SPRING FEVER 2011 - DAY 2

SUNDAY- APRIL 24, 2011

The day started with breakfast at the IHOP.  The omlett I had was so pathetic that I didn't even bother to take a picture.  We headed out of Midland on TX 191 to Kermit where we took a short break before heading north on TX 18.  This morning was sunny and fairly cool, with the tempatures in the upper 50's to lower 60's.

We drove north to Jal, NM where we took a left and headed to Carlsbad, NM.  Beleive it or not I had to make a quick stop at a Walmart to pick up a computer mouse.  I forgot mine at home, and I hate the touch pad on this little computer.  I guess it wouldn't be a trip if you didn't stop at Wally World.

WIND GENERATORS ON HIGHWAY 191

WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO

SOME MORE OF NEW MEXICO

STILL IN NEW MEXICO, BUT THE SCENERY IS GETTING BETTER

The above picture was taken near the intersection of US Highway 82 and NM 24.  We were on the way to Cloud Croft, and decided to take a bit of a detour on 24.  There was a pull out near the intersection so we decided to take a break.  The wind was really blowing today and we were taking a pretty good beating.

When we were getting back on the bikes when Chuck called out that someone had lost their teeth.  I turned around and saw on the ground a set of dentures.  We started laughing about it until Bill yelled out that he think they are his.  Turns out they were, and that is when we really started laughing.  It appears that Bill occasionally takes his upper partial dentures out because they bother him on occasion.  He puts them in his coat pocket and they must have fell out of his jacket pocket when he was getting something else out of his pocket.  Of course we stayed on him all day about this.

NM 24 turned out to be a great ride.  Very scenic and it was worth the detour.  We eventually made it to Cloud Croft and then down into Alamogordo, NM.  It was time for a late lunch so we went to the Alamo Grill, a place where I have eaten before.  It was a great lunch, and while there, we decided since it was still a bit early to take a ride out to White Sands National Monument to take a look at the blowing sand.

I have driven by White Sands many of times, but have never stopped to take a look.  It turns out this is the last day where you can get into the National Parks for free.  The road back into the park is 8 miles long, but only the first 4 is paved.  We went to where the pavement stopped and you could see how the wind had the sand blowing.  It was pretty neat riding through the white dunes.

After checking out the dunes we headed back into Alamogordo to check into our motel.  We stayed at a place where I have stayed before, properly named the White Sands Motel.  A small place with clean rooms and decent room prices.

Tomorrow we head to Alpine, AZ via some of the best motorcycling roads in the US.