Tour of Trinity Site -- First Atomic Explosion

lragan · December 13, 2015, 08:33:52 PM

Skyride and I will be travelling to Socorro, NM, arriving evening of April 1, 2016 (no, this is not an April Fool's trick). We plan to ride to the Trinity Site from the Stallion Gate on Saturday. See details at:

http://www.wsmr.army.mil/PAO/Trinity/Pages/Home.aspx

Recommended reading: "The Making of the Atomic Bomb" by Richard Rhodes. Well written, won Pulitzer Prize.

Also, a not-too-accurate movie "Fat Man and Little Boy", for those who don't want to tackle the book.

I have booked a room in Socorro, at the Super 8 Motel for two nights April 1 and 2, checking out Sunday morning for Rick and myself. All MOOT folks who wish to come along are welcome. Please post here if you plan to go, and after you have secured a spot to sleep.

We may go out a day or so early just to ride around a bit, we have yet to decide those details.

It has been awhile since the site was open, so there is a backlog of folks who plan to take the tour. (Translation: If you plan to go, book soon)!

We will pick a meeting point and time after we learn who else is coming.

hop along · December 14, 2015, 03:35:56 PM

Sounds pretty awesome! Did you catch the part of the FAQ that says motorcyclists must wear helmets and reflective gear?

Have either of you been there before?
Hop Along

lragan · December 14, 2015, 03:53:02 PM

Quote from: hop along on December 14, 2015, 03:35:56 PM
Sounds pretty awesome! Did you catch the part of the FAQ that says motorcyclists must wear helmets and reflective gear?

Have either of you been there before?
Hop Along

I noticed the requirements. We both wear helmets and bright colored riding jackets. Not exactly sure what "reflective gear" may mean to the U. S. Army. Probably good to get a clarification on this point.

I was there several years ago with my son. We drove up in convoy from Alamosa. Long, boring drive. The drive in from the north is apparently unescorted, and much shorter. There was a side trip to the McDonald Ranch house, where they "tickled the dragon's tail" to experimentally verify critical mass of Plutonium. Very interesting day.

v4_jeff · December 17, 2015, 12:29:20 PM

The "reflective gear" requirement can probably be satisfied with an inexpensive vest with retroreflective stripes on it. You can get them lots of places. Quick search on Amazon turned up a few.

cheap ones like this

of if you're a fancy pants

or even name brand fancy pants

I'd love to join you, let me see if I can make this work and I'll post here to confirm. I might try to Iron Butt it out there if I can find an easy way to add 200-300 miles to the route from Austin. I still want that stupid license plate frame...

v4_jeff · December 17, 2015, 12:33:32 PM

Or better yet, from our friends at Cli-Max:

Firstgear

Joe Rocket

Smoked U · December 17, 2015, 09:07:11 PM

This has been discussed for a few years now.

I am definitely interested.

snoopy · January 11, 2016, 09:42:20 AM

How about heading down early? That weekend falls into one of my "long" weekends at work, so I *could* head over as early as March 30th, in case anybody wants to tool around for a bit before April 2nd.

Is anybody else interested in heading out earlier than Lawrence?

-Snoopy

lragan · January 12, 2016, 03:13:08 PM

I would like to spend a day or two on either end of the visit to the Trinity Site. Let me ping Rick and see what he would like to do. Going early is just as valid as staying after.

snoopy · January 12, 2016, 04:05:10 PM

Quote from: lragan on January 12, 2016, 03:13:08 PM
Going early is just as valid as staying after.

Not for me unfortunately, due to the way my work schedule lines up.

-Snoopy

v4_jeff · January 13, 2016, 12:14:33 PM

Snoopy, I'm down to head out there early. I was thinking I'd like to visit Carlsbad Caverns again as long as I'm in the area, might hit the UFO stuff in Roswell too. After the Trinity visit I'll probably continue on toward Albuquerque, Denver, or Los Angeles, leave the Versys in someone's garage, and fly home.

SkyRide · January 16, 2016, 07:13:25 PM

Before and/or after the site tour are both good for me. I could even just play it by ear and come home when the mood strikes.

I just got back from a month with my grandsons, but I should be fully recovered by April.

Rick Frankenberger

Smoked U · January 17, 2016, 12:35:48 PM

I have reserved a room at the Super 8 motel.

jgalaw · February 03, 2016, 07:22:23 PM

I'm in. Just booked my room at Super 8 in Socorro for Friday, April 1. I plan to ride to Ruidosa or Carlsbad after tour, spend night and ride down to Guadalupe Mountains National Park on Sunday and hike Guadalupe Peak (8749 feet, highest point in Texas). After hike I'm gonna ride to Marfa, spend night, and do the Presidio/Lajitas/Study Butte/Alpine ride on Monday and head home on Tuesday. Any/all are welcome to join me for the hike and ride. Need to get ST ready. Hoping for warm/dry weather.

hop along · February 04, 2016, 08:31:48 AM

I hope it rains miserably on your parade, so that when I look at your pictures and listen to your stories while stuck behind my office desk I can say to myself "Aren't you glad you couldn't go"

Seriously-that looks like an awesome plan!!
Hop Along

Smoked U · February 08, 2016, 10:19:41 AM

Looks like the Dallas entourage will be leaving on Thursday March 31, overnight in Roswell, do a southern route to the White Sands National Monument and head north to Socorro for the overnight Friday, Trinity on Saturday and start heading back that afternoon to overnight at at location as yet to be determined, then finish an easy ride back into Dallas-Ft Worth on Sunday.