A ride in the Sacramento Mountains near Ruidoso, NM on the V7 III (updated 9/30)

[twowheeladdict]

So a pull into the "Inn of the Mountain Gods" to reconnoiter and decide where I want to ride today. 

All of a sudden I look up and see a Moto Guzzi California Custom stopped and the guy is checking out my Carbon.  I walk over and he introduces himself and he has an accent so I ask him where he is from.  Italy!  He is hear working at the resort and bought the bike in El Paso.  We didn't get to talk long or take photos because he had family visiting and needed to get to them.  Before he left me he told me that I had to ride up the road to Ski Apache.  That road wasn't even on my route plan but I thought I had better check it out.

Sure glad I did!

Got in almost 90 miles of great mountain riding.  The V7 is every bit as fun to ride as my FZ-07 was.  I am impressed with this Moto Guzzi!

Here is the route with the addition of the road to Ski Apache.
 

A close up of the road to Ski Apache.  Nice winding road up the mountain.


Some shots of the bike and the background along the way up the mountain.




Yes, that is some rain off in the distance. 


Temps dropped 10 degrees at 10,000 feet compared to 6000 feet at the Inn.

[Guzzi Gal]

I love that little town!  We have friends that have a house there and we've always enjoyed visiting.

[john fish]

Great pictures, thanks.  Looks like the perfect bike for that area.

[roadscum]

Hmmmm, nice pictures and looks like great riding roads. I wanta be there! 

Paul

[MMRanch]

Thanks for the pictures … they made me drool   

Especially that second one of the map !     
………….…………………………………..

 

[Vagrant]

I missed this one when I was up in the area. Good excuse to go back. it's a keep the gas tank full area if I recall.

[twowheeladdict]

I missed this one when I was up in the area. Good excuse to go back. it's a keep the gas tank full area if I recall.

When you see gas, you get gas.  There are some 180 miles stretches between fuel stops.

[twowheeladdict]

Today I had the day off and headed for the mountains on the Carbon.  Beautiful day.  Great roads.  Amazing Scenery.  Crazy temperature changes that had me adding and removing layers based on elevations from 4300 to 10,000 feet.


Route 130 in the Sacramento Mountains.


View of White Sands National Monument.


The Tullarosa Basin.


Riding down Fresnal Canyon Road. 






Maybe I should have bought a Rough.  LOL!








The sign outside of Pistachioland store.  I had to flip the photo to be able to read the sign.

[twowheeladdict]

Sunday I ventured out earlier so I stayed in the valley until after lunch since the mountains were in the 40s and 50s while the valley started out on the high 60s.

I decided to go in search of what I consider cool backdrops for photos of my Carbon.  I think a few turned out pretty good.


A business in Tularosa, NM





Downtown Carrizozo, NM


Valley of Fires park.

After lunch of Green Chili and Cheese Burritos and Peach Tea I started climbing in elevation for the cooler temps.

Climbing out of Nogal, NM on 37.


Mescalero Lake at the Inn of the Mountain Gods


Overlooking Alamogordo, NM


Nelson's National Forest consisting of '1' tree and it is dead.


Looking up at the Sacramento Mountains from Alamogordo


There has been an almost daily threat of afternoon rain coming off the mountains.

[Cross-tie Walker]

Nice. I used to ride my Honda 750 up there every chance I could to get great Mexican Food at a local dive when I was stationed at Holoman AFB near Alamogordo in the 70's.
Thanks for the memories!

[twowheeladdict]

Nice. I used to ride my Honda 750 up there every chance I could to get great Mexican Food at a local dive when I was stationed at Holoman AFB near Alamogordo in the 70's.
Thanks for the memories!

My pleasure!  Tonight I dined on Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas with an egg on top the way the locals eat it.  Hatch green chilies are amazing!





When I asked the local guys where the best place to get Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas they all said "CJ's Si Senor".

When I asked the local ladies, they said "in my house."  Unfortunately, I didn't get an invite to dine in their houses so I ate at CJ's Si Senor.  LOL!

[lti_57]

Thanks for the memories
I grew up in El Paso and use to camp and hang out in Ruidoso and Cloudcroft all the time.
Had our Honeymoon at Inn of the Mountain Gods  back in the day

[alanp]

Beautiful pics and report.  Thanks for sharing. 

[Dharma Bum]

That brings up fond memories of my first motorcycle excursion into New Mexico.  In September of 1997 I attended a regional water conference that was held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.  I left Vail at noon on a Friday on my VX800 and rode as far as Espanola for the evening.  Got up early on Saturday and had breakfast at a Farmers Market in the Railroad District of Santa Fe, then a long hot slog down the road to Roswell to spend the evening with my BIL and SIL.  I remember stopping in at someone's house for a cold drink of water somewhere out in the flat area of NM., just a sign in his driveway offering cold drinks to travelers.  I rode to the Inn on Sunday, attended the conference for three days and "played hooky" on Tuesday to ride over to the Lincoln County Courthouse.  I wandered about the museum for about an hour, soaking in the history, never saw a soul the whole time I was in it. Wednesday afternoon I took off for Vail, stopping in Taos at Michael's Kitchen along the way, and spent the evening in Alamosa.  It was a wonderful introduction to the Land of Enchantment.

[twowheeladdict]

Got in one last ride before heading for home.

Found another mural for a photo opportunity.



Then headed over to White Sands National Monument and took a ride back into the sands.



The closest I have ever been to a Stealth Fighter.



This scene is what many people back east picture when you mention "out west". 



The road up to Dog Canyon.



Took a shortcut.  The Guzzi did well crossing the dry washes along this road.



Ended the ride with a Green Chili and Pecan Sundae at Calichi's Frozen Custard.

[Cross-tie Walker]

Two Wheel
That T-38 and F-4 were what I worked on when I was there. Just as I was leaving they were getting in F-15s...(No display of that?) then the Stealthy guy in the background.  I hear now they are pretty much a drone oriented base.

[Gustavo]

Are you based in Alamogordo?  I remember riding back in the summer from rides up to Sunspot across the basin back to Las Cruces.  I'd fill up my 'Stitch pockets with ice and it'd be gone, bone dry, 20 minutes from leaving the gas station... 

Now you have to go the other direction, over the Emory Pass to Silver City before the road gets icy.

Gustavo

[twowheeladdict]

Are you based in Alamogordo?  I remember riding back in the summer from rides up to Sunspot across the basin back to Las Cruces.  I'd fill up my 'Stitch pockets with ice and it'd be gone, bone dry, 20 minutes from leaving the gas station... 

Now you have to go the other direction, over the Emory Pass to Silver City before the road gets icy.

Gustavo

Tennessee.  Hauled the bike out there on a long work trip.  I will take the dry heat there over the humid heat here.  The ice in your pocket will still melt but you are left with a warm puddle.

[twowheeladdict]

Two Wheel
That T-38 and F-4 were what I worked on when I was there. Just as I was leaving they were getting in F-15s...(No display of that?) then the Stealthy guy in the background.  I hear now they are pretty much a drone oriented base.

Here is another angle.