KRATZMC

Friday Sept 30th, 2010

I always enjoy Day 2, as it means a fresh change of underwear for Day 3. I awoke at 0815 hrs without the aid of the alarm and was quickly showered and packed and on the road in 30 minutes. I decided to forgo the complimentary breakfast and would eat and top of with fuel somewhere down the road. With 350 miles to cover, I would have plenty of time to stop and see some sights. I would also gain and hour back as I entered New Mexico into the Mountain Time Zone.

I rode back into Post from the Motel and took Hwy 380 West with the next way point of Roswell, 180 miles away. There is a coffee shop on Main St just a block away from the UFO Museum. I thought I would take my morning “Cup of Joe” there and relax a bit. It was something to look forward to. This section of Hwy 380 to New Mexico is pretty boring, unless you like looking at flat farmland and agricultural equipment.The weather was cool 74 degrees and the skies a clear blue, dotted with clouds. There was very little traffic and I only passed one RV and Semi-Truck as I worked my way out of Texas.

I rode 84 Miles to Plains, Tx before decided to top of with fuel and grab a bit to eat at a Allsup’s Convenience Store. I hadn’t seen anything appetizing during the last hour and a half so I looked in the  Allsup’s goody bin. Typical fare prepared daily, is usually Corn Dogs, Hot Links, Chicken Strips, Burritos and Breakfast Sandwiches. Usually they aren’t very good but at times when you are hungry, they can look like Filet Mignons. Their Burritos are usually dry especially if they sit in the warmer all day long. Since it was fairly early in the day, I was hoping for a jewel. Always one for a square meal, I picked up a Beef N Bean Burrito for Protein and Fiber, a Corn Dog for Nitrates & Carbohydrates and a V-8 for my Veggies.

At times dinning Al Fresco in a disabled phone booth while standing in the parking lot of a Convenience Store can’t be beat. The Corn Dog was stale but the Burrito was chock full of Lava like goodness. Would there be a price to pay later? Its all part of the adventure and life on the road.

With a time bomb in my gut and full fuel tank, I continued West on Hwy 380. Unbeknown to me I had quickly crossed into New Mexico, missing my photo op at the State Welcome sign. I continued on and happened upon a roadside memorial. These personal memorials are usually placed by friends and families for those loved ones lost in a roadside accident. This one was unusual, as it consisted and several hard hats. I could only surmise that there was more than one death at this particular location.

The Hard Hats are being used by small birds who have built their nests in them.

I continued onto Roswell and I envisioned sitting along the sidewalk Cafe drinking my Joe and watching the world go by. As I entered Roswell, I immediately noted my Cafe was out of business! With my dreams of sipping Coffee and relaxing in the open air shattered,  I took a quick picture of the UFO Museum which I’ve been to three times prior, topped off with fuel and headed back on the road. If you are unfamiliar with the Roswell Incident you need to get out more.

Here is the “Alleged” Crash Site, where authorities recovered an Alien Craft and its occupants and took the remnants to Wright Patterson AFB and the later to Area 51, where Alien Technology was studied and used to kill President Kennedy…yada, yada, yada.

From Roswell on Hwy 380 and around Roswell are former Atlas Missile Sites/Silos. I looked into purchasing one before retiring, as they had been put up for sale for pennies on the dollar. The 14 to 30 acres sites cost Millions of dollars in the 60’s and were selling for 250k. Some folks have done home conversions of the Silos. West of Roswell at the Lincoln County Line, I had explored my way into one a few years back and posted pictures here on my site.

This is the Silo I peered into a few years back. It stands about 300 yards from the road behind a chain link fence. It was purchased by a Media Storage company. There was a vehicle near the open blast doors, so I took this photo from Hwy 380. Don’t forget you can click on the photos to enlarge!

After farting around Roswell, I continued West on Hwy 380. As you get 30 miles west of Roswell into Lincoln County, the road becomes more pleasurable and you begin to see trees and curves! With nice sweepers and clean surfaces, this is one of my favorite stretches of road as you enter the Lincoln National Forest and Lincoln County Historic District. This is the home of Smokey Bear and the stomping grounds of Billy the Kid. If you are a Western History Buff, this area is a must see!

At one of the Gift Galleries in Hondo, NM just before Hwy 380 veers towards Carrizozo at the fork with Hwy 70.

The Lincoln County Courthouse and Court Room.

I reached Lincoln, NM and decided to see the Lincoln County Courthouse. This was the scene of Billy the Kids last jail break and where he shot two Deputies. The whole town is a Museum and the cost is $5. You start at the Courthouse and then to the various other sites in town. John Tunstall’s store, Office of Sheriff Pat Garrett, also where the Regulators earned their claim to fame.

Bullet hole in the wall of the Courthouse made by Billy the Kid and the Torreon (Defensive Structure built for protection from Native Americans)

After my walking tour it was down the road to Capitan, NM for lunch at the Smokey Bear Restaurant. Just before you reach Capitan is a marker to show where the Smokey Bear was rescued as a Cub and became an Icon I remembered as a kid. I arrived just in time as the local High School Pep Parade started and blocked the road for a half an hour. The Restaurant always has home cooked specials which I recommend. I chose their Stew and a Salad. The Stew was a little watery but the beef melted in my mouth.

Smokey Bear Museum and Grave and the Capitan High School Parade.

Smokey Bear Restaurant and the Beef Stew Special.

With 100 miles to go to Soccorro and the Parade dissipated I continued west to Carrizozo. As you go west on Hwy 380 and just past Carrizozo, you will come upon the Valley of the Fires Recreational area, a vast landscape of Lava Flows. From Carrizozo to I-25 the road is open and I have never seen a LEO on it. It has been rumored that I have rode that stretch at speeds in the triple digits for more than 25 minutes at a stretch. So its rumored.

On Hwy 380 half way between Carrizozo and I-25 is a Rock Shop, literally in the middle of nowhere. On a map it would be near Adobe Ranch or Bingham. I like Fossils and Rocks, so for the past five years I have stopped there to find no one in attendance. Still and item on my Bucket List, I worked my way there.

The Rock Shop is the only place in the World that I know of that sells Trinitite. I have two samples of Trinitite in my collection at home and as far as I know, it is the rarest substances on earth. Trinitite can only be found at one place and was made in a single instant in time…the site of the first Atomic Blast, the Trinity Site.  As I rolled up to the Rock Shop, I saw the “OPEN” flags flying and a car in the lot so I pulled in.

The Rock Shop on Hwy 380. There are large specimens on display outside. You have to ring the bell for the owner to come out and let you see the good stuff inside.

After ringing the bell, the owner Allison came out. I told her I had been stopping by for the last five years to find no one there. We both know some mutual acquaintances in Carrizozo, Tom and Elise who owned the Burger Joint at the intersection of Hwy 380 and 54. Allison informed me that Tom and Elise sold the place, and that its not worth going to anymore. Oh well, things gotta change.

Allison and I enjoyed some pleasant conversation before we went into her shop which was full of rocks, minerals and goodies. My main focus was to get another piece of Trinitite for my collection. Retail prices start at $30 per gram if you can find it. Allison showed me some samples and pointed out a particular piece with air pockets and bubbles. It weighed over 3 grams and with some quick finger flicking on the calculator gave me a price. Allison gaive me a discount for being a Military Veteran and the sale made us both happy. If you are into things Geological, its as good a shop as I have seen and I have seen a few. It is probably the most remote store in the United States that I have ever been to, which makes it unique.

Allison Nilsen, Owner Operator of the Blanchard Rock Shop, 3 miles from the middle of nowhere.

I bid Allison goodbye and then made my way towards Soccorro. A few miles down the road  is the Stallion Gate to the White Sands Missile Range and a Historical Marker for the Trinity Site. This coming weekend is unique in that it is one of only two weekends a year (May/Oct) Visitors can actually visit the blast Site. The range is still active for weapons testing, so for security reasons access is restricted.

My new piece of Trinitite and the Historical Marker. Behind the first telephone pole to the right of the marker you will see a mountain peak. The Atomic blast took place at the base of that peak.

I went to the Trinity Site 4 years ago. At the gate you are checked and even searched and then you must follow an escort at a speed of 25 MPH for 25 miles. You are closely watched from portable guard towers erected for the visitations. Removal on Trinitite from the grounds is a Federal Offense. If you go to Albuquerque, you can also visit the Atomic Museum. It is a fascinating place with many displays and information that will knock your socks off. Its another place to put on your Bucket List.

With all the Touristy stuff out of my system, I made it the last 42 miles to Soccorro. I got a room at the Best Western and noted a Gold Wing from Ohio in the lot with a Uni-go trailer like mine. I hung around the parking lot to kick tires with the owner but he must have been napping. Maybe I will see him at the Rally or at breakfast.

Soccorro is a jumping off point for many of New Mexico’s sites and is about an hour and a half south of Albuquerque on I-25 and 52 miles from Los Lunas, where I have to be tomorrow. From Soccorro you can visit the Very Large Array, which are the giant radio antenna’s you may have seen in the Movie “Contact”.

For dinner, I usually go to one of two places in Soccorro. One is a Chinese Restaurant at the south end of town which has some Filipino dishes, my favorite being Pork Adobo. I don’t know the name, I just know where it is. The other place I like is a Semi-Chain K-Bob’s right near the Motel. Unless someone tells me different, K-Bobs is the only place I know in town to get a good steak and their mash potatoes with brown gravy are fav’s of mine.

K-Bob’s 10 ounce Ribeye, salad bar, two sides, roll and drink for $20.48 after tax.

Today I was able to have a relaxing ride, stop and see many things having to cover only 350 miles. Tomorrow, I just have to make it 52 miles to Los Lunas to check in for the Rally. I will have plenty of time to make sure my machine and gear are ready and to start thinking about my logistical plans for the 24 hour ride.

As it stands, Isolated Thunderstorms are forecast. If you read my report from 2008, you will know it has stormed every time I have done the LOE 1000. With that to consider, I may select my bonus locations and routes away from the weather, which greatly reduces my average speed. But until I get the Rider Pack at the Friday night briefing, who knows.

If you want to track my Progress Sat and Sunday during the Rally click here.

I will try to Blog tomorrow’s activity but more than likely, you will not hear from me Sat or Sunday unless you are one of  my Facebook Friends.

Oops!…Gotta go! I think its time for the Burrito…oh no, Lucy! I thin there is a splosion in here!

351 miles, Post Tx to Soccorro NM.

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