Day thirteen.
The goal today was to try and stay in the nice cool forested poritions shown on the map as we traveled in the general direction of Texas. Our first road would be the only recycled road we did. All others were new to us.
I felt bad that we didn't stop in Cloudcroft on our way west some 10 days prior. It looked like a neat place to spend some time. So on this day we decided we'd shoot for Cloudcroft as our final destination.
Leaving Eagar we enterd the National Forest. We'd figured out a route that would keep us in the woods and cool for a while. We took 180/191 south toward Alpine. The trees were a little sparse leaving Eager but filled in nicely by the time we reached Alpine.
Traveling to Alpine.
Things are getting more fun.
Getting close to Alpine now.
Coming into Alpine (elevation 8046 ft) looking to the south. The Devils Backbone (191) climbs into those hills.
At Alpine we turned east and stayed on 180 when 180/191 split.
Looking south again in the direction of 191.
One thing I noticed on this trip concerning the forests. I don't know if they do controlled burns or what but there was very little old growth type debris on the ground (and the trees are spread far apart). Made them look very clean.
An example off of 180.
A few pictures of 180. Very nice road with plenty of sweeping curves and elevation changes.
I was enjoying 180 quite a bit however our route had us turning left on 12 and riding through Reserve.
Very pleasant with little traffic and great weather. A few from 12.
If we stayed on 12 east we'd end up at Datil on 60. But we'd break out of the forest to quick. We instead turned north on 32 at Apache Junction. 32 would take us over the Gallo Mountains and eventually over to 60 where we lost the forest.
We stopped at Apache Junction for a few minutes to strecth our legs. They have pretty much anything you could need in that little store and a nice lady running it.
Well except for gas.
This was interesting. Not sure what the story is behind it but lets leave the Arizona type politics out of it.
12 was another nice road (redundant I know) that skirted the canyon floor until climbing up, out and over the Escondido Mountain nearby (9854 ft.).
12.
Just a little more climbing. But fun climbing.
On top.
I thought I was on top.
Getting closer to Quemado and 60
At 60 we turned east. One surprise stop for Kathleen (shush, don't tell her) on our way to Socorro.
Any self respecting TWT'er would do the same thing. Stop in Pie Town (near the Continental Divide)!
There are two restaurants in town. The Pietown Pie Cafe and the Daily Pie Cafe. I'd heard good things about both and wasn't sure which one to go to. It was an easy decision after driving by.
I chose the Daily Pie becuse of the sign out front. I still have no shame.
And Kathleen after having her arm twisted a little.
A plug.
Apparently the prices are subject to change.
We both had a piece of Cherry.
Then we shared the New Mexican Apple Pie. If I remember right, it's your standard apple pie but with Green Chili and Pinon Nuts. Pretty tasty.
Shortly after Pie Town things heated up and the trees went away. Oh yeah, the wind was back too. I thought that was a last week thing.
Just a couple from 60.
Luckily back at the cafe I had the foresight to put tin foil over both our helmets. Can't be to careful around Socorro you know. (Didn't see Jodi Foster either)
From this point the winds were semi-brutal and temp rose to 95 by the time we got into Socorro. From there we turned south for a few miles on I-25 until getting off at San Antonio/380 (read no picutures here). 380 took us through Carrizozo (now 97 degrees) on our way to 37. At 37/48 we turned south towards Ruidoso in hopes of cooler temps and twistier roads.
Coming into Ruidoso and life was getting good again.
I'd been to Ruidoso once about 25 years ago skiing and didn't remember it very well.
I was surprised riding through that it covered so much ground. Finding a room looked like it would be easy too. We learned later that some type of poker run or something had started in Cloudcroft and ended in Ruidoso. There we (mostly) Harley's everwhere. It was packed (and loud) there. I'm not so much a lifestyle kind of guy so we were happy to keep going.
Leaving Ruidoso we took 244 to Cloudcroft. Nice road that got even more fun close to Cloudcroft. It was also a nice treat on 244 to come out of a corner for a change, on this trip, in front of law enforcement, and not have him flash all his lights at me to slow down.
Taking a break on 244.
We got to Cloudcroft and found a room at the hotel right on Main Street. Got settled in and even managed to hold down a stool at the Western Bar for a little bit before consuming a nice Mexican dinner.
Other than that hot and windy part in the middle it was a good day. 387 miles.
Google maps link.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...d=113583176119480680152.00048814ae44319a5e07c
There will be one last short installment.
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) the night before and told them we'd like a 4x4 tour of the canyon in the morning. They'd handle the details and 8:30 am was the earliest tour. That sounded great. After the standard three hour tour we could log a few miles in the general direction of Texas before nightfall. 
Whoops not this road!
Some years back, I led a group trip through those same areas and roads, but in the reverse order you did it. Zion, Bryce and Hwy 12/24 were big hits with everyone, as was 191 between Clifton and Alpine! We spent the last few days of our trip in SW Colorado though. I love that whole area. We also got into some of those insane winds, often making it extremely hard to keep the bike in our lane. We stayed at Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell and the Ranger at the entry gate told us they had been getting sustained 50+mph winds all day 
In fact, I never finished the report you may have used to plan your trip for exactly that reason. After losing a BIG section of it, I just was spent and could not get motivated to rewrite what I had lost and finish it. After our time in Utah, which is where I left off, we hooked up with some Triumph folks in Montrose, Colorado for an awesome weekend rally. I've never made it back to that part of Utah again unfortunately, but I have been back out to SW Colorado, Northern NM, and Arizona again. 
This is perhaps one of my most recent "big" reports, pure adventure 
