PDA

View Full Version : I discovered a secret


robasay
Oct 30th, 2007, 1:48 am
This past June I was able to complete a goal that I set over 27 years ago. I was able to complete my quest of riding a motorcycle in all of the lower 48 states. During that quest I had the opportunity to ride Deal's gap famous Dragon #129. I thought it was terrific and the route from SC on 28 to get there was fun as well.

However, two weekends ago I took a two day ride with my daughter from AZ to NM and back into AZ on a road that I have never traveled but look forward to now riding frequently. Now AZ has a famous highway called the the Coronado trail, once called rt 666. Political pressure lead to the new official name of # 191 but still known as the Devils Hwy. It is 86 miles of pure motorcycle riding fun. My new found road is just east of the Devils Hwy and is 52 miles of motorcycle riding fun that in some places matches or equals Deals Gap. In Between the two roads is cross over road NM & AZ 78 which also has lots of twisties and narrow road riding. What NM road am I referring too? Why it is NM 1...............1......5.........................152! it is awsome! If you want two days of hard physical fun packed motorcycle thrills then you need to plan a trip to ride NM 152, 78 and AZ 78, 192. Additionally, you have NM 180 that completes a loop from AZ to NM or you can branch off north to Datil and the Vary Large Array at the Plans of St Agustin. Winter is not a good time to take either of these roads as they meander through the lower rockies and reach altitudes of over 9000 ft. NM152 even crosses over the continental divide as well. I would say the road is good from April to late November depending the snows over the winter.

So if you are planning a trip to the Southwest and want some information on lodging and fuel availability then send me a line and I can fill you in. You will have one fabulous time and wonder why you thought that Deals Gap was the only special road.

EdBruce
Oct 30th, 2007, 11:02 am
Rob,

I will never forget Rt 666. My wife and I were on our way home from the CCR
in New Mexico a few years back. The day was beautiful and hot, and I was hung over like you wouldn't believe. Somehow later that day we ended up on
666 from Gallup NM heading towards Cortez CO. About 20mins into the ride, the skies turned completely black within minutes. I have never to this day seen a sky like it in my life. It was ugly. The winds started up and were so strong I was having difficulty keeping the bike up. The lightning lit the skies up and it started to downpour, and I mean downpour. We finally found an abandoned gas station to take cover. After 20 mins or so, things were not getting any better. We decided to make a run for Cortez. It was not without difficulty, but we finally made it. I was never so happy to be off that bike and in a hotel room.
Like I said, it's one road I will never forget. It was the first and only time to this day I have ever been really worried about the conditions I was riding in.

Cheers

BTW ... my plate now reads DCLXVI

PMitchell
Oct 30th, 2007, 3:28 pm
This past June I was able to complete a goal that I set over 27 years ago. I was able to complete my quest of riding a motorcycle in all of the lower 48 states. During that quest I had the opportunity to ride Deal's gap famous Dragon #129. I thought it was terrific and the route from SC on 28 to get there was fun as well.

However, two weekends ago I took a two day ride with my daughter from AZ to NM and back into AZ on a road that I have never traveled but look forward to now riding frequently. Now AZ has a famous highway called the the Coronado trail, once called rt 666. Political pressure lead to the new official name of # 191 but still known as the Devils Hwy. It is 86 miles of pure motorcycle riding fun. My new found road is just east of the Devils Hwy and is 52 miles of motorcycle riding fun that in some places matches or equals Deals Gap. In Between the two roads is cross over road NM & AZ 78 which also has lots of twisties and narrow road riding. What NM road am I referring too? Why it is NM 1...............1......5.........................152! it is awsome! If you want two days of hard physical fun packed motorcycle thrills then you need to plan a trip to ride NM 152, 78 and AZ 78, 192. Additionally, you have NM 180 that completes a loop from AZ to NM or you can branch off north to Datil and the Vary Large Array at the Plans of St Agustin. Winter is not a good time to take either of these roads as they meander through the lower rockies and reach altitudes of over 9000 ft. NM152 even crosses over the continental divide as well. I would say the road is good from April to late November depending the snows over the winter.

So if you are planning a trip to the Southwest and want some information on lodging and fuel availability then send me a line and I can fill you in. You will have one fabulous time and wonder why you thought that Deals Gap was the only special road.

Check out this thread (http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20955) and the part two attached. This is a great road!

desertlizard
Oct 31st, 2007, 1:31 am
Okay, I understand 191, and 78. Those are both great roads and I've ridden them a few times, as well as 15 North out of Silver City. What part of 152? Maybe I do need to give Silver City another chance. I've never really liked staying there, but used it as a stopping point for a couple of weekend rides.

Dale White

robasay
Oct 31st, 2007, 11:37 pm
NM152 goes east from Silvercity over the mountains to a small town called Hillsboro. You can actually get to Hillsboro from Deming NM if you are headed out of Tucson. That state road is NM 26 then NM27 into Hilsboro. Click the link below and it is an arial view of NM152 from Hilsboro on the left (east) over the mountain and down to the west to Silvercity.


http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=32.905245,-107.733994&spn=0.12308,0.194664&t=k&z=12&om=0