Pinhead's Spring Break

[pinhead]

Scene 1:

It's that time of year. The ski season is finally over and, while winter will still be hanging around in the mountains for a while, I just gotta' get some place warmer. Utah? Vegas? Arizona? BTDT. How about New Mexico? Yup, that sounds like a winner.

There appeared to be a weather window today (Easter Sunday) so I decided to go for it. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed to see fresh snow on the ground when I woke up this morning. I took my time packing in order to let the roads thaw a little and hit the road around 10:00 am.

All roads in and out of Gunnison require climbing in elevation so I was a little nervous about what I'd find. I decided to head straight south on SR114 since it only required summiting one mountain pass. Things started off well enough

but the going got rough as I continued to climb.

No big deal. It was all a fun adventure and things got better as I descended and closed in on Saguache, CO.

I was forced to take a 2 hour break in Alamosa CO (which works out to roughly 4 cups of McDonald's "gourmet" coffee) as the slush just got too heavy to push through.

Eventually, the weather eased into a steady drizzle/fog and I was able to get a little sight seeing in. Since it was Easter, I felt obliged to visit the oldest church in Colorado.

This one's for Reno John.

Times is tough in Conejos:

From there it was pretty smooth sailin' into Taos.

(obligatory gorge shot)

All in all it took 7 hours to go ~200 miles, but I'm 200 miles further south than I was this morning. The nice people at the hotel told me to park my bike right up under the awning so it wouldn't get snowed on.

Then they fed me.

And asked if I wanted to go for a swim.

I passed on the swim.

Left to right, here's Juan (bartender), Lori (waitress), and David (local artist). They are the friendliest folks in Taos.

And even on vacation, I get to keep my end-of-the-day ritual alive.

Stay tuned for scene 2.

Dave

 

[Big Shasta]

Awesome.....You just need some chains on that thing and nothing will stop you!

 

[FJRocket]

Sheesh Dave, it's a wonder you can get out of that snow hole this early in the year at all!

Hope you're having a great ride...from the pics, it looks like you are!

Standing by for more!

 

[Bokerfork]

Gunnison huh. My sister from Littleton claims Gunnison is nearly always touted as the coldest place in Colorado if not the entire country. 35F was probably T shirt weather for you. Glad you got out for a bit. I think I'd be tempted to rent storage space in New Mexico and keep the bike there in the winter just so I could get out now and then.

Gorge shots while possibly obligatory, are nonetheless much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[wheatonFJR]

Hey,

What sort of pinhead does this sort of thing?

Well, OUR pinhead of course! :clapping:

Dave, I bet you had some anxious thoughts as you climbed to elevation in the snow ...but it sounds like your adventuring spirit is being rewarded. B)

Thanks for posting up...and continued excellent travels. :yahoo:

 

[pinhead]

Sheesh Dave, it's a wonder you can get out of that snow hole this early in the year at all!

Good to hear from you FJRocket. Hope you're well.

My sister from Littleton claims Gunnison is nearly always touted as the coldest place in Colorado if not the entire country.

I don't think the marketing genius that came up with that campaign works for the Chamber of Commerce anymore. And we relocated the official temperature sensor years ago to a more, um, optimistic location.

Hey,What sort of pinhead does this sort of thing?

Well, OUR pinhead of course! :clapping:

Wheaty, that made me feel all warm inside. Thanks.

The weather decided to cooperate today and I had a really good run on some fun roads. I left Taos and headed toward Red River first. It looked like it would be an interesting place to poke around during the tourist season, but it was pretty much a ghost town today. I was grateful for the lack of traffic though since I’d hate to ride such a wonderful stretch of twisty pavement stuck behind an RV.

Next was Eagle Nest and Eagle Nest Lake. The slopes of Angle Fire are in the distance. (And no, it's not your eyes going bad. My camera seems to have trouble focusing lately.)

Cool old abandoned cabin somewhere near Valle Escondido.

A couple shots that are typical of what I’m seeing in small-town [old] New Mexico. I wish I could remember the town names.

By afternoon, I finally found some temps in the mid sixties as I continued on the back roads to Santa Fe and then Albuquerque. In fact, the temp sensor on the bike actually read 70 once as I was stuck at a long light in Albuquerque traffic.

Desert fruit?

New Mexico sure has a lot of artists. Those people will paint on anything.

From Albuquerque, I went up to San Ysidro, then east to Los Alamos. That road was an absolute hoot. Here’s a bad shot of some cool mineral deposits near Jemez Springs. Damn camera!

I’m in Espanola tonight. We’ll see where tomorrow leads.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I love the adventure of serendipity. Not having a route...is sometimes the best route to go.

 

[1FJR]

Great report, I can not wait to get over the high passes that surround Grand County. I have family that live in Santa Fe and have riden most of those roads that you have been on. Keep meaning to ride up to Jemez Springs as I had heard that road was another good one.

 

[dcarver]

Rock on Pinhead, Rock On!

We don't need no stinkin' 4wd...

 

[pinhead]

Not having a route...is sometimes the best route to go.

Amen brother. I don't get to drive that way in my normal life, but that's the way I like it when I'm on my little bike.

...I can not wait to get over the high passes that surround Grand County.

Hang in there buddy. We've almost made it.

Rock on Pinhead, Rock On!

That means a lot coming from "The Don"

I got an earlier start today and headed toward Ojo Caliente hot springs. I'd heard good things about it and wondered if it'd make a good destination for a romantic getaway for Mtn Mama (my wife) and me. It seemed like a nice spot, but the highlight of that route was the road between there and El Rito.

I'd hoped to eat at the world famous El Farolito restaurant, but I blew through El Rito too early.

Slightly disheartened, I moved on to Abiquiu Reservoir

then to Cuba, NM to take in the must-do El Bruno's Cantina.

From there, I headed north on SR537 to Dulce, then east to Chama. I'd planned on finding a place to stay in Chama, but I didn't really care for what I found. I still had some daylight and the road between there and Taos looked pretty tempting.

Like Colorado, New Mexico can't seem to decide what season it is yet.

Needless to say, I ended up in Taos again.

Mmmmmm, smothered turkey burrito in a whole wheat tortilla and bed time stories.

As a side note, if you ever find yourself in Taos and you like green chiles, try the green chile beer at Este's brew pub. My lips are still burning :dribble: I hope it doesn't burn when I pee in the morning

Dave

 

[worldbound4now]

Great ride reporting. Love taking this ride with you in spirit.

 

[Hamie]

Great pictures....thanks for sharing...

 

[wheatonFJR]

It's easy to take the FJR for granted...enjoy this time out with the FJR...these trips aren't near often enough.

 

[Old Michael]

Pinhead, this is my favorite kind of ride report! You sharing your day's wandering each evening,

no exact schedule, just "heading that way for awhile."

(If you're an art lover, you know that you're not far from Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, etc. - Ansel Adams AND Dr. Rich visited her there in the 30's.)

Call home and tell them you'll be back in November! You have obligations to your forum readers!

Great stuff Dave! Waiting for more.

 

[Tyler]

Great stuff Dave! Waiting for more.

+1 One of the best things that I've found from 2-wheeling are the adventures away from the beaten path... the small towns, the great people (like your new friends in Taos), all the interesting "little" things that make life so fascinating if you stop to notice them. Look forward to the next installment!! :clapping:

 

[beemerdons]

pinhead: Great Ride Report and Photographs! You've joined the elite moto journalists such as OM, Tyler, RJ and dcarver,etc

 

[Dr. Rich]

Excellent report.... You gave us the feeling of being there with you.... Captures the spirit of riding... Great Job Rich

 

[rogdeb]

Nice one Pinhead :clapping: :clapping:

Ridden some of the roads round Taos and Santa Fe a few years ago - just beautiful.

 

[RenoJohn]

GREAT report and thanks for sharing that fun!!!

We got a couple of inches here at the house yesterday, but I think that will be the last of the snow this season .......maybe

Good for you for getting out and enjoying fun on the moto-bike.