late September trip to the South West. Looking for advice.

[ErikW]

So I am thinking about a late September trip to the West (TX->NM->AZ->?). I live in FL and have spent some time in TX and even a small amount of time in NM but I am a little concerned about the weather/climate. I am also interested in suggestions for routes. I prefer to no back track and do a simple loop. I suspect 300-400 mile days may be a good average. Some days may just be about putting miles behind me (ie FL to TX).

I am already planing to head through TX hill country (mainly the Twisted Sisters). My friend how wants to go wants to head straight to big bend but we disagree on many things. I might just let him do his own thing. I want to spend half a day at Carlsbad Cavern. I suspect that a cool cave would be a welcome change to the long hot days. From that point I am looking to meander to points of interest by taking the southern route out to AZ and then taking the northern routes back. Yap, a big loop.

I am wanting to to take two weeks (16 days) but budgets may be limiting. FL as you may know has pretty consistent weather. I suspect our annual temperature variation is less than some days in NM or AZ.

Please post if you would like to share any suggestions.

 

[Spud]

Since you're going in late September and have 16 days, I'd keep it very open. That's one of my favorite times to ride. It may still be 100+ in all the areas your considering and could be perfect riding weather further north (UT, CO, WY, MT). Hotels are an easy score after the Labor Day weekend, and some nice resort towns go into "off season" pricing.

 

[ErikW]

Does anyone know if I should be concerned about the cold? how about ice on the roads? The elevation is much higher than I am use to and the street view on many roads appear to have snow in the mountains? Perhaps I am being silly.

 

[HotRodZilla]

There won't be ice on any of our roads in September. Its cooling off from high summer temps, but expect it to be hot during the day. Mornings and evenings may be cool, but nothing out of control.

Big bend is gonna be hot. Last time I was there was January or February a year ago, and it was very warm. Its very flat with hardly and trees, but its very scenic in its own way. Almost like being on the moon. The route west along the border will have you within a couple hundred feet of the Mexican border.

Don't know much about riding in Texas, but NM is awesome to ride in September. The mountains will be a little cooler and the colors might be great...Depending on how late September you come.

Red River, Taos, Cloud Croft, Los Alamos, Chama and Angel Fire are all great rides.

 

[Spud]

Does anyone know if I should be concerned about the cold? how about ice on the roads? The elevation is much higher than I am use to and the street view on many roads appear to have snow in the mountains? Perhaps I am being silly.

Riding that time of year, if you're going to be heading up over higher elevations (8000+) you'll need to bring both hot and cold weather gear, all of which you'll use in the same day. You might go from 30's up high in the mornings to 80+ in the valleys...

Snow shouldn't be a concern that time of year--you may see a freak snow shower up high but that early it won't stick to the roads. It's a great time to ride--bugs are mostly gone, as are the people. Plan the high passes for late mornings/mid afternoons. If I were you I'd loop up through UT and hit southern MT, go through WY and head back down through CO...

 

[David 06fjr]

The weather in Arizona can sometime be strange in September hot and cold, but there are a lot of great roads out here and if you are planing to be at here on the weekend I can take you around up north yarnell hill ,Bagdad,Jerome,and Sedona ,Oatman. I have a spare room if you need it.

 

[ErikW]

Spud and HotRodZilla

Thanks for the feed back. I may meed to make some space for some warmer cloths.

Spud,

I like the MT idea. It seems a little aggressive but I will see how things go in the beginning of the trip then decide. Being a FL boy heading that far north and high may bring some surprises; good and bad.

David,

I am not sure when I will hit AZ but I think it be around Wednesday or Thursday but perhaps we will meet up any way. Thanks.

Not that I plan to speed a whole lot but how are the cops? I suspect with the open distances there is not much concern over anything reasonable.

Are there any note worthy road hazards?

Thanks!

 

[garyahouse]

FEAR the heat of the desert. I might STILL be lying on the side of the road trying to suck on a cactus for some kind of liquid if it weren't for AJ's advice to take along a camelback full of ice water (thanks again Zilla). If the desert forcast is 110 or above, consider NOT going. And don't try to outrun the heat at night. I learned that when the daytime temps are 115+, it's likely that the night time temps will hover near 100 as well.

Gary

 

[Spud]

Spud and HotRodZilla
Thanks for the feed back. I may meed to make some space for some warmer cloths.

Spud,

I like the MT idea. It seems a little aggressive but I will see how things go in the beginning of the trip then decide. Being a FL boy heading that far north and high may bring some surprises; good and bad.

David,

I am not sure when I will hit AZ but I think it be around Wednesday or Thursday but perhaps we will meet up any way. Thanks.

Not that I plan to speed a whole lot but how are the cops? I suspect with the open distances there is not much concern over anything reasonable.

Are there any note worthy road hazards?

Thanks!

If you don't want to go too far north, here's some roads I'd suggest you try to work into a loop:

UT Highway 12 from Tropic UT to Torrey...

Also in UT find Kamas (east of Park City). Either 150 or 35 are both exceptional. And UT 191 around Flaming Gorge, south of Rock Springs, WY.

Vernal, UT to Rifle, CO.

HWY 82 in Colorado south from Aspen over Independence Pass...

HWY 131 in northern CO...

As for cops/speed... let's just say there are stretches out here where you can just decide your speed. Just dial it back when you get 5-10 miles from a town. And cops drive everything out here--cars, pickups, SUV's....

 

[NMRoadRunner]

Don't really care where you ride, but do insist you eat at Smitty's Market in Lockhart TX. and riding northern NM in Sept is worth the ride there. We been pretty dry here this year, don/t know what fall colors will look like, whole state may burn down by then. Pray for rain.

 

[ErikW]

Spud,

thanks for list. I will need to look through and research more.

Don't really care where you ride, but do insist you eat at Smitty's Market in Lockhart TX. and riding northern NM in Sept is worth the ride there. We been pretty dry here this year, don/t know what fall colors will look like, whole state may burn down by then. Pray for rain.

NMRoadRunner,

That is awesome. I and two friends have taken a bbq trip for the past few memorial day weekends. These were in a car, not a bike. The first was AL. The second was Kansas City. The third was TX, specifically Lockhart. We just went to the NC and SC. All the bbq was great except NC. I can't get into mincing meat. It was like eating bbq for toothless babies. Top of the list was Kansas City and TX. We went to Blacks and kreuz and Chisholm Trail. Blacks was my favorite while Chisholm Trail was nothing to write home about. We tried to go to Smitty's but were too late. Turns out the closed early that day. My friend who planned the trip was heart broken. I will try to get through there and stop by just because of your suggestion. I can't wait too the trip planner that someone suggested stopping by the resturaunt he missed.

The only friend I think that might go with me is a vegetarian that eats fish and poultry. It may be difficult to get him excited about a place that make sausage and beef food.

later

 

[HotRodZilla]

You can BBQ chicken too!!

 

[HotRodZilla]

Seriously, don't pack too much stuff. If you have a three season jacket, use that, not a mesh. You'll be warm in the the mornings and the vents will be adequate mid day.

I wear a Transition 2 most of the year. Only now is full mesh required. September is an ideal time of year to ride around here and as far north as Wyoming.

Most cops won't bug you for 9 over. 10 might get you stopped and 11+ is risking a ticket; although, you never know.

 

[ErikW]

You can BBQ chicken too!!

I am told that the best bbq chicken is at miss myra's bbq in Birmingham AL. I had pork so I wouldn't know.

The Shed in Ocean Springs is a interesting place to eat on Friday night and their ribs are really good. Usually live blues music. It seems the shed has burned down, destroyed by hurricane etc enough times to sing the blues. BTW, they call it a shed and you can tell why when you get there. When it is destroyed it doesn't take long to rebuild. Tomorrow it is LC Ulmer playing.

 

[ErikW]

Seriously, don't pack too much stuff. If you have a three season jacket, use that, not a mesh. You'll be warm in the the mornings and the vents will be adequate mid day.
I wear a Transition 2 most of the year. Only now is full mesh required. September is an ideal time of year to ride around here and as far north as Wyoming.

Most cops won't bug you for 9 over. 10 might get you stopped and 11+ is risking a ticket; although, you never know.

I have a mesh jacket with Rain liner. I also have a destroyed three layer jacket that I no longer trust the rain liner in. The rain liner failed in 60 degree weather after about 4 hours of rain. It was odd to notice what was water proof now soaking through. I plan to take my mesh jack with rain liner and pull the thermal liner from my other jacket. It is hard for me to find a jacket that fits. I currently use a Joe rocket 3xlt Phoenix. I have some AD1 pants that I don't like but they are water proof and have knee pads but they are hot and take up a lot of space. I am hoping to leave them behind and make it with some kevlar pants and frog togs pants. Maybe I should look for some long underwear but there is no wear in FL to find that stuff not to mention that I am not main stream size. Ok, i stop rambling for now.

thanks

 

[David 06fjr]

When you get down to Arizona look me up my cell number is 602-380-1396 call anytime David.

 

[ErikW]

When you get down to Arizona look me up my cell number is 602-380-1396 call anytime David.

David, Thanks for the sharing. I will try to keep that in mind.

 

[jmdaniel]

If you've already been to Lockhart, try Cooper's in Llano, TX. Very good, and after, you can shoot down Fredericksburg/Kerrville and the Sisters. Gimme a holler when you get to CenTex, if you need more advice.

 

[jcyuhn]

The TX hill country will have comfortable mornings and very warm afternoons in late Sept. If you are already at the sisters, you can drop down to Hwy 90 at Uvalde and head west. The elevation increases as you go west - Alpine, TX is still on the plains, but is at 5K feet elevation. So mornings and evenings will be chilly, but afternoons warm.

Big Bend is much lower in elevation and will still be too hot in late Sept. Figure on daytime highs of at least 100. It's great riding down to the park and along the river to Presidio, but you'd need to move the trip out a month to get reasonable temperatures.