empty. As it turns out, they had closed the kitchen early because of the pot luck, and we almost decided to order a pizza. Not wanting to wait, we picked up a pack of hot dogs, some buns, and a few sodas. We were going to head back to the campsite and boil them on our stove, but Connie, our lovely KOA hostess, insisted that she boil them up for us in the kitchen. We sat and ate, and as the pot luck was cleaned up we were given the leftovers! Chips and salsa, guacamole, some taquitos, and even some pizza rolls. We didn’t much mind being charity cases.
Got back to the campsite, set the tents up in the dark, then we settled down for a game of Scrabble. Deb ended up winning by only five points, but Spank didn’t really have any good letters to work with.
Settled in for sleep in now-cooler but not quite cold temps. It’s forecasted to get down to 51 degrees, so thermals weren’t necessary.
Day 2
March 26, 2006
Sonora, TX to Carlsbad, NM
(sung to the Folgers theme song) “The best part of waking up is Debbie in your bag”, but we’ll have to take Erik’s word on that. He says it wasn’t too cold for him last night because she’s a good conductor of heat. Heat was certainly a good thing – the overnight low temperature tied a record low for this day in history here at a blistering 30 degrees. By midnight, the livestock actually started to quiet down – which helped those of us who were restless and cold and having trouble sleeping.
Sunrise came and went, but the huge globe of fire hadn’t warmed up the air much even a couple of hours later when we finally emerged from our nylon shells. We quickly layered on clothes and got the camp stove fired up to boil some water for breakfast: oatmeal and cocoa. We realized we hadn’t gotten any pictures of the campsite last night, so we snapped a few and then set to the arduous task of packing everything back up and back onto the bikes.
The wind was clearly attempting to have us stay put – it was a hard, steady wind with unpredictable gusts that made packing up tents look more like flying a kite. We finally got it all tethered and hit the road.
First stop, Déjà vu. Ozona – the same gas station that we had stopped at yesterday when trying to find a campsite. This time it was quick – nobody even removed their helmet (which appears to make all the difference in the world between a quick refueling and a break lasting at least a half hour).
Back on the road, the wind was throwing us everywhere. Even at the “calm” spots, it was pushing us steadily enough that the bikes were all leaned over despite riding in a straight line. We arrived in Fort Stockton for some lunch, but we don’t want to hit the local DQ. The GPS says there’s a Mexican restaurant only a mile away, so we head in that direction. La Rosita – small, quaint, and decent food.
The service left a little to be desired, but it was obvious that the locals were catered to more than these funny-looking travelers. Spank enjoyed the chips and salsa (once we got the waitress to bring some, that is).
New Mexico, here we come!
The goats were the demise of Erik’s fuse. Yup, you read that right. Somewhere around Red River Gorge Erik wanted to find out if the goats on the side of the road were “fainting goats”. These are animals that freeze and simply fall over when they hear a sudden noise. They aren’t harmed, just a little dirty. Maybe Erik was being taught a lesson about being mean to them, because the use of his horn (a new one installed just last week) caused the fuse to blow and the loss of not only his horn, but his brake light and turn signals as well.
The horn would have come in handy a half hour later when he was trying to flag down our self appointed fearless leader on our way up into Carlsbad Caverns National Park. We’d entered the park without stopping, but Deb and Erik were soon realizing fuel was low and there was no indication of fuel or camping up this road. Deb and Rebecca both watched and laughed as Erik got right up behind Gavin, waving his arms in the air with exaggerated movements. No sign from Gavin that he saw him. Was his gear blocking his view from his mirrors, or was he simply having too much fun on these twists and turns due to the absence of any twisties the entire ride here?
Not wanting to run out of gas, Deb, Erik, and Rebecca pulled off into a small parking lot for an “exhibit”. Not sure what (specifically) was being exhibited, but the scenery was outstanding.
Gavin eventually came back for us, having reached the end of the road, taking some pictures, and asking someone about camping. We managed to make it back down the hill before running on fumes, and once refueled we headed towards the city of Carlsbad to find a campsite.
Billboards were everywhere promoting hotels and motels, but only two for campsites. The Carlsbad RV Park and Campground with WiFi, an indoor pool, and “family fun”, and the KOA 20 more miles north. We had decided during the planning stages of the trip that we’d be keep it cheap – no fancy hotels, motels only when absolutely necessary, and no KOA due to the price.
The Carlsbad Campground was rustic (to say the least) and was right on a major highway. It was $16.50 a night, but the tent sites were a mere hundred yards from passing cars with no screening.
Despite the low price, we all agreed we’d have to spend a little more than we had planned and we moved on. A quick stop at Autozone for some fuses for Erik and a call to the KOA, and we were back on the road for 20 more miles.
The KOA had a gravel parking lot, but thanks to Deb’s new lowering links it wasn’t much of a hassle. By the end of this trip, we should be pros at maneuvering in less-than-ideal conditions. We chose the “tent village”, which amounted to a grassy area for the tents, gravel parking for the bikes, and a covered area with storage, a picnic table, and electricity. To top it off, there was a grill, a fire pit, and electricity on the site. Clean bathrooms and hot showers, a general store, and friendly staff. It was worth the $40.
The sun was setting and we got the bikes parked, then headed over to the store/restaurant to see what we could muster up for dinner. There had been a pot luck, but it was already over and the banquet room was mostly empty. As it turns out, they had closed the kitchen early because of the pot luck, and we almost decided to order a pizza. Not wanting to wait, we picked up a pack of hot dogs, some buns, and a few sodas. We were going to head back to the campsite and boil them on our stove, but Connie, our lovely KOA hostess, insisted that she boil them up for us in the kitchen. We sat and ate, and as the pot luck was cleaned up we were given the leftovers! Chips and salsa, guacamole, some taquitos, and even some pizza rolls. We didn’t much mind being charity cases.
Got back to the campsite, set the tents up in the dark, then we settled down for a game of Scrabble. Deb ended up winning by only five points, but Spank didn’t really have any good letters to work with.
Settled in for sleep in now-cooler but not quite cold temps. It’s forecasted to get down to 51 degrees, so thermals weren’t necessary.
CycleCat
0
Sure musta been windy that first night! Poor ol' Spank got blown up in that tree!
You all need to take better care of him!
You all need to take better care of him!
Cherioer
0
CycleCat said:Sure musta been windy that first night! Poor ol' Spank got blown up in that tree!
You all need to take better care of him!
I bet spank was just doing some climbing to get in some exercise before the next days riding.
Can't beat a good climb in the morning.
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They were just following the campground's "Don't feed the bears" guidelines by putting tasty morsels up high.CycleCat said:
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Day 3
March 27, 2006
Carlsbad, NM to Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM
We woke up to the view of beautiful mountains and fresh air.
Now out of Texas, we were in no rush to leave because we had no destination. Oatmeal and some snacks for breakfast, and hot showers provided by the KOA. They were very nice and clean, and had heat lamps over the showers and everything.
Gavin and Erik were able to switch out the blown fuse without any issues, and all was right again in the land of blinkers and brake lights.
Packed back up, we were headed back towards Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Knowing that the walk-through tour was estimated at an hour and a half, we opted to stop for lunch beforehand. We happened upon this – the No Whiner Diner.
The restaurant was Rebecca’s pick. As a child, her parents had made comedic imitations of the classic Saturday Night Live skits “The Whiners”. Whenever the kids got squirmy on road trips, they’d pull out the whiny voice and funny one-liners, but the jokes were often lost on the youngsters. Now older and wiser, Rebecca likes to remember those great times – and what better way than this aptly-named eatery.
The food was great, and we were able to pick up wireless internet in the area. We quickly got the previous day’s entry up on the web for the eagerly awaiting spectators like you.
Spank went for a walk to the playground next door, and found his own iron horse.
Bellies full and a few packs of crackers stowed for later, we saddled up and headed out. Spank decided to hitch a ride with Deb for a change, and later informed her that her right rear blinker was out. What is it with this bunch and lights?
Someone let Erik have control of a camera for the ride over to the caverns, so we have lots of this…
On our way up the winding ribbon of highway, we stopped for some scenic photo ops.
Once atop the mountain, the Caverns awaited. We bought our tickets (only $6, not a bad deal) and headed down 750 feet in the elevator to the labyrinth of caverns below. Expecting high humidity, we were all pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t nearly as bad as a mid-summer day in Houston.
The pictures are too numerous to post in their entirety, so here is a sampling…
After the caverns, we raced the setting sun heading north to Bottomless Lakes State Park.
We won the race, but upon arrival we were faced with a decision – primitive camping ‘over yonder’ for $10 or a site with water and electric (surrounded by RVs) for $14. After a quick recon mission through three inches of pea-sized gravel, Rebecca made the decision that Deb would certainly NOT be traveling through that section. Debbie, the camp hostess, met us at the entrance and helped us decide. The choice was clear – primitive, scenic camping nestled in the hills next to a lake.
We made quick time of tent erection, and pulled the V-Strom closer to the picnic table so as to get some power for the laptop. Bad move on our part. May we present exhibit A:
Little did she know, but when Rebecca tried to unlock her still-mounted saddle bag, the sink hole lying in wait below the side stand decided to give way. Nothing broken, bent, or scratched thanks to the soft dirt, but a large hole in the ground that we would have to watch out for the remainder of our stay.
Bungee cords were used to string up everything from gear to bags to camelbaks. While attempting to get the largest of our lights hung over the picnic table, Rebecca had the misfortune of knocking it off the table, crashing down on the concrete below. Not to worry, electrical tape and duct tape to the rescue! Exhibit B:
Some dehydrated backpacking food was prepped and served, and before anyone could say “whistlebritches”, it was 10:30 local time (which, at some unknown point, changed from Central to Mountain) and time for us to call it quits on day 3.
March 27, 2006
Carlsbad, NM to Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM
We woke up to the view of beautiful mountains and fresh air.
Now out of Texas, we were in no rush to leave because we had no destination. Oatmeal and some snacks for breakfast, and hot showers provided by the KOA. They were very nice and clean, and had heat lamps over the showers and everything.
Gavin and Erik were able to switch out the blown fuse without any issues, and all was right again in the land of blinkers and brake lights.
Packed back up, we were headed back towards Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Knowing that the walk-through tour was estimated at an hour and a half, we opted to stop for lunch beforehand. We happened upon this – the No Whiner Diner.
The restaurant was Rebecca’s pick. As a child, her parents had made comedic imitations of the classic Saturday Night Live skits “The Whiners”. Whenever the kids got squirmy on road trips, they’d pull out the whiny voice and funny one-liners, but the jokes were often lost on the youngsters. Now older and wiser, Rebecca likes to remember those great times – and what better way than this aptly-named eatery.
The food was great, and we were able to pick up wireless internet in the area. We quickly got the previous day’s entry up on the web for the eagerly awaiting spectators like you.
Spank went for a walk to the playground next door, and found his own iron horse.
Bellies full and a few packs of crackers stowed for later, we saddled up and headed out. Spank decided to hitch a ride with Deb for a change, and later informed her that her right rear blinker was out. What is it with this bunch and lights?
Someone let Erik have control of a camera for the ride over to the caverns, so we have lots of this…
On our way up the winding ribbon of highway, we stopped for some scenic photo ops.
Once atop the mountain, the Caverns awaited. We bought our tickets (only $6, not a bad deal) and headed down 750 feet in the elevator to the labyrinth of caverns below. Expecting high humidity, we were all pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t nearly as bad as a mid-summer day in Houston.
The pictures are too numerous to post in their entirety, so here is a sampling…
After the caverns, we raced the setting sun heading north to Bottomless Lakes State Park.
We won the race, but upon arrival we were faced with a decision – primitive camping ‘over yonder’ for $10 or a site with water and electric (surrounded by RVs) for $14. After a quick recon mission through three inches of pea-sized gravel, Rebecca made the decision that Deb would certainly NOT be traveling through that section. Debbie, the camp hostess, met us at the entrance and helped us decide. The choice was clear – primitive, scenic camping nestled in the hills next to a lake.
We made quick time of tent erection, and pulled the V-Strom closer to the picnic table so as to get some power for the laptop. Bad move on our part. May we present exhibit A:
Little did she know, but when Rebecca tried to unlock her still-mounted saddle bag, the sink hole lying in wait below the side stand decided to give way. Nothing broken, bent, or scratched thanks to the soft dirt, but a large hole in the ground that we would have to watch out for the remainder of our stay.
Bungee cords were used to string up everything from gear to bags to camelbaks. While attempting to get the largest of our lights hung over the picnic table, Rebecca had the misfortune of knocking it off the table, crashing down on the concrete below. Not to worry, electrical tape and duct tape to the rescue! Exhibit B:
Some dehydrated backpacking food was prepped and served, and before anyone could say “whistlebritches”, it was 10:30 local time (which, at some unknown point, changed from Central to Mountain) and time for us to call it quits on day 3.
- Joined
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Day 4
March 28, 2006
Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM to Roswell, NM and Back
Waking up and knowing that you don’t have to break camp and pile all of your stuff onto the back of a motorcycle is quite refreshing. Staying another night in this tranquil setting was an easy decision to make, allowing us to spend the day taking in the sights in nearby Roswell.
We all agreed 2-up was the easiest option for the day’s excursion. Before heading into town, we accepted Debbie’s (the camp hostess) invitation from the previous evening to come take a look at the offerings of the New Mexico State Park Visitors Center nearby. She went through a number of displays with us and was very knowledgeable about the park and all of its offerings and history.
She took a special liking to Spank (hopefully Sockette won’t get jealous when she sees this).
She also allowed us the opportunity to charge up the laptop and camera in a wall socket while looking around and then journeying through a scenic eight mile loop through the park. A parking lot with access to an overlook provided ample opportunities for more photos.
Due to the treacherous terrain and Rebecca’s fear of heights, alternate approach methods had to be used to achieve proper photo alignment…
And this was the result:
Riding as a passenger affords more opportunities for photos along the way as well.
Erik and Gavin set to the task of figuring out why Deb’s blinker had gone out. It couldn’t be a fuse, because the front blinker was still operational. After removing the lens and inspecting the bulb, it was determined to be caused by corroded contacts. A few quick scrapes with a pocket knife, and it was good as gold.
With the infamous alien city of Roswell sitting only fifteen miles to the west of the park, we couldn’t resist becoming tourists for an afternoon.
Having received a tip, we headed for Martin’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch in town. Good food at great prices, and friendly service. Couldn’t get WiFi, but we managed a cellular connection to get more pictures uploaded.
The UFO museum offered first-hand accounts of the supposed extraterrestrial crash landing back in 1947. For $2, you get to walk around a collection of affidavits, newspaper clippings, drawings, and maps of debris fields. As if presented in scientific format, there are interactive displays offering a recorded radio broadcast, aerial photos, and eyewitness accounts of all things related to Area 51.
We found convenient parking right next to the John Simpson Chisum statue and across from the local courthouse. We found a city employee working in the plaza and asked if we could take the bikes up onto the walkway to get some photos. “Sure. I designed it, so I guess I can say yes.”
Jim Sexe (pronounced sexy) designed the plaza and base for the statue, and proudly pointed out his name on the plaque when we thought he was pulling our leg. What are the odds?
Jim gave us some ideas of where to go next. He said that about 70 miles west was a loop that would be both scenic and fun to ride. It winds through Lincoln and over to Ruidoso, which he highly recommends adding as a stop on our journey. It’s locals like him that provide this type of inside information that is crucial for our continuing adventure.
Just a half mile down the road, the Roswell McDonalds boasts one of the most outrageous facades for a fast food joint. We sat for a few minutes with a drink and some ice cream, and set a plan in place for dinner that evening.
Another three miles, and we were shopping at Wally World to restock the rations and pick up a few assorted items. We’d all but given up on thrashing tent stakes with rocks, so we splurged and spent $2.97 on a mallet. Spank got to ride in the front of the cart, but he was pretty well behaved and didn’t pull anything off the shelves.
He also made a few friends in the arcade.
As we poked our heads out the door, it was evident that dark clouds had rolled in and the ground was beginning to show signs of a drizzle. We quickly loaded our goodies and our now slightly-damp selves onto the bikes and high-tailed it out of town and back to the seclusion of our campsite.
Ramen noodles and crackers for dinner, some fruit punch to wash it all down, and we set to the arduous task of getting the last two days of memories documented for all to read. As the wind picked up and lightning flashed over the adjacent butte, the guys rigged up a military poncho/tarp to block the gusts. It worked rather well, but as the night progressed the evening bugs began to congregate around the luminous fluorescent (and now duct-taped) light perilously strung above us on a makeshift pulley. Not able to withstand the swarming any longer, they group split up and sealed themselves from the creatures of the night inside their respective tents. Tomorrow shall bring a new city, new sights, and new adventures for Four Bikers and a Monkey.
March 28, 2006
Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM to Roswell, NM and Back
Waking up and knowing that you don’t have to break camp and pile all of your stuff onto the back of a motorcycle is quite refreshing. Staying another night in this tranquil setting was an easy decision to make, allowing us to spend the day taking in the sights in nearby Roswell.
We all agreed 2-up was the easiest option for the day’s excursion. Before heading into town, we accepted Debbie’s (the camp hostess) invitation from the previous evening to come take a look at the offerings of the New Mexico State Park Visitors Center nearby. She went through a number of displays with us and was very knowledgeable about the park and all of its offerings and history.
She took a special liking to Spank (hopefully Sockette won’t get jealous when she sees this).
She also allowed us the opportunity to charge up the laptop and camera in a wall socket while looking around and then journeying through a scenic eight mile loop through the park. A parking lot with access to an overlook provided ample opportunities for more photos.
Due to the treacherous terrain and Rebecca’s fear of heights, alternate approach methods had to be used to achieve proper photo alignment…
And this was the result:
Riding as a passenger affords more opportunities for photos along the way as well.
Erik and Gavin set to the task of figuring out why Deb’s blinker had gone out. It couldn’t be a fuse, because the front blinker was still operational. After removing the lens and inspecting the bulb, it was determined to be caused by corroded contacts. A few quick scrapes with a pocket knife, and it was good as gold.
With the infamous alien city of Roswell sitting only fifteen miles to the west of the park, we couldn’t resist becoming tourists for an afternoon.
Having received a tip, we headed for Martin’s Mexican Restaurant for lunch in town. Good food at great prices, and friendly service. Couldn’t get WiFi, but we managed a cellular connection to get more pictures uploaded.
The UFO museum offered first-hand accounts of the supposed extraterrestrial crash landing back in 1947. For $2, you get to walk around a collection of affidavits, newspaper clippings, drawings, and maps of debris fields. As if presented in scientific format, there are interactive displays offering a recorded radio broadcast, aerial photos, and eyewitness accounts of all things related to Area 51.
We found convenient parking right next to the John Simpson Chisum statue and across from the local courthouse. We found a city employee working in the plaza and asked if we could take the bikes up onto the walkway to get some photos. “Sure. I designed it, so I guess I can say yes.”
Jim Sexe (pronounced sexy) designed the plaza and base for the statue, and proudly pointed out his name on the plaque when we thought he was pulling our leg. What are the odds?
Jim gave us some ideas of where to go next. He said that about 70 miles west was a loop that would be both scenic and fun to ride. It winds through Lincoln and over to Ruidoso, which he highly recommends adding as a stop on our journey. It’s locals like him that provide this type of inside information that is crucial for our continuing adventure.
Just a half mile down the road, the Roswell McDonalds boasts one of the most outrageous facades for a fast food joint. We sat for a few minutes with a drink and some ice cream, and set a plan in place for dinner that evening.
Another three miles, and we were shopping at Wally World to restock the rations and pick up a few assorted items. We’d all but given up on thrashing tent stakes with rocks, so we splurged and spent $2.97 on a mallet. Spank got to ride in the front of the cart, but he was pretty well behaved and didn’t pull anything off the shelves.
He also made a few friends in the arcade.
As we poked our heads out the door, it was evident that dark clouds had rolled in and the ground was beginning to show signs of a drizzle. We quickly loaded our goodies and our now slightly-damp selves onto the bikes and high-tailed it out of town and back to the seclusion of our campsite.
Ramen noodles and crackers for dinner, some fruit punch to wash it all down, and we set to the arduous task of getting the last two days of memories documented for all to read. As the wind picked up and lightning flashed over the adjacent butte, the guys rigged up a military poncho/tarp to block the gusts. It worked rather well, but as the night progressed the evening bugs began to congregate around the luminous fluorescent (and now duct-taped) light perilously strung above us on a makeshift pulley. Not able to withstand the swarming any longer, they group split up and sealed themselves from the creatures of the night inside their respective tents. Tomorrow shall bring a new city, new sights, and new adventures for Four Bikers and a Monkey.
- Joined
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Great Report! Keep it coming. I look forward to catching up every morning when I get to work. Yea, I am at work right now, and sooooo envious!
I went to school in Roswell for two years. What "sights"?
OK, OK, so I was there in 1982-84. Nothing to see then. Sure as heck didn't have a UFO museum
Squeaky said:
I went to school in Roswell for two years. What "sights"?
OK, OK, so I was there in 1982-84. Nothing to see then. Sure as heck didn't have a UFO museum
mjacks
0
Great reports. Sounds like a lot of fun and I wish I could do it right now. 
- Joined
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- Rebecca
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- Reed
Day 5
March 29, 2006
Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM to Ruidoso, NM
The wind had picked up overnight, and it was chilly. Breakfast consisted of pancakes – we managed to get a lower simmer from the camp stove by placing the grill over the flame, providing more space under the pan. We’ve started getting more creative with the meal options, and this “just add water and shake” pancake mix is certainly going to make it back into the mess kit more than a few times before the trip is over.
Deb and Erik made a quick recon ride down to the bath house, and met a father and son team on a Goldwing from Albuquerque. They’d frequented this park on at least a dozen occasions and love coming back. We can certainly see why.
A hot shower was long overdue, even if we had to “mash the button” for more water every thirty seconds. Annoying, but rejuvenating. An electric hand dryer provided the first opportunity for the girls to dry their hair since leaving Houston.
On the road again… I just can’t wait to get on the road again… Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway…
Highway 246 from Roswell to Capitan was a roller coaster of twists and turns amid the hills, and is an absolute must for any motorcyclist visiting this area. We could have done without the gusting wind that seemed to want to push us off the road, but save for a few locals and a gravel truck along the way, we were alone for almost 80 miles of riding heaven.
With the elevation approaching 5,000 ft., the temperature was dropping quickly and we pulled over to don our liners to stay comfortable.
Capitan is the home of Smokey Bear. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!”
Although we’re hoping to eventually find a campsite in an area not under a burn ban, it is clear that the dry conditions and gusty winds make fighting fires almost impossible.
Only a few more miles into town, we found Tom’s BBQ, “Best in the West”.
Suzanne Freeman (a former Houstonian), owner and operator, was there to serve up some great homestyle grub and “Luv Ya Blue” was all she needed to say to spark up old-time football conversation.
She offered up advice on where to spend the night, since some of the local campgrounds were still closed for the winter.
Cobbler and brownies with ice cream toppers were the perfect sweet treat, and then we hit the road again in search of overnight accommodations. Banito Lake Recreation Area was nice and scenic, but the camping area was less than primitive. We sent Erik down the gravel road for recon this time, and he said it was as if they’d stuck a sign into the ground on the side of the road – no table, no grill, nothing.
We made a few phone calls and headed back for town to try some of the local RV parks. Unfortunately, none had available tent camping. The only suggestions we received were for the strip of hotels and motels down near the ski area. With sunlight quickly fading, we conceded to staying in a room for a night and giving the camping gear a rest. Motel 6 offered the best bang for the buck with an indoor pool and hot tub, continental breakfast, and laundry facilities.
Once the bags and gear were nestled in the room, the guys set to the task of plugging in the TV. Now here’s a pair that have their priorities out of whack.
Pizza delivered from Dominoes in 20 minutes, laundry stuffed into the less-than large washing machines, and a few minutes of news and weather got us ready to plan for the next few days. We’d like to make it to four corners within the next two days, but it might be a stretch. The weather looks to be especially cold and windy to the north of us, so we may have to adjust to stay south of the jet stream. Clean, dry clothes feel good against the skin while you fold them in a heated room with cable TV. Ah, the joys of camping….
March 29, 2006
Bottomless Lakes State Park, NM to Ruidoso, NM
The wind had picked up overnight, and it was chilly. Breakfast consisted of pancakes – we managed to get a lower simmer from the camp stove by placing the grill over the flame, providing more space under the pan. We’ve started getting more creative with the meal options, and this “just add water and shake” pancake mix is certainly going to make it back into the mess kit more than a few times before the trip is over.
Deb and Erik made a quick recon ride down to the bath house, and met a father and son team on a Goldwing from Albuquerque. They’d frequented this park on at least a dozen occasions and love coming back. We can certainly see why.
A hot shower was long overdue, even if we had to “mash the button” for more water every thirty seconds. Annoying, but rejuvenating. An electric hand dryer provided the first opportunity for the girls to dry their hair since leaving Houston.
On the road again… I just can’t wait to get on the road again… Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway…
Highway 246 from Roswell to Capitan was a roller coaster of twists and turns amid the hills, and is an absolute must for any motorcyclist visiting this area. We could have done without the gusting wind that seemed to want to push us off the road, but save for a few locals and a gravel truck along the way, we were alone for almost 80 miles of riding heaven.
With the elevation approaching 5,000 ft., the temperature was dropping quickly and we pulled over to don our liners to stay comfortable.
Capitan is the home of Smokey Bear. “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!”
Although we’re hoping to eventually find a campsite in an area not under a burn ban, it is clear that the dry conditions and gusty winds make fighting fires almost impossible.
Only a few more miles into town, we found Tom’s BBQ, “Best in the West”.
Suzanne Freeman (a former Houstonian), owner and operator, was there to serve up some great homestyle grub and “Luv Ya Blue” was all she needed to say to spark up old-time football conversation.
She offered up advice on where to spend the night, since some of the local campgrounds were still closed for the winter.
Cobbler and brownies with ice cream toppers were the perfect sweet treat, and then we hit the road again in search of overnight accommodations. Banito Lake Recreation Area was nice and scenic, but the camping area was less than primitive. We sent Erik down the gravel road for recon this time, and he said it was as if they’d stuck a sign into the ground on the side of the road – no table, no grill, nothing.
We made a few phone calls and headed back for town to try some of the local RV parks. Unfortunately, none had available tent camping. The only suggestions we received were for the strip of hotels and motels down near the ski area. With sunlight quickly fading, we conceded to staying in a room for a night and giving the camping gear a rest. Motel 6 offered the best bang for the buck with an indoor pool and hot tub, continental breakfast, and laundry facilities.
Once the bags and gear were nestled in the room, the guys set to the task of plugging in the TV. Now here’s a pair that have their priorities out of whack.
Pizza delivered from Dominoes in 20 minutes, laundry stuffed into the less-than large washing machines, and a few minutes of news and weather got us ready to plan for the next few days. We’d like to make it to four corners within the next two days, but it might be a stretch. The weather looks to be especially cold and windy to the north of us, so we may have to adjust to stay south of the jet stream. Clean, dry clothes feel good against the skin while you fold them in a heated room with cable TV. Ah, the joys of camping….