Day 14

Cloudcroft, NM to Springerville, AZ:

White Sands National Monument, Gila Cave Dwellers

Original images here.

Woke up after a tossing and turning night. Not sure why I didn't sleep well, it was nice and cool out and I usually sleep really well in the tent. Who knows? Anyway, I packed up the campsite and headed into town for some breakfast. I found a nice little coffee house with WiFi, so I camped out for a while and uploaded pics and enjoyed a nice egg breakfast. On the road by 9:00am I made my way down 82 towards White Sands (if you look closely, the white at the top of the picture is White Sands). It was a very quick drop and a lot of fun in the morning. Found this marker on the way down. I arrived at White Sands right at 10am, which was pretty much perfect since the dunes were closed until 9:30am for a test. The sands were really, really cool. I don't know how to describe them, just lots and lots of sand everywhere, with kids sliding down the dunes on saucers. Here are a number of pictures of the sand: Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7. Oh, and you think it is hot where you are? That ain't nothing. After loading up on water, I was on my way.

I then continued along 70 into Las Cruces then jumped on I-25 to get me to 152. I followed 152 into Hillsboro where I stopped to gas up and get some lunch at the General Store Cafe. Great burger! After lunch I continued on on 152. This road ROCKED! I needed a cigarette at the end of it, and I don't smoke. It just carved through the mountains. Awesome! Then I cut off onto 35 where I passed by the Continental Divide. At a scenic view at about 7500ft I stopped to take in the view, and was surprised at what I saw. Forest fires off in the distance. Other than that, the view was great. At the end of 35 I turned onto 15. Another great road. 1st and 2nd gear the whole way up and down! I took that all the way to the Gila Cave Dwellings. Pretty cool. I walked around there for a good hour. As I was making my way out, something really odd happened. I could hear a distant roar that just got louder and louder. I stopped and looked and could see trees off in the distance start to move. The roar got louder and louder still, and then the wind hit. As fast as it moved it, it was gone. Odd.

I left the Gila National Park (great roads, all of them, put on your must ride list) by following 15 all the way out to Silver City. Then I took 180 up to 78 and cut into Arizona. Wow, another fantastic road with spectacular views. Pictures just do not do it justice. The I made my way to 191 north. It was starting to get late, but I figured I could push on no problem. Just be a slightly late night. As I made my was up 191 I came to Morenci, AZ where I came across the biggest mine I had ever seen! It just went on and on, and on! It is the Phelps Dodge copper mine.

After the mine 191 is just FANTASTIC. I mean, wow. I did however run into a heard, a heard of cows at one point. This was one of the best riding days ever. The roads were just fantastic. As I made my way up 191 the sun was just starting to set. The views were breathtaking. The sun threw my shadow on the cliff walls to my right, so it was like I was riding with someone. Awesome. As I rode on it started to get darker and darker. I started to think pushing on was not the best idea. It then got dark. Ever ridden twisties in the dark? Not fun. I tried to make time, and at one point came up on a BIG foooking buck right in the middle of the road. He towered over me. On the brakes hard and he moved off. That was just the first of 5 deer I saw. Whoa. I finally made it to Springerville around 9:30p, found the first nice hotel, and crashed. Very, very tired.

Ending mileage:	72786
Starting mileage:	72257
Miles for day:	529
Total:	4572

	Woke up after a tossing and turning night. Not sure why I didn't sleep well, it was nice and cool out and I usually sleep really well in the tent. Who knows? Anyway, I packed up the campsite and headed into town for some breakfast. I found a nice little coffee house with WiFi, so I camped out for a while and uploaded pics and enjoyed a nice egg breakfast. On the road by 9:00am I made my way down 82 towards White Sands (if you look closely, the white at the top of the picture is White Sands). It was a very quick drop and a lot of fun in the morning. Found this marker on the way down. I arrived at White Sands right at 10am, which was pretty much perfect since the dunes were closed until 9:30am for a test. The sands were really, really cool. I don't know how to describe them, just lots and lots of sand everywhere, with kids sliding down the dunes on saucers. Here are a number of pictures of the sand: Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7. Oh, and you think it is hot where you are? That ain't nothing. After loading up on water, I was on my way.
	I then continued along 70 into Las Cruces then jumped on I-25 to get me to 152. I followed 152 into Hillsboro where I stopped to gas up and get some lunch at the General Store Cafe. Great burger! After lunch I continued on on 152. This road ROCKED! I needed a cigarette at the end of it, and I don't smoke. It just carved through the mountains. Awesome! Then I cut off onto 35 where I passed by the Continental Divide. At a scenic view at about 7500ft I stopped to take in the view, and was surprised at what I saw. Forest fires off in the distance. Other than that, the view was great. At the end of 35 I turned onto 15. Another great road. 1st and 2nd gear the whole way up and down! I took that all the way to the Gila Cave Dwellings. Pretty cool. I walked around there for a good hour. As I was making my way out, something really odd happened. I could hear a distant roar that just got louder and louder. I stopped and looked and could see trees off in the distance start to move. The roar got louder and louder still, and then the wind hit. As fast as it moved it, it was gone. Odd.
	I left the Gila National Park (great roads, all of them, put on your must ride list) by following 15 all the way out to Silver City. Then I took 180 up to 78 and cut into Arizona. Wow, another fantastic road with spectacular views. Pictures just do not do it justice. The I made my way to 191 north. It was starting to get late, but I figured I could push on no problem. Just be a slightly late night. As I made my was up 191 I came to Morenci, AZ where I came across the biggest mine I had ever seen! It just went on and on, and on! It is the Phelps Dodge copper mine.
	After the mine 191 is just FANTASTIC. I mean, wow. I did however run into a heard, a heard of cows at one point. This was one of the best riding days ever. The roads were just fantastic. As I made my way up 191 the sun was just starting to set. The views were breathtaking. The sun threw my shadow on the cliff walls to my right, so it was like I was riding with someone. Awesome. As I rode on it started to get darker and darker. I started to think pushing on was not the best idea. It then got dark. Ever ridden twisties in the dark? Not fun. I tried to make time, and at one point came up on a BIG foooking buck right in the middle of the road. He towered over me. On the brakes hard and he moved off. That was just the first of 5 deer I saw. Whoa. I finally made it to Springerville around 9:30p, found the first nice hotel, and crashed. Very, very tired.