Route advice sought: CA to TX

[jwhite518]

Here's what I've got so far. The only place I won't compromise on is Monument Valley. I'd *like* to include Mountain Meadow in UT and Window Rock. Interstates minimized. I have three days to make this ride. What do you experts have to say about it - can it be improved? Where  should I visit along the way?

Linky

Modified to this: Link 2.

[rgbeard]

What time of the year are you proposing this?

[jwhite518]

I have to be in Austin on May 2.

[wbrisett]

Your Texas stretch looks pretty good actually. Getting from Austin to New Mexico (or NM to Austin) basically sucks, but you've picked a pretty good route.

How long you here for?

Wayne

[swimmer]

I think your route from quemado, nm to about Chinle, AZ will be pretty boring.  The roads in that area are nice in that there is little traffic but they are generally kind of boring.  Definetely some middle of nowhere stretches.  Maybe try to go through Silver City and get on the 191 and go north from there.  180 to 78 to 191 will be some very awesome riding.  The 78 right after you get on the AZ side is fantastic.

[DangerMoney]

I don't know how many hours/day you plan on riding and how many hours of sight seeing/day  but but that's a lot to cover in three days.

The section from Kayenta, AZ to Chinle, AZ is a two-lane blacktop, in excellent shape and almost devoid of all traffic. Definitely middle-of-nowhere. Gas and almost anything else you might need is available in both towns.

From Chinle, AZ east will get a little boring.

The section from waypoint D to Page, AZ will take you along the base of the Vermillion Cliffs. The scenery is tremendous. From a trip we did in '07:

[FJRmgm]

your route from Midland to Austin will be pretty boring.  If you can come down south more in Texas you will get into hill country riding and that is good.  Come into Austin from the west instead of NW and it will be better riding.

[buls4evr]

 My .02 worth is that your own choices put you pretty far North in AZ and NM to start with for great riding and you might even get into snow issues yet in late April up there. As soon as you are done in the 4 corners area of NM I would head right South like 180 or AZ 191.  Then NM78, 180, 152 and over to I-25. 25 to Las Cruces then East on 70 to Alamagordo. 54 and 82 East out of A-Gordo through Cloudcroft, Artesia and Hobbs. Like others have posted....You are on your own crossing West TX. No way that is just not long and boring until you get to the hill country area where it goes from yellow  to green. When you get to Artesia you can take a plan B swing down to Carlsbad Caverns on 285 then back up to Hobbs. 3 days to do this is pretty frustrating and ambitious. Lots to see in both AZ and NM that is cool. Remember NM is the 5th biggest state and AZ nearly as big. Virtually no rd but an interstate is straight due to N/S mtn ranges. Enjoy your trip.

[jwhite518]

Thanks for the advice to take a more southern approach into NM and TX. I'll look at that for sure.

As for 3 days - I'm a distance rider, pretty much plan on riding sunrise til 9 or 10 PM on a trip like this. My fuel range is 400 miles and I only stop once in awhile for photos. This trip is no more than 2300 miles, that is an easy 3 days for me. And I LIKE extremely lonely roads, but twisties are better than straightaways.

[jwhite518]

OK then, how's this?

Link

[wbrisett]

In my opinion your route in from west Texas just got worse. However, that being said, there aren't great routes out of Texas that way. Lots of flat open road.

How long you in town (Austin) for?

Wayne

[buls4evr]

 jwhite518...After looking at your itinerary I would say  the AZ and NM part you will love until you make that mistake and swing down to El Paso on I-10! That stretch of 10 East of EP is maybe one of the most boring pieces of real estate on the planet. Do like I said and stay a little farther North there and come in on I-20 toward DFW then head to Austin from there. You will at least be rewarded with great NM riding and better TX riding than going farther South.

   When I said that 3 days was frustrating on this trip I was not challenging your ability to long-distance ride. I was saying that NM and AZ are so full of great scenery, culture, great things to do and great food/hospitality that it is a shame to just blow through them! Have a great time man. Come back when you can stay longer!


  Maybe a Central TX inmate can give you a great route from I-20 to Austin. Not that familiar with the hill country. I do think that you will enjoy NM alot more if you exit out of the Hobbs area. Like I said ....above all have fun!

[Orson]

What do you experts have to say about it - can it be improved? Where  should I visit along the way?

If you want scenic, it's hard to beat NM-64 across Northern New Mexico.

If you can find the time on the return route, Big Bend National Park is worth a look.

As others have said, there is no good way across West Texas. You can get off the interstate at Fredericksburg and enjoy a small bit of the hill country on the way to Austin.

[jwhite518]

Wayne,

I'm in Austin 3 nights. Got a work thing that runs Monday thru Wednesday. Then I'm going home via the slab and LA. Unfortunately my time for riding to and from is limited, that's why I'm only giving myself 3 days to get there. Sure it would be nice to take more, but most of my sightseeing will have to be at speed.

OK so I think I have it figured out. Route as planned before to Chinle, then down 191 all the way to 78-180-152-25-Las Cruces. That looks like a really great stretch. Back up to White Sands and A-gordo, Cloudcroft, Hobbs, and the original southeast swing to Austin. Thanks buls4ever and everyone else.

Next try.

Dinner Sunday night in Llano at Cooper's BBQ. Who's in?

Jerry

[Orson]

There's a nice Victorian era lodge in Cloudcroft. From the cupola at the top, you can see all the way to White Sands. It might have gone upscale since I was there.

Be careful if you ride at night across West Texas. Lottsa deer. That's where that safety guru bit the dust, Larry whatshisname...Grudzinski or sumthin.

[wbrisett]

Be careful if you ride at night across West Texas. Lottsa deer. That's where that safety guru bit the dust, Larry whatshisname...Grudzinski or sumthin.

Not just deer. I've hit coyote (in a car) out that way too at night! There are two times of the day I hate riding in West texas. Dawn and Dust... Every critter in the area seems to come out and wander on or close to the road during these times.