Nasty Austrian🇦🇹 Conquers da 🇺🇸 & 🇨🇦
- Thread starter big oil
- Start date
big oil
Race Dog
After spending too much time at White Sands Missile Range, I rode towards Truth or Consequences, Arizona, as typical, in blistering temperatures. Along my route, I found myself in something I'd not ever experienced before in life, a checkpoint. All traffic is forced to stop and go through individual separated lanes, kind of like a cattle or pig farm. It was a WTF, butt puckering moment for me. This was a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint with agents everywhere and they acted all business. I wasn't entirely legal lets just say!! I had a decent amount of pain reliever/sleep medication in my luggage!
Every car, it seemed, had to stop for a short interview, likely being asked where from, where to, etc. When I approached the agent handling my lane, I didn't have to come to a complete stop, the agent motioned for me to continue rolling through and have a nice day. You to officer!!! From this, I gathered their main focus was human trafficking.
I continued towards Truth or Consequences, NM, needing gasoline, food, and air conditioning. As the temps rose, I began to shut down physically and mentally again. I began having thoughts of not reaching my intended destination that day, Gila (he-la) Hot Springs, New Mexico. I was leaning towards booking a room in T or C next to the river. However, after refueling, eating, and sitting in the air conditioning for an hour or so, I got my second wind. I'm glad I didn't quit, as some of the most scenic and beautiful riding of the trip awaited me between T or C and Gila Hot Springs.
big oil
Race Dog
I had an absolute blast riding from Hillsboro to Gila Cliff Springs, New Mexico. All alpine mountain switchbacks, I bet I didn't see 5 cars the entire time. The biggest issue was dodging the suicidal small deer that would bolt across the road with no notice. All fun stuff. I arrived to find nothing in the way of services, no restaurants, no motels, nothing except a convenience store, one convenience store, which meant highway robbery.
I inquired about a campground, they gave me directions to two. I rode to the first campground, no vacancy, yet several sites were open. Apparently, one can reserve the sites by phone, which causes issues apparently, because with the nightly rate of only $8, a person that doesn't want anyone around their reserved campsite will reserve numerous sites adjacent to their site so they can be alone.
No worries, too many people around anyway. So, I went to the second campground, slightly more money, but totally worth it as I was the only person there the first night. I had the entire place to myself. Turns out the campground is owned by a man who started a cycle shop in or near Moab, Utah. Had enough of the rat race, sold everything and moved to the middle of the woods and created this lovely little campground, which included 2 natural hot spring fed pools. What a place to relax in the evening. There's something medicinal about the hot spring water.
Cooking area
Bathhouse
big oil
Race Dog
I could barely wait to soak in the hot spring water pools. One was clothing optional, one clothing required. The clothing required pool had different stages of water temperature. From lukewarm water temps to water so hot, it had to be heated by liquid hot maggggggma, for you Dr. Evil fans! With my Boa Constrictor sized *****, except the exact opposite, I chose clothing required because I didn't want anyone laughing at my microscopic pee pee. The truth is I chose the clothing required pools because the water temp was much higher and the thought of lovebirds gettin it done in the clothing optional pool was a little much for this germaphobe!
It was so nice and cool during the evening hours. For the first time since I'd left Michigan, I was content with where I was on this big rock, loving my surroundings, comfortable cool crisp temps, I slept so well my first night. This was nice. I was looking forward to visiting Gila Cliff Dwellings the next day to see how Indians made the mountain their home centuries ago. What a majestic part of the world.
It was so nice and cool during the evening hours. For the first time since I'd left Michigan, I was content with where I was on this big rock, loving my surroundings, comfortable cool crisp temps, I slept so well my first night. This was nice. I was looking forward to visiting Gila Cliff Dwellings the next day to see how Indians made the mountain their home centuries ago. What a majestic part of the world.
