• 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!

Adventure in a time of Covid

Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
4,465
Reaction score
1,222
Location
Buda, TX
First Name
Rich
Last Name
Gibbens
AKA: Live, Ride, and Survive with the Furious Five

2020050417544379--3786102259776293324-IMG_0931-L.jpg


P4300004-L.jpg

P4300012-L.jpg


2020050418001780-3339905182469589839-IMG_1024-L.jpg


P5020023_4_5_6_7-L.jpg
 
I have the lock-down blues. Working remotely from my home office...no face to face meetings with clients...just phone calls and emails, which don't take much time each day. I'm going stir crazy. I need to get out and move.

That's when the idea hit me...as long as I have cell phone service and an internet connection, I can work from anywhere. Like New Mexico. Or Arizona. So, I grabbed my map, spent an hour or two thinking about routes, and decided I was going for a ride. I lit up the night with the bat signal and in short order the other members of the Furious Five (JT, Scott, Bob, and Ken) were alerted. We burned up the wires on the bat phone, laying out the plan. At the appointed time we loaded the trucks and headed west for a three day tour of southwestern New Mexico and a little bit of eastern Arizona for some moto-social-distancing therapy. This is our story.

Bob and I, headed to Las Cruces...
2020050417524004--9049111216329853580-IMG_0914-L.jpg


in Bob's pretty red Dodge truck
2020050417524004--8134402928723723976-IMG_0921-L.jpg


Driving west across the flatlands of west Texas is boring. Not much to get excited about. Or take pictures of. Except for this... the reason we call her "Mother Earth".
2020050417524004--5666401549268153544-IMG_0918-L.jpg


After arriving at the Quality Inn in Las Cruces, I went on a beer run. JT and Scott were hours behind us and wouldn't check in until about 11 pm. I knew I would be asleep long before then, so I drank three of the beers and then had the hotel clerk stash the other three in the refrigerator in JT and Scott's room so they could enjoy a cold one upon their arrival.
2020050417544379--4335268769265746713-IMG_0924-L.jpg


The Quality Inn was a nice place. The rooms were quite good, very modern, clean, and comfortable.
2020050417544379-5809090041751548357-IMG_0923-L.jpg


And even better, this place is across the street. Which proved to be a wonderful coincidence the next morning when I could not locate my gloves. Despite searching all my bags, they failed to turn up. Luckily, the shop across the street was open and had a pair that fit well enough.
2020050417525882-5553380771146107560-IMG_0922-L.jpg


There wasn't much to do in Las Cruces as they have the same shelter-in-place rules as Texas. With time on our hands, Bob and I spent a few hours doing this...
2020050417544379-4271003697665116675-IMG_0926-L.jpg


...and this.
2020050417544379-5514811930395382171-IMG_0930-L.jpg


Actually, the gin is Bob's new favorite. I had one small swallow and then stuck with the aforementioned Shiner Bock. Bob drank all the rest and then later claimed the bottle wasn't completely full when he started. I'm not so sure I believe him...

At blue hour I wandered outside to get a dramatic photo of my new-to-me 2015 Suzuki V-Strom 650XT. This is her first long trip with me as the pilot. Bask in the glory of this mighty beast.
2020050417544379--3786102259776293324-IMG_0931-L.jpg


The day was done. Tomorrow our plan was to ride the finest motorcycling roads in southwest New Mexico. I fell asleep to visions of twisty roads and corner carving for hours at a time.
 
Last edited:
Recognize the Bakersfield Exit (aka Mother Earth), I use that exit a lot when working out in that part of Texas, always reminds me that my exit is coming up.
 
Looks fun. And y'all even have y'all's big scary body guard along. LOL.
 
Sounds like a fun trip. Bummed I'm going to miss your NMBDR ride so I'll enjoy your posts from this one.
 
Eagle-eyed readers have likely observed that at this point we are missing Furious #5. Ken's plans included leaving earlier than the rest of us and staying in El Paso a couple of nights, visiting with his daughter. He woke up before the sun and drove to Las Cruces to meet us at 7 am for our first day of riding.
2020050418001780--7641376804174262320-IMG_1029-L.jpg


I have wanted to ride Hwy 191 in Arizona from Morenci to Alpine since I first read a ride report about it (on TWT, if memory serves me correctly) about 15 years ago. I seem to recall the author of that long-forgotten ride report claimed something along the lines of it being one of the finest motorcycling roads in the continental USA. That sounds pretty enticing, doesn't it?

It is, admittedly, a bit unusual for us but our final plan was to ride 90% pavement. We normally have a much higher concentration of dirt when we go off on an adventure. I would be riding my Wee-Strom - a fine choice for twisty pavement but not so great for dirt riding leading me to think pavement-only for this trip. With Hwy 191 tugging at my brain, I used the superb Butler New Mexico map to plot a route that would get us from Las Cruces to Hwy 191 and back on the best paved roads in the area. I did my best to create a tour that minimized non-rated roads and back-tracking (riding the same road twice), criteria which proved to be a little challenging. In the end, I included some easy dirt on day 3 so as to avoid riding a few hours of straight, boring pavement between Reserve and Truth or Consequences, NM, a decision that turned out to be an excellent choice for us. The other members of the Furious Five agreed with my route choices and off we went.

For those who like more details, here is an overview map of our route. The starting and ending point are Las Cruces, NM (lower right corner of the map). The route is color-coordinated by days. Magenta is day 1, green is day 2, and blue is day 3.

Route%20overview-L.jpg


Here is the Butler map we used to plan this ride (I have no affiliation with Butler Maps, I just like them).

nm-g1-v1-front.jpg
 
Last edited:
CC and I first rode 191 when it was still Rt. 666. Wonderful road. Then we went up the adjoining road up New Mexico back up to Alpine, AZ. Stayed there and back down 666 the next day. Didn't get back until 10 years or so later when it became 191. And I think it was sometime in there they moved some of the grave sites in Morenci so they could extend the mine. But don't quote me on that. Sure need to get back to this.
 
I got to Silver City a day early for your Continental Divide Ride in 17 and rode 191 on that Saturday. Definitely a top tier motorcycle road.

Following, may have to copy this at some point, thanks.
 
THAT!.....is a most excellent route ya laid out there...yep. Ive done almost all of it..some parts multiple trips...cept for the unpaved section after Reserve (by myself & rememberin Beemerless Bobs problems a few years back). US191 is a road not to be missed with all its assorted funness & seenery. 78 has some pretty nice sections too...I like how it comes out of the mountains on a jutting plateau...dropping windingly down to 191 for the short run north into Clifton
NM152 from Caballo on I25/187 has some sections equal to twisty bits of 191 in fun factor/landscape...jus not as long... The NM35 & 15 loop is a good one too...especially 15 thru the trees to Pinos Altos. Last time I was out west....coming bac home from our Roaming Wyoming trip....I finally made the turn onto NM27 in Hillsboro takin it down to Nutt. That road had some really fun flips n dips on the section closest to Hboro. 26 into Hatch was just a connector.
&...lest I forget...the River Road NM185/187 running alongside I25...what an unexpected road. Elephant Butte lake loop 195 was a nice diversion near TorC.
A few years before our Wyoming trip MrgreenGenes & I rode up NM52 a bit one blustery evening...mabe as far as Chloride...but we didnt have time for 59 to the end of pavement....I'll go back......


Sent from my LML212VL using Tapatalk
 
Great pics and write up, truly wish I could have been there with you guys. Makes me look forward to the NMBDR ride even more :)
 
For those who like more details, here is an overview map of our route. The starting and ending point are Las Cruces, NM (lower right corner of the map). The route is color-coordinated by days. Magenta is day 1, green is day 2, and blue is day 3.

View attachment 262489

Man, I wish I had known you guys were going. Rsquared, Jfink, and I did almost that exact route a few years ago a few days before the Rubber Chicken Rally based out of ToC. We did make the run up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, which was cool. Just outside Alpine, we cut South along Blue River Road (dirt) to Blue Vista and Pueblo Park Roads, dropping out on US 180 a bit South of the US 180 and NM 12 intersection. It was a really nice section, all dirt, and not bad for the big bikes. Now that stretch between FR 94 and NM 163...? Dry it would be a really nice ride. Just after some nasty thunderstorms that day and the previous day... ? Nothing but miles of SOUPY GOOPY MUD mixed with cow excrement... :puke:
 
191 is the best road we have ever ridden.....Utah 12 comes in a distant 2nd. But 191 is only fun and enjoyable South to North and starting at a decent time in the morning. North to South is tediuous at best....and if you wait until after 12 to start in Alpine the road wears on a body something fierce.

Looking forward to the report and photos.
 
Okay, here we go. The Furious Five have assembled in Las Cruces and the appointed departure hour has arrived. We make the final packing adjustments to our motorcycles and then head north on Hwy 185. It's a cool 55 degrees or so, the sun is shining, traffic is light, and it's going to be a glorious day.

Scott and JT discussing the particulars of the route.
P4300001-L.jpg


One last check of the smartphone before departure.
P4300002-L.jpg


Every year Chuy's restaurants celebrate Hatch chile peppers for about a month. In fact, Chuy's is the only reason I know the term "Hatch chile pepper" or that there is a Hatch, NM. Here's what chilipeppermadness.com says about them, "What are Hatch Chile Peppers? Hatch chile peppers are actually a generic name for New Mexican peppers that are grown and harvested in the Hatch Valley region, New Mexico. Located in the heart of the Rio Grande agricultural territory, Hatch, New Mexico, is often referred to as the Chili Capital of the World." Got that?

For years I was aware of Chuy's celebration but only found out last year what the deal was with Chuy's and Hatch. As I understand it, someone in charge at Chuy's likes Hatch chile peppers a lot and so every year they buy a ton of them. They then add various Hatch peppers items to the menu - Hatch enchiladas, Hatch green chile sauce, Hatch salsa, Hatch tacos, whatever.

With all of that flashing through my head as we entered the town of Hatch, NM, we had to stop for a picture. The next time through here hopefully it won't be during a lockdown, thus giving us time to visit some of the local chile pepper establishments. For this trip, we simply motored slowly into town, turned left on Hwy 26 and continued on our way.
P4300004-L.jpg


Hwy 185 to Hatch is one of Butler's rated roads and it was certainly pleasant enough. But the best riding of the day was definitely ahead. Hwy 26 west took us to Hwy 27 north, which took us to Hwy 152 west to Silver City. The terrain went from the desert of Las Cruces, to the rolling hills along Hwy 27, and then finally into the mountains of the Gila National Forest on Hwy 152, which is where things really got fun and interesting. What a wonderful road!

Our plan was to take 152 west to Hwy 36, then run north to Hwy 15 and on up to the Gila Cliff dwellings, but fuel was an issue. JT's 690 didn't have enough range to make it and we discovered there weren't any gas stations on the route between Hatch and Silver City. So we modified our plan and stayed on Hwy 152 west to Silver City for fuel and food before going to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. Just like the lock-down situation in Texas, the convenience stores are open but the restaurants are take-out only. Lunch was at Wrangler's Bar and Grill. We only indulged in the "grill" part as we have a rule about drinking and riding. We would indulge in the "bar" part at the end of the day's ride.
2020050417544379-7597826314204001843-IMG_0933-L.jpg


If you look closely you can see a bench on the left side of the photo inside the restaurant. There are several more just like it in that foyer area. While the restaurant is closed to indoor dining the staff took pity on us and allowed us to sit on the benches and eat.

Bench seating while waiting for the food. Colonel (Retired) Bob made that dude stand at attention the entire time we were there for wearing his headgear indoors.
2020050417544379-9131763973087889324-IMG_0932-L.jpg


2020050417544379-5947527967483626414-IMG_0936-L.jpg


They had a make-shift ordering area set up at the host station. Bud and Bud light were $1 each with your meal. The giant sodas were also $1 each.
2020050417544379-2310767204116249354-IMG_0934-L.jpg


I'm a fan of club sandwiches.
2020050417544379-3178895698329423425-IMG_0937-L.jpg



Bellies full and bikes topped off, we continued to moto-social-distance leaving Silver City headed for the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
2020050417544379-1843165737861921363-IMG_0939-L.jpg


Ken says, "Let's go, boys. My Lady in Red needs to stretch her legs."
2020050417544379--8905214542383030689-IMG_0938-L.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hurts to sit here at my desk seeing you reprobates having so much fun without me!

FYI, just read that Texas parks to allow camping starting May 18th

 
Forty-five miles north of Silver City, in the heart of the Gila national forest, you will find the Gila Cliff Dwellings. "For thousands of years, groups of nomadic people used the caves of the Gila River as temporary shelter. In the late 1200's, people of the Mogollon Culture decided it would be a good place to call home. They built rooms, crafted pottery and raised children in the cliff dwellings for about twenty years. Then the Mogollon moved on, leaving the walls for us as a glimpse into the past."

Years later, in 1874, Henry Henshaw wrote about the cliff dwellings while conducting geological surveys of the west. In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt designated the dwellings as a national monument to protect them for future generations.

The road from Silver City to the cliff dwellings is not to be missed, a superb motorcycling road known as the Trail of the Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway. It is as good as anything you will ever ride. If you ever pass through this area take the time to ride this road.
2020050417555817-3358153866080401984-IMG_0941-L.jpg


The riding is wonderful and the views aren't bad either.
2020050417570253-3362578221897959761-IMG_0955-L.jpg


2020050417570253-3525846365946160388-IMG_0954-L.jpg


From the parking lot it is less than a mile hike to the cliff dwellings, most of it uphill. Worth it though.
2020050417555817-2217806582530111546-IMG_0948-L.jpg


2020050417555817--8794049077049646872-IMG_0946-L.jpg


2020050417555817-3250292618270130285-IMG_0949-L.jpg


The view looking out from the dwelling. Imagine waking up to this every morning.
2020050417555817-8730955695018745082-IMG_0953-L.jpg


One cool thing about visiting the cliff dwellings is getting to ride the Trail of the Mountain Spirits a second time as you return to Silver City and/or Hwy 152. Back in Silver City we checked into the Comfort Inn hotel for the evening. It was an uneventful evening. We ordered pizza and enjoyed a few cold ones while discussing the day's ride and our enthusiasm about getting to ride Hwy 191 in Arizona tomorrow. I bet by now you are detecting a trend with our evening activities...

2020050417570253-6507851007408771144-IMG_0957-L.jpg
 
Last edited:
We discovered that while the hotels were open, they weren't serving breakfast. They might have a few items you could take back to your room and eat, things like cold cereal or yogurt, but the typical hotel breakfast was not available during the lockdown. Luckily, the drive-through of the McDonalds across the street was open so Scott and I walked over and picked up breakfast for the group. The restaurant was closed for indoor ordering but they were kind enough to let us walk through the drive-through to get food. They even took a selfie with us. :-P Peace!
2020050717350975--4956466946664547105-IMG_3933-L.jpg


2020050717352306--5620523761540770033-IMG_3936-L.jpg



Back at the Comfort Inn we broke the rules and enjoyed breakfast as a group in the breakfast area. Bad boys, bad boys whatcha' gonna do? Break the law, that's what we are gonna do... At least until the staff tells us to disperse. :lol2:
1003020525__6F805ECB-8640-4659-9CBE-C69153693E1D-L.jpg


With breakfast complete, it was time to pack the bikes and head west.

Did you know Bob used to be in a gang. I have always wished I was in a gang so I would know what to do with my hands when having my picture taken. Color me jealous.
2020050417570253--5323321050626091345-IMG_0960-L.jpg


2020050417570253-7456202576119784477-IMG_0963-L.jpg


We made it exactly 1/10 of a mile before our first stop of the day for a water and snack re-supply.
2020050417570253--994561983815356142-IMG_0965-L.jpg


Finally, all our morning chores were done and we were free to ride.
 
Last edited:
Our route today is the main reason I came on this trip. My goal was to capture (ride) Hwy 191 in Arizona from Morenci to Alpine. So many people over the years have told me what an awesome motorcycling road it is and today, finally, I get to scratch it off my bucket list. From Silver City we would ride Hwy 180 west/northwest, hang a left on Hwy 78 and enter Arizona a few miles later. At Three Way we turn right onto Hwy 191 and then it's "game on" for the next 100 miles or so.

Day%202-M.jpg


While Hwy 191 was the main reason for the way we laid out this trip, I have to admit that Highways 180 and 78 were wonderful roads too. Lots of scenery, elevation changes, and, of course, curves and twists. Just the sort of stuff any motorcyclist loves.
2020050417575244-87298673878594942-IMG_0971-L.jpg


2020050417575244-7542158135835072470-IMG_0972-L.jpg


2020050417575244-5757689387700203108-IMG_0974-L.jpg


Indeed, this IS what makes us rich!
2020050417575244--6523529614176440603-IMG_0975-L.jpg


Okay, time for a very candid talk...a talk that we have needed to have for a long time...

Sydney is not a nice person. Everybody knows it too. I've told you this before. Your parents told you the same thing. Your pastor at church advised you to stay away from her. Even your best friend warned you to not get involved with her. But you were blind to our advice...you were too close to the fire...the emotions were too intense...and the truth is, you knew it. So you prayed and asked God for a sign. And he answered...and asked me to show it to you. Here's your sign...Now you know the truth and we don't ever have to talk about it again. You can put this whole sordid Sydney thing in your past. There, don't you feel better, now?
2020050417575244--7319689183375265672-IMG_0976-L.jpg
 
Last edited:
I still try to do 191 and its surrounding roads at least once a year. It will soon be too hot to make the run out there, as I camp. Especially in corona days . 191 has many national forest and blm areas for free or cheap camping. One of my favorite discoveries a couple years back is the free kp cienega a mile off road and totally undiscovered or so it seems.
 

Attachments

  • kp cienega campgd.jpg
    kp cienega campgd.jpg
    588.3 KB · Views: 214
MORE PICS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4292.JPG
    IMG_4292.JPG
    132.8 KB · Views: 225
  • IMG_4293.JPG
    IMG_4293.JPG
    433.1 KB · Views: 221
  • IMG_4297.JPG
    IMG_4297.JPG
    412.7 KB · Views: 215
  • IMG_4300.JPG
    IMG_4300.JPG
    525.7 KB · Views: 213
  • IMG_4301.JPG
    IMG_4301.JPG
    504.9 KB · Views: 211
  • IMG_4303.JPG
    IMG_4303.JPG
    428.6 KB · Views: 205
  • IMG_4304.JPG
    IMG_4304.JPG
    376 KB · Views: 212
  • IMG_4305.JPG
    IMG_4305.JPG
    443.2 KB · Views: 216
PICS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4306.JPG
    IMG_4306.JPG
    470.5 KB · Views: 199
  • IMG_4307.JPG
    IMG_4307.JPG
    559 KB · Views: 206
  • IMG_4308.JPG
    IMG_4308.JPG
    350.7 KB · Views: 208
  • IMG_4309.JPG
    IMG_4309.JPG
    694.1 KB · Views: 201
  • IMG_4310.JPG
    IMG_4310.JPG
    308.4 KB · Views: 201
  • IMG_4311.JPG
    IMG_4311.JPG
    438.3 KB · Views: 207
  • IMG_4312.JPG
    IMG_4312.JPG
    436.6 KB · Views: 210
  • IMG_4313.JPG
    IMG_4313.JPG
    311.6 KB · Views: 197
PICS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4314.JPG
    IMG_4314.JPG
    434.5 KB · Views: 198
  • IMG_4316.JPG
    IMG_4316.JPG
    684.1 KB · Views: 209
  • IMG_4317.JPG
    IMG_4317.JPG
    642.1 KB · Views: 200
  • IMG_4318.JPG
    IMG_4318.JPG
    468.7 KB · Views: 198
  • IMG_4319.JPG
    IMG_4319.JPG
    755.5 KB · Views: 196
  • IMG_4320.JPG
    IMG_4320.JPG
    276.6 KB · Views: 199
  • IMG_4321.JPG
    IMG_4321.JPG
    559.6 KB · Views: 214
  • IMG_4322.JPG
    IMG_4322.JPG
    580.8 KB · Views: 189
PICS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4323.JPG
    IMG_4323.JPG
    613.3 KB · Views: 177
  • IMG_4324.JPG
    IMG_4324.JPG
    628.6 KB · Views: 168
  • IMG_4325.JPG
    IMG_4325.JPG
    499.8 KB · Views: 170
  • IMG_4326.JPG
    IMG_4326.JPG
    416.5 KB · Views: 171
  • IMG_4327.JPG
    IMG_4327.JPG
    453.6 KB · Views: 165
  • IMG_4328.JPG
    IMG_4328.JPG
    546.4 KB · Views: 166
  • IMG_4331.JPG
    IMG_4331.JPG
    317.5 KB · Views: 171
  • IMG_4332.JPG
    IMG_4332.JPG
    341.6 KB · Views: 154
PICS
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4333.JPG
    IMG_4333.JPG
    698.1 KB · Views: 159
  • IMG_4334.JPG
    IMG_4334.JPG
    421.6 KB · Views: 155
  • IMG_4335.JPG
    IMG_4335.JPG
    877.6 KB · Views: 151
  • IMG_4336.JPG
    IMG_4336.JPG
    514.7 KB · Views: 149
  • IMG_4337.JPG
    IMG_4337.JPG
    568.2 KB · Views: 157
  • IMG_4342.JPG
    IMG_4342.JPG
    315.9 KB · Views: 157
  • IMG_4343.JPG
    IMG_4343.JPG
    268.2 KB · Views: 149
  • IMG_4344.JPG
    IMG_4344.JPG
    665.3 KB · Views: 161
Back
Top