NMBDR in 2018 (parts of it anyways)

Day 2: Cloudcroft to Carrizozo - Land of Smokey Bear

At the end of Day 1 when we rolled into Cloudcroft, I noticed I had a torn rear tire that put a thorn into our plans for Day 2. It was a tear in the tire between the rear wheel treads I was lucky it didn't blow during riding:





We decided (with some luck) that a moto shop in nearby Alamogordo would be open to replace the rear tire. Day 2 morning we were there at 9AM:




We get there and see the typical NM store sign :




I was lucky . The shop owner there was great. First in line and I got out of there in 1-hr. So our Day 2 detours a little thru Alamogordo then Tularosa on US Hwy 70 before we hook back up with the NMBDR on our way to Mescalero Reservation.

Day 2: Cloudcroft to Carrizozo - Land of Smokey Bear

New tire:




Day 2 Section 1 Map: Cloudcroft to Carrizozo:

Day 2: Carrizozo to Truth or Consequences - Jornada del Muerto

This section of the route (green section in the map below) was the reintroduction back into the desert after riding mostly mountains. It was late June, hot and dry....above 100 Deg.

The video is appropriately labeled as the Jornada del Muerto with long flat stretches of dirt roads around the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) into Truth or Consequences for the night.

NMBDR Day 3: Truth or Consequences to Chloride Canyon - Gila National Forest

Map of Day 3 Section 1:



Video of Day 3 Section 1: Truth or Consequences to Winston then Chloride. Best part of this section is Chloride Canyon . The creek (Chloride Creek) sometimes has water running in it, but it being late June, it was dry:

Love the videos.

One question about doing the NMBDR on the WR, since that is what I ride. What regular maintenance did the WR need, like oil change and air filter ?
On a Utah ride I used filter skins for the air cleaner. The distance was short enough I didn't need to change the oil.

We are going down to the area around Chloride Canyon next week to scout for some new trails for the Rubber Chicken Ride

Thanks!

Good question...with 1-qt of oil in a WRF one has to be mindful. Since it was late June and the SFNF and Carson NF were at Stage III, we called it quits when we got to Cuba. AKASY and I are planning on finishing the rest NMBDR in Oct.

That said, we rode from El Paso all the way to Cuba, and I think the mileage was over 1200 miles...makes you wonder about only having a qt. of oil. I did not change the oil anytime during this stretch, but I checked the level everyday and lugged an extra qt. just in case. I think if we had continued on from Cuba to CO border, I would've changed the oil there in Cuba. I do two oil changes per each filter normally at 500 miles per oil change. At 1200 miles I think it would've been required to change both. By the time I got home with 1200 miles, I noticed that I only drained about 0.85 of a qt, so it burned a little.

As for the air filter, my WRF is pretty well sealed. It did not look too bad after 1200 miles...I didn't worry about it. I proabably would've done the whole NMBDR w/o worrying about air filter.

Good luck on your scouting for the RCR.

George, was it easy enough to find motel rooms?

El Paso - Yes
Cloudcroft - shady
TorC - Yes
Reserve - Slim Pickings but found a single wide motel rental
Grants - Yes

Ruidoso has rooms. Cuba has a couple of motels as does Antonito.

Enjoying the videos Geo!

Thanks!

Day 3 Section 2: Across the Gila NF to Reserve, NM (green track below)



Day 3 ends with us pulling into Reserve, NM after some great mountain riding in the Gila NF:

I didn't see a lot of dust in day 3. That's great. I recognized some was from the chloride creek trail but most was new to me. Thanks a lot for taking the time to post.

I think the Gila at that point had gotten more rain than up north (SFNF & Carson NF), because the Gila was in Stage II while it was Stage III up north.

Next on deck: Day 4 Part 1: from Reserve, NM to US Hwy 60.

Out of the Gila NF and thru the Apache NF near the AZ border:

Next on deck: Day 4 Part 2: from US Hwy 60 to Grants, NM

Ok next vid on deck - Day 5 Part 1: Mt. Taylor

Here's the map for Day 5 starting in Grants all the way to San Ysidro: