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.
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
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.
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 (http://www.amazon.com/Reflective-One-Planet-Visibility-Motorcycle/dp/B010W6X0FS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1450376503&sr=8-4&keywords=reflective+riding+vest)
of if you're a fancy pants (http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Viz-Mil-Spec-Motorcycle-Biker-Xtreemgear/dp/B00Y8NOPYM/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1450376503&sr=8-8&keywords=reflective+riding+vest)
or even name brand fancy pants (http://www.amazon.com/Olympia-Hi-Viz-Safety-Street-Motorcycle/dp/B00U0SX0KY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_263_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=51wNQWHhmEL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=02J3ZK74GSRT3WC1F62G)
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...
Or better yet, from our friends at Cli-Max:
Firstgear (http://www.cli-maxridinggear.com/firstgear-military-spec-vest/)
Joe Rocket (http://www.cli-maxridinggear.com/apparel/jackets-pants-textile/joe-rocket-military-spec-mesh-vest-orange-s-m/)
This has been discussed for a few years now.
I am definitely interested.
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
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.
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
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.
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
I have reserved a room at the Super 8 motel.
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.
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"
:D
Seriously-that looks like an awesome plan!!
Hop Along
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.
I put together some options for the Trinity trip.
We should meet up for dinner Friday to finalize plans. Nearby are: Socorro Springs Brewing, pub food, 0.3 mi, and Sofia's Kitchen, Mexican, 0.4 mi. If we walk, we could have a brew with dinner. It looks like the K-Bob's Steakhouse adjacent to the Super 8 has closed.
Saturday we could meet for gas, breakfast and start for ground zero as early as 8:00 or as late as we like. Here are the constraints I have found:
From Super 8 to ground zero is 92 miles; the round trip is stretching our gas, but Super 8 to San Antonio, NM is 12 mi; then it is only 68 mi round trip to ground zero. We can get gas and breakfast there.
San Antonio General Store has gas and the web page says it is open 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sat.
Owl Bar Café and Steakhouse in San Antonio opens at 8:00 and serves breakfast. I like small places for breakfast, but there is a wide choice in Socorro too.
Temperatures have been running mid 30's to low 70's and getting to 50 about 10:00 MDT. I plan to wear my winter gear, but honestly, I don't like the cold much.
It is just getting light at 6:30 MDT.
An hour for breakfast and an hour ride would put us on site at 10:00. A couple of hours there and another hour ride back to the motel makes it 1:00 or later.
I have found only one ride near Socorro and it sounded like 160 miles each way of mostly flat and straight on US 60 west to get to the hills around Springerville, AZ. But, 53 mi from the motel US 60 passes the Very Large Array radio telescope. VLA has self-guided tours any time and on Sat guided ones at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00. I don't think we can make the guided one. I'd like to visit it either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. From the VLA we could head back and gas up at Magdalena, 82 mi from our start at the motel or continue west on US 60 where there is gas at Datil, 68 mi from Super 8. I didn't find hours but have a phone number. If you want to ride a little more it is 22 miles west to Pie Town. They are open 10:00 to 3:00 serving breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, and PIE. All the way to Pie Town is 180 mi round trip; it would take something like five hours to get back. Just the VLA and back is 106 mi round trip and about 3 hours.
Finally there is a program and star party at the Etscorn Observatory on New Mexico Tech campus 2 miles from the Super 8. It runs from sunset till 10:00. The return trip would be in the dark and the last quarter mile to the observatory is a dirt road.
Here are links to most of these places.
Restaurant Fri dinner: http://socorrosprings.com/
Restaurant Fri dinner: https://www.newmexico.org/listing/?lid=26405
San Antonio gas: http://www.yellowpages.com/san-antonio-nm/mip/san-antonio-general-store-2243632?lid=2243632
San Antonio restaurant: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47191-d2102618-Reviews-Owl_Bar_Cafe_Steakhouse-San_Antonio_New_Mexico.html
San Antonio restaurant lunch: http://www.buckhornburgers.com/
Ride near Socorro: http://www.motorcycleroads.com/75/385/New-Mexico/US-60---Socorro-to-Springerville.html
VLA: http://www.vla.nrao.edu/
Gas at Datil: http://www.yellowpages.com/datil-nm/mip/eagle-guest-ranch-509198406?lid=509198406
Pie Town: http://www.pietown.com/
Super 8: http://www.super8.com/hotels/new-mexico/socorro/super-8-socorro/hotel-overview?hotel_id=03975&tel=&wid=PS:SE:20160201:GGL:TM:SE:Socorro%7C03975&adpos=1t1&creative=39162039530&device=c&matchtype=e&network=g&gclid=COPOzPqqp8sCFQmSaQod1jMGbg
Etscorn Observatory: http://infohost.nmt.edu/~astro/Calendar.php
Rick Frankenberger
Thanks, Rick
Good research.
Looks like the Dallas entourage will be leaving on Thursday March 31, overnight in Roswell at the Rodeway Inn 575-623-9440, do a southern route to the White Sands National Monument and head north to Socorro for the overnight Friday at the Super 8 motel 575-835-4626 , Trinity Site on Saturday and start heading back that afternoon to overnight at Post, Texas Best Western 806-495-9933, then finish an easy ride back into Dallas-Ft Worth on Sunday.
Get your reservations now for these points if you are going with my group.
Hey guys - I'm sorry to say that I'm not going to be able to make this one. Getting into the new house has consumed most of my time for the last couple months, and the bike I was planning on taking has just developed a sticking piston in the front brakes that I'm not going to have time to address before we leave. I could probably ride through it, but better safe than sorry seems the better route. I'm still hoping to make Dave's trip to Big Bend in a few weeks, fingers crossed that I can get the brakes cleaned out and rebuilt by then!
Quote from: v4_jeff on March 24, 2016, 11:01:09 AM
Hey guys - I'm sorry to say that I'm not going to be able to make this one. Getting into the new house has consumed most of my time for the last couple months, and the bike I was planning on taking has just developed a sticking piston in the front brakes that I'm not going to have time to address before we leave. I could probably ride through it, but better safe than sorry seems the better route. I'm still hoping to make Dave's trip to Big Bend in a few weeks, fingers crossed that I can get the brakes cleaned out and rebuilt by then!
These things do come up.
You don't want to miss Big Bend.
Tweak that bike out and let's roll in a couple of weeks.
Weather looks great. Bring some warm clothes. i see some 60's in our future.
Everyone is ready to go here in the Dallas area.
We will leave in the morning. Plan to spend the night in El Paso and ride the aerial tram tomorrow before heading up to Socorro. I have been advised by a friend that we must try:
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/12/atom_bomb_cheeseburger/
But I would suggest we either do it after everyone else starts home. In any case the article is a fun read.
You guys have fun!
Dallas group is ready to go.
Leaving Dallas area at 0900 for Roswell overnight Thursday.
Temps in the 50's in the mornings so layer up/leather up.
Everyone be safe and we will see you in Socorro Friday night.
I'm back safe and somewhat sound. It was a great trip; everything went just as planned.
Poncho Villa State Park, Columbus NM
Wyler aerial tramway in El Paso.
Steak and beer.
Trinity site and McDonald house.
Green Chili Cheeseburger
VLA
More steak and beer.
Power outage at motel
Paisano Pete in Ft. Stockton
Rick Frankenberger
Thanks for the report Rick, I have been waiting.
Pics
Pics
pics
pics
Quote from: Smoked U on April 06, 2016, 11:23:28 PM
pics
Did you visit the Honda dealer in the background? Convenient location!!
Hop Along
Dave,
Is that your red & black bike, who is the girl messing with your bike?
Quote from: hop along on April 07, 2016, 10:00:24 AM
Quote from: Smoked U on April 06, 2016, 11:23:28 PM
pics
Did you visit the Honda dealer in the background? Convenient location!!
Hop Along
We tried to buy some highway pegs from them, but they did not have anything that would work for Snoopy's Valk. Ended up at Southland Cycle (absolutely stellar folks there) getting some parts and them back to the other shop with the Irish setter to get other stuff.
Quote from: TLRam1 on April 07, 2016, 03:12:37 PM
Dave,
Is that your red & black bike, who is the girl messing with your bike?
Yes, that is my Red & Black Valk under the cover of the Rodeway Inn on our snowed/rained out Friday in Roswell.
The gal is my new "main squeeze" Valerie. She and I met last year at MOOTMaG in Mena Arkansas, started talking on the phone and then began a long distance dating relationship all last summer, through the Fall and into this Spring. She has now moved to the Dallas area and we are a loving committed couple. She is a real trooper. She turns wrenches with me, rides around on the backseat of my bike and we are enjoying lots of adventures as she adjusts to the culture shock associated with the big city.
She is also descended from Scotland (a long while back) and is my first redhead. That is an adventure all in itself.
One more at Williams Square in Las Colinas area of Irving TX.
Congratulations, Dave!
You definitely needed a woman in your life. May God bless you both in your marriage. What? no formal ceremony? I find no place in Holy Scripture that specifies the details of a ceremony. Once you decide, and announce to the world, your commitment to each other, you are, IMHO, married in the eyes of the Lord. May your commitment grow ever stronger -- to God, and, as a direct consequence, to each other.
Aren't you the sly one, congrats.
Where are the photos of the Trinity Site??? Rick and Lawrence's excellent adventure???