Pony Express Trail - Quicky...

A group of us have decided to ride the Pony Express Trail.

We had considered making this an over-nighter, but it is getting a leeetle bit cold at night, so the plan is changed to a day ride.

The group meets at the tiny town of Stockton at the only gas station in town.

Unfortunately the station only has regular gas, these two bikes call for premium, so they ride back to the previous town to get the higher grade gas. The rest of us decide to press on and the two BMWs can catch up.  We didn't see them again.

Look out Pass

At Simpson Springs we meet up with another one of the group.

The Fish Springs bird refuge. l to r; Dave, Ken, Gary, Me.

We ride into Nevada and on to Wendover where we get a quick bite to eat, gas, and then take I-80 for the super-slab-slog back home. From my house back to my house is 370 miles.

One of our group ran out of gas a few miles short of Wendover, but another rider had some extra in his pannier, so  it all worked out fine.

It was a great ride, PERFECT weather (it was chilly in the morning), and as is usual, very little traffic on the 140 (or so) miles of the PET.

Alien dash pt 1

Snownut, aka Adrian invites me to ride to Roswell, NM with him. Who am I to say 'no'?

We decide to meet in Spanish Fork. We get a late start due to horrendous traffic so we are only able to get to Price before we stop for the night. The next day it's a short ride to Green River, Utah where we stop at one of my favorite photo ops, the Golden Ratio sculpture. 

The map of our route to Roswell.

On our way again we pass Wilson's arch just south of Moab, Utah.

Camping near Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

On the road again.....We are on a long lonely stretch of road and are passing an SUV when I notice their rear tire is EXTREMELY low. I gesture to the two gals in the car and they hesitantly pull over (hey...this crazy biker is waving his arm at us...). They see the tire is low and accept my offer to help. After discovering the spare is as low on air as the other tire we decide to just fluff up the tire on the car with my slime compressor.

They were both very nice and Adrian and I were glad to be of assistance!

We stop at a Texas BBQ for a good meal and super rootbeer.

We visit Roswell in part 2

Alien dash pt 2

We arrive at Roswell and spend the night here. The next morning while packing we see the balloon and if you look very closely a couple UFOs above the balloon. Luckily they didn't crash and start the debate all over again...

The International UFO museum.

I don't know.

They were walking by and asked if they could get a pic of them by my bike...'Yes, of course'. I invited them to sit on the bike for their pic but they just wanted to stand by it.

Two weirdos standing on a corner...

After our alien adventure in Roswell we leave and see this gift shop along the way. 

Read the sign.

Capitan, New Mexico.

I was not aware there was a Smokey Bear Historical Park...

Then we stop at the VLA. Another item to check off our lists.

Taken from the VLA website:

The Very Large Array, one of the world's premier astronomical radio observatories, consists of 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. Each antenna is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter. The data from the antennas is combined electronically to give the resolution of an antenna 36km (22 miles) across, with the sensitivity of a dish 130 meters (422 feet) in diameter. 

We rode our bikes into a restricted area...and were able to get this pic before being invited to get back in the visitors area.

This is the Antenna assembly building or "The Barn". This is where the antenna's were built and where they are taken for repair and maintenance.

We went into the gift shop and had a very nice conversation with the pretty lady there. I saw some interesting earrings and the lady notices me checking them out and asks, "what color are her eyes..?" "Ummmmmm.." then I glance at Adrian and he shrugs and says, "Don't look at me!"
After thinking for a minute I remember they are green, so I get the green ones and they are a big hit! Oh yes, the earrings are made out of recycled computer resisters that are used at the VLA. Cool eh?

On the road again.

Our route from Roswell to Quemado, NM.

From Quemado to Salina, Utah.

We stay overnight in Montecello, Utah.
We split up the next morning, Adrian needs to cover more miles than I do, and I want to stop in Salina.
Some road pics on the way home.

At about the middle of that length of road, where it goes up the hill and on a flat spot, is the "Four corners" monument. Where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet.

If you look close you can see a jeep on the top of that rock.

And I make it home about 3:30

5 1/2 days, 1886 miles of good roads and good company!

Thanks Adrian for a great trip.