Las Cruces to Carlsbad

Another top days riding at 4000 ft + altitudes and 90 degree heat.
The main stop was the bizarre White Sands National Park ........and Missile range (yes they set off atom bombs here) but amazing nonetheless.  Then off to Cloudcroft a ski resort at 9000 ft , and a 100 mile blast to Carlsbad...with an interesting stop at Artemis where we saw the armed police cars stop and detain a felon in  dramatic style - top entertainment.

Silver City to Las Cruces

Today was the most demanding days riding so far - about 250 miles in all.  We left Silver City to get a picnic lunch at Wal-Mart - which was a good plan!  From there is a 50 mile ride to the Gila Cliff Dwellings in the National Park - but a 2 hour ride as the roads are so twisty with 15 mph signs on most bends - it also climbs up to nearly 8000 ft - one of our group got altitude sickness.  At the park it was a further 1 mile trek up the cliffs to see the caves (with walls) which are up to 2000 years old - its a World Heritage Site - but not really up there with the Pyramids.  The way back down was tougher as some US tax dollars had been well spent on improving a new 35 mile twisty road with huge drops by the side and of course was covered in loose gravel - cue riding at a snails pace - but the scenery and weather were brilliant.
From there it was a 100 mile blast with the sun on our backs through the largest chilli production area in the USA, to our Best Western in Las Cruces.  We have just arrived, and as New Mexico is an "open carry" state  - Gary has armed himself with a mean looking gun - I said he was stupid and he said he would shoot me - guess I lost that one.

Tonight we are going to a historic bar restaurant somewhere where Gary says  - the food is OK but not as good as the historic connotations of the place (Billy the Kid broke out the day before he was due to be hanged) - we shall see........

.....quick update - add mental note - never eat mexican food again.

Caesar Racer Bike No.VI

All ready to go!!

Tombstone & Bisbee AZ

Well the weather has finally turned in our favour and we have left the hail, lightning, thunder, rain and tornadoes well behind.  Today we went to Tombstone and spent a few hours in this historic Wild West town near the border with Mexico.  After we went on a short ride to Bisbee, and stayed in the Copper Queen Hotel which is reputedly haunted  - or at least some Discovery Channel program has been made about it - a nice nihgt and good to stay in a proper town centre and not out on the far reaches of town!

Night out in Thatcher AZ

when we were in Sedona a very nice Hip resort town- everyone asked where we were going - and when we said Thatcher they all said "where?" - Exactly!
Its a one street town in the middle of huge cotton fields, with our large Marriott we stayed in, a Denny's, a Burger King and a couple of local places.  We went to a mexican cafe, which was actually great - good food and very hospitable, but leaving there at 9:00, the town had shut down.  So Gary pulled up his bike got some drink from the back of the van and we sat out side the reception in the warm night having a chat drinking a few beers and listening to Gary's eclectic ipod!

Day 4 - Sedona to Thatcher

Well what a day - started off with expectations of rain all day and we had it plus tornado warnings.  The scenery from Sedona to Flagstaff was superb, despite the rain, and by lunch it all cleared and gradually went from 40 degrees F to well over 90 degrees F - here is a condensed video set to the song I played most on my Streetglide.

Old Route 66

It was really great to get the chance to ride my favourite bit of Route 66 again, the old twisty mountain pass from Oatman to Kingman in Arizona - here is a video - Enjoy.

Day 3 Laughlin to Sedona

Internet is still not great here in Arizona - like the weather - we have had savage thunderstorms with golf sized hail - amazing. The last 50 miles through the mountains to Jerome and Sedona were great - and I will post some pics and video later.

My Fellow Riders

Well there are twelves others and me.  They are in no particular order and not related to the photos - Gary, Gladys, Martin, Fay, Stephen, Janette, Brian, Lesley, Ted, Chris, Dee, & Marjorie.

Leaving Las Vegas

I have made some CD's as a playlist to blast out on my Streetglide, and have will set some of the songs to video of the trip.

Day 2 - Las Vegas to Laughlin

The tour finally got underway yesterday, as the rest of the group picked up their bikes from the Arlen Ness store on Boulder Highway.  We all met properly over breakfast and said hello to those we did not know.  In total there are 9 bikes and 13 of us including Gary our tour guide and Gladys who drives the support vehicle.  All of us have done other tours with Gary and that’s the connection.  Later in this Blog I will find out more about my fellow travellers and post some pics and info!

Anyway amidst threats of heavy thunder we set off to see Hoover Dam, after a nice ride in the sunshine down the Las Vegas Strip. The temperature is about 90 degrees F and so I was wearing jeans and T Shirt, which when the rain started an hour or so later was maybe not the best idea.  It’s the first time I have seen large hail balls coming down and the temperatures is in the 80’s –and yes they hurt – but you soon dry off as you ride at speed in the heat.  These storms caused flash floods and some roads had to be shut, so after a surprisingly nice lunch in Panda Express (like a Chinese McDonalds – “all our food is cooked in 100% Soyabean Oil with no trans-fats and we don’t use MSG”) – we decided to blast the 100 miles or so across the desert and mountains to Laughlin.

Laughlin is a mini-Vegas on the banks of the Colorado river, but like going back in time to the 70’s which is why this post is so late as I couldn’t get any internet!

Today we head to Sedona in AZ via, Oatman, Kingman, and up the mountains to the old mining town of Jerome – from Kingman onwards its all new territory to me and I am really looking forwards to it.

My Road Trips

I am away riding from Las Vegas to Dallas with a group of 12 riders - check out daily progress on www.7agesroadtrips.blogspot.com

Day 1 - Las Vegas

Well its been all of seven weeks since I was last in Las Vegas, and everytime I visit I am excited and apalled in equal measure at its complete excess!
Coming to the USA always seems to be a 36 hour trip by the time you have set off, got the flight checked in adjusted to an 8 hour time difference and had a sleep - this trip was greatly aided by getting a complimentary upgrade to Club - which is always nice.
We are staying in the Hotel Monte Carlo, which is OK but not a patch on the Wynn I stayed in earlier this year - still as a non gambler its all the same really.
Today I picked up my 2009 Streetglide and went for a ride around town and paid a quick vist to the Las Vegas Bikefest which was in the process of winding down. Later I meet my fellow riders and tomorrow we head off on the trip to Dallas - can't wait!  Here is the view from my hotel window, The Monte Carlo and a couple of bikes I liked.

Ready to Start

Fly out at 16:10 on saturday 2nd to Las Vegas for the 2600 mile road trip to Dallas - cant wait