| Author |
Message |
    
Buellnick
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 05:29 pm: | 
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Ther are plenty of hotels to choose from... The Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort is on the high end but its a nice place to stay (been there a couple of times). There are of course the typical chain hotels; quaint motels; and cabins - I have not been to any of these so I need to do some research.
J2Blue - you've got quite a ride from CO to Southern NM... |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 05:41 pm: |
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OK - I tried to add the PM ride on the first day and it did not create an active link...
Basically, the 11 Oct PM ride is centered around Ruidoso including Fort Stanton (now a State Park), Lincoln (famous spot of the Lincoln County Wars), Rt380, Rt 70, and some good short runs in the immediate vicinity of Ruidoso.
BADWEB just doesn't like the route link around Ruidoso for reasons unknown... |
J2blue
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 06:16 pm: |
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Nick, I just checked rates for Comfort and Quality Inns in both Ruidoso and Alamogordo. The cheapest is of course down in Alamogordo at the Quality Inn: $76.00/night 2 double beds.
It isn't too far for me to drive down there with the bike. Heck, I might even want to camp in the Valley of Fires State Park. That is where I went the first time I ever came out West. If I can I'll stay in downtown Ruidoso wherever y'all do.
Does the trip to Cloudcroft include a stop by the solar observatory? |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - 10:57 pm: |
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Well, I'm out in Atlanta now and not really looking at the route cards yet. But it all sounds pretty good. I'll have to check to be sure I can get away then with work and wife and wallet (or as I like to call it, the "NO" trifecta). Keep you posted. |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 12:57 am: |
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Sunspot is a mandatory stop...its on the map.
I'm basing out of Ruidoso. The fun part of the ride is in the mountains.
CJ...you will have fun...hope you dont hit the negative trifecta.
(Message edited by Buellnick on September 18, 2008) |
J2blue
| | Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008 - 02:15 pm: |
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I'll probably book a room in the Quality Inn of Ruidoso, unless one of you find a really good deal elsewhere. I hope it's possible to actually get in to the solar observatory the day we are there. |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 02:54 am: |
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The observatory will probably be closed on a Sunday. The site is accessible and its a great view of the valley below...
Not sure where I want to stay. I may just stay at the Inn of the Mountain Gods since the wife has never stayed there. |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 02:56 am: |
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CJ, What's going on with you? You gonna go?
Did you check out the routes? |
J2blue
| | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 10:24 am: |
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I'll enjoy it no matter what. |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2008 - 02:50 pm: |
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I just got back from the annual ASIS show in Atlanta, so I haven't been able to check on things yet. I'm back to work tomorrow and will know more. I do have a new course that I'm teaching at UOP that starts today and runs for five consecutive Monday nights. I'm hoping that doesn't foul me up. |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 09:56 pm: |
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It doesn't look like it's going to happen. I have somehow managed to get the planets aligned against this little endeavor. First, I have to work on Saturday. Then, I'm the lector in church on Sunday, then I have school on Monday.
So... you see how this is going. |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - 10:40 pm: |
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ok CJ - I understand... So far, J2Blue is interested. Murrae indicated he might be interested but I haven't heard back from him about this. Two other riders (work friends) are still interested. No matter... the train will still leave on Saturday. |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 10:32 am: |
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I hope you all have fun. I doubt I can get three changes made, but we'll see... |
J2blue
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 11:52 am: |
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CJ, is your brother-in-law going? It would be good to split the cost of the room with him. |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 03:54 pm: |
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Unfortunately, he's working across all those days. |
Daschunk
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 - 06:42 pm: |
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I would have liked to go, but I don't have any PTO left what so ever. I'll hopefully be doing a few more rides next season. |
J2blue
| | Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008 - 01:08 am: |
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Ah that sucks. Time to get fired so you can have more time. No, no, just kidding. |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 01:24 am: |
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I'm going to have to change my schedule for the Sacramento Mountains trip...now looking at a 10/10/08 departure. |
J2blue
| | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 07:47 pm: |
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Hey Nick, the tenth is Friday, do you mean you will depart Albuquerque headed to the mountains that day? |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 08:57 pm: |
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That's the new plan. The reason is a long story. |
J2blue
| | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2008 - 09:06 pm: |
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No problem, but the big fun will be on Saturday, right? |
J2blue
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 07, 2008 - 08:09 pm: |
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Hey Nick,
I just got back from 7 days on the road that included my first track day down in Vegas last Thursday. I'm pooped! Is it a problem in any way if I cancel myself for this weekends trip you guys have planned? |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 08, 2008 - 11:52 pm: |
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J2blue,
Fine - OK. Sorry I didn't get back sooner. I've also had to make some changes to my plans due to work issues. Maybe some other time. I understand.
I have to go see some folks down south so the routes are a bit different. |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 10:13 am: |
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So, Nick... how was it?? Did you guys get wet? |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 03:06 pm: |
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The ride south on Friday was beautiful and uneventful. We took I25 to 380 through Ruidoso. We stopped at the Inn of the Mountain Gods for lunch (nice place) and continued on through the mountain roads to Cloudcroft to Alamogordo and Holloman AFB.
Saturday had some early morning scattered sprinkles through the mountains but all in all it was a good ride. The roads are in great shape, filled with plenty of twisties from sweepers to switchbacks. We visited Sunspot (it was open and it now has a musueum and gift shop) and then looped out to Mayhill and back to Cloudcroft. The Lodge had a good lunch. I had a close call with a cow on the road...this cow was not intimidated by a motorcycle, horn, and engine revs... she and others just looked at me while she blocked the road. It took about five minutes to get the small herd to move off the road... Saturday turned out better than I expected given the Hurricane Norbert weather that was moving through parts of NM.
It rained early morning on Sunday so by the time we were underway, we had to deal with damp patches through the mountain roads. We went back through Ruidoso for lunch (Michelinas Italian - excellent) and continued on to Fort Stanton and Lincoln. Lincoln was 82F and sunny... After we passed Capitan, we started to get pushed around by a Norbert crosswind - Id say it was over 25Mph gusting. We opted for the northerly route up Rt54 - a drone but we did excellent gas mileage with that kind of wind at our backs... After Willard, NM, we worked our way to Mountainaire and onto 55/337 and came back through Tijeras.
All in all - a great ride - 795 Miles.
The Sac Mountains are fun - we should do this next season as a group overnight ride. Its too late this year as temps in Cloudcroft are now routinely dipping into the 30s.
Short answer... We didn ot get too wet. |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 06:03 pm: |
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Sounds like fun. I'll have to check it out. |
Daschunk
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - 06:58 pm: |
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Agreed, I wish I could have made it.
Maybe next time. |
Buellnick
| | Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 - 09:58 pm: |
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Pure Luck...Not my turn...
I pulled into one of the two turn lanes (the left one) on Tramway to get on I-25. I thought about switching to the right hand lane but I didn't... Traffic in both lanes was stopped. An old RV (the driver was apparently drunk or distracted) proceeded to impact the pick-up truck stopped slightly ahead and in the lane next to me.
I thought about being sandwiched in that impact and it would have been ugly...
Be vigilant and check your six... |
Ghostrider
| | Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 - 11:31 pm: |
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Wow... lucky miss.
Did you guys know the hours changed at Santa Fe Harley? Did you know that service is closed on Sundays? Did you know that the shop is going to start being closed completely on Sundays and Mondays? Neither did I.
Ed had a minor issue with his TT last night when he went to fuel up and his gas cap fell apart into many pieces. Luckily, he was nearby to my house.
Today, while he was at work, I took his bike up to SFHD to drop it off for a scheduled 5K service this week and to get the gas cap issue resolved. I knew it wouldn't be worked on today, and only sought to drop it off. Little did I know that dropping a bike off at a shop would be such an ordeal. It took a half hour and a full on argument between me and someone who I assume is some sort of manager. Not because it wasn't my bike, but because they are not capable of checking bikes in without an authentic service department employee on the premises. One more nail in the SFHD customer service coffin. Apparently, they don't operate under the philosophy of empowering their employees to do what it takes to serve the customer. |
Bartimus
| | Posted on Sunday, October 19, 2008 - 11:44 pm: |
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Ask NOT what your service department can do for YOU, but what can YOU do FOR them...
Welcome to SFHD, please stand in line, lower your pants, and bend over...
Thank You,
That will be $785.98 please!!! |
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