Bavarian Motor Weekend - Sipapu, NM

 September 6-9, 2007
  
   

 Thursday morning I arose early in the morning to start my ride across the Texas Panhandle into New Mexico for a 4-day weekend in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains south of Taos in Sipapu.  This was the site of the annual Bavarian Motor Weekend Rally hosted by The Land of Enchantment BMW Riders out of Albuquerque.  Leaving Dallas at 5:30 am was typically warm.  The Panhandle brought mid 90's and a challenging strong south side-wind.  It was leaning so much it was like doing a 200-mile left-hand turn.
I meandered the back roads of Texas and into the Sangre de Cristos for 13 hours to make the 696 mi ride to cooler weather.  The landscape changed dramatically in less than 30 miles as I gained elevation into the foothills south of Las Vegas.
  
  While fueling in Las Vegas, a very friendly cat jumped up on my bike and made itself at home. 

 
I arrived at the Sipapu Ski Area late in the day and set up camp by a stream.  The lodge at the ski area provides all one needs to camp in comfort, including a great BBQ dinner Thursday evening.  The stream provided a wonderful background sound to sleep to each evening.
  
 
 
Went out on an early chilly Friday ride into the afternoon going west on 64 across the Rio Grande and Jemez Mountains, up through Chama into Colorado, and the Enchanted Circle.  It was a high-quality 322-mile ride through the mountains and high desert.
 
Hwy 64 through the Jemez Mountains was absolutely perfect.  

   
  
The Cumbres & Toltec steam engine goes between Chama, NM and Colorado through some beautiful land high in the mountains.  The scenery that was unfolding in front of me appeared to be painted in a book.
This was one of those perfect days of riding that I soaked in.  

The route took me into the southern edge of Colorado through some twisting mountain curves.  In contrast, to the east of Cumbres Pass, the road left the mountains down into high desert and very straight lightly-traveled roads.
 


                     
 
 		I finished up Friday's ride with a visit to the Viet Nam Veteran south of Angel Fire.
   
 The Llama thought I was a space alien in my riding gear.
Saturday morning brought laziness in the camp site listening to Paul and Voni Glaves tell their stories from the road. I took the lift up the mountain, and then a leisurely ride to the east up Hwy 434 and through Taos Canyon.
   
Both Friday and Saturday night we had music, which was a great way to hang out meeting folks.  The whole atmosphere was very relaxed.  The scenery and weather just could not get much better.

I reluctantly packed up Sunday for the return ride.  There was light rain and mist for half the ride home, but all was well.
Had to make the required stop at the Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo.

Between September 6th to the 9th, I logged 1,777 miles on the K75S, mostly in 3 days.  It was a very enjoyable trip and I look forward to the next opportunity to repeat it.

Photos at http://picasaweb.google.com/rlswim/BavarianMotorWeekendSipapuNMRally

20070909SipapuNM at EveryTrail

Map created by EveryTrail: Travel Community

Posted by Richard Swim at 9/9/2007 11:48 PM
Categories: Motorcycling
 

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