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Published: October 16th 2019
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Day 22 Reserve to Truth or Consequences (T or C) From Motel to the town at 8am, our thermometer showed 1 degree C. Last night returning at around 8pm is was negative something. Firstly some information that we have missed on previous blogs. Arriving a few days ago in Ogo Caliente the motelier said she thought Ian looked like Ringo. Not sure if she meant from the Beatles or from Lorne Greene. However a new nickname.
Critters:Yesterday Ian saw 2 deer, Keith saw one - so they are out there. In Reserve Ian & Keith spoke to the Deputy Sheriff dressed all in camo gear he said he had shot one earlier in the day. He didn’t elaborate on what he had shot (an escaping felon or an animal) but then he said watch out for the critters, so probably an animal. Good advice though as earlier in the day we saw a dead’un on the side of the road which was much bigger than a deer so we guessed an Elk. We don’t what had hit it but if it was a car it would have been written it off. Between our motel & the Reserve township there were
three rivers the highway went over. All three were bone dry, however all had levees so an indication that when the thaw comes & the snow melts along with the wet season these would be full & fast flowing. It is not uncommon to see signs warning of flash floods. Our destination today, Truth or Consequences has an interesting history behind the name. The change of
name from Hot Spring to Truth or Consequences is credited to Ralph Edwards who hosted a radio quiz program on NBC Radio named “Truth or Consequences. ... ” The name was effectively changed on March 31, 1950, and the show was aired from the town the next evening on April 1, 1950.Some people/places will do anything for publicity! A couple of days ago we passed a construction on the side of the road that shows how resourceful Americans are. This guy has built a DIY Mars Polar Landing Module at the front his house.
Out of Reserve after another diner breakfast we were on a sealed road taking us up into the mountains to around 2700m. This was through a forest where there was obviously logging taking place as we saw a fully
laden logging truck heading towards us. The trucks had played havoc with this road & in places it was a series of potholes linked together with some asphalt remnants.
Turning off this road after around 25kms we were on a good gravel road for around 30kms which took us through a very scenic forestry area. Plenty of Autumnal colours among the evergreens of the forest. We had decided to take the plunge onto an Expert section uphill & rocky as advised by the BDR map. There was an easier Alt route to avoid this but we all decided to give it a go. Climbing on a narrow track it got steeper & much rockier. During this climb I saw a coyote run across 30m in front of me. This continued for around 7kms reaching around 2800m. Up here, when we had got our breath, it was obvious a fire had been through. Most trees had been wiped out but a few had survived, so the cycle begins again. The scenery, when we were brave enough to look was spectacular & the rocks were probably equal to the hardest we have done.
Descending the other side it was a
bit shorter & easier. Onto a nice gravel road which was among a sparse forest with some farming activity going on. We turned & rode past Snow Lake obviously fed by melting snow in the thaw. Then reaching a turnoff we were on seal for a short distance. As we started on this road we saw six deer including a couple of kids on the right hand side of the road. They scampered up the hill for around 50m then stopped & watched us try & photograph them. As we were about to leave we realised there were another bunch, herd or flock (whatever the collective noun is) on the left hand side of the road-probably all part of the same group. They were obviously deciding which of their herd was going to take one for the team & run in front of us. They were too slow as we were up the road before they made up their minds.
Off the seal & into an area called Chloride Canyon. This was a great 50km track with everything. Some rocks, some soft sand & plenty of whoopdees where a grader had pushed a drain through the track. The BDR
map told us we make 100 stream crossings in here but due to the time of year these were all dry washes. The only puddle we saw was where a cattle drinking trough was overflowing! However it was pretty obvious looking at the debris in the dry riverbed it is a serious torrent in the thaw/wet season.
Making a rare navigational error we started up a gnarly track which immediately got steeper, gnarlier & rockier. Concentrating on the track & wondering why the BDR would send us up here with no warning, made it impossible to do other than concentrate on the riding. Round 1km up I was running out of confidence & energy & saw an immovable object in the shape of a rock ledge blocking my path. I assessed my options & decided panic was the one for me – backing off. As any off road motorcyclist knows this is completely the wrong option as you are supposed to accelerate to lift your front wheel over the object. If you don’t, the front wheel hits the object, the bike stops & at around 0km/h you fall off. I can vouch for this theory & when I had
shaken myself down & picked up the bike (with help) I looked at the GPS to realise we were off the track. Ian who was leading, was a further 1km up the track, soon returning to report the track got worse the higher up you went.
We now had to wend our way back down over the same rocks to the real route. Continuing out of here we soon came Into the small settlement of Winston where we gassed up. In the shop they had a selection of guns including hand guns reasonably priced & the lady assured me, all legal in New Mexico. They also sold some Elk/Cow urine apparently is popular with hunters! Don't ask.
Out of here we were quickly onto- the main road for a while before the route shot us onto a gravel road through to another main road before doing the same again.The last stretch was seal into T or C our home for the next 2 days as we have a rest day here tomorrow. 275kms today. Given the name of this town & that we are not keen to face any consequences this day of the blog is completely truthful.
(perhaps with the exception of the last statement) Tomorrow is a rest day with some bike maintenance, washing soaking in a hot pool & maybe a massage. So no blog.
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