Any interest in a Region 2 Meet and Eat?

[rocketbunny]

Hopefully sometime this spring before it gets too freakin' hot.

I'm thinking a Saturday night dinner because a lot of us will have some serious miles to cover. A 3-day weekend styled after the Region 1 meet might work too if there's an area with good riding.

Perhaps in West Texas or extreme east New Mexico? Suggestions anyone? El Paso? Lubbock-ish? March? April?

[1TallTXn]

Sounds like fun to Me!

[bikerider]

I am game depending on when/where it is. Vacation is at a premium for me this year. I would like it be ride there Saturday, ride home Sunday if possible.

[Sock Puppet]

I might be game for something.

[QuienSabe]

I'll be in West Texas or on my way there the weekend of 4/8-4/9. These regions are too darn big.  

[REDDY]

   Just to be different.... Up the west side and across the northern part of Arkansas. No straight roads and lots of scenery.

[soonerstan56]

Sounds good.
If the work schedule allows I'm in.
I am in central Ok., so a Saturday evening meal would work best for me.

Soonerstan

[eazzrider]

I am a definate maybe. Sounds fun, I'm in northern OK.

[GilaMonster]

Hopefully sometime this spring before it gets too freakin' hot.

I'm thinking a Saturday night dinner because a lot of us will have some serious miles to cover. A 3-day weekend styled after the Region 1 meet might work too if there's an area with good riding.

Perhaps in West Texas or extreme east New Mexico? Suggestions anyone? El Paso? Lubbock-ish? March? April?

Alamogordo, NM?  There's some great riding up in Cloudcroft (mountains near Alamogordo) for those that want to stay over.  March or April would work.

[QuienSabe]

My trip to Big Bend will take me through the Alamagordo/Cloudcroft area on the weekend of 4/7, 4/8. Although I had not yet inked it in as weather can still be rugged there at that time of year.

Jim

[dangle]

Don't we have enough Texans in New Mexico already?      Just jokin.......

[Fred]

I'm interested.

Geographically speaking, I think Ruidoso-Cloudcroft or Alpine-Ft Davis would be an excellent choices. Either area is more centrally located for our Region than the excellent roads in Missouri, Arkansas, or the Texas Hill Country. Well...., Lubbock is pretty central too, but all the roads around there are straight, and all the curves are 90 degrees!

  Set a date and a place, and stand-by for the whining.

Fred
Oklahoma City

[QuienSabe]

I definitely agree that a Region 2 meet and greet should fall withing Region 2 boundaries, which does not include Arkansas.

I belong to a riding group at Phoenix Motorcylce Riders Group. Our group is planning a meetup with the Austin group for somewhere in New Mexico this spring. Might be worthwhile considering combining. Austin Motorcylce Riders Group.

[Joggernot]

I live in NM and ride to Cloudcroft, Ruidoso, and many other places in the mountains, and there are some great roads to ride.  Red River also has some excellent roads to ride.  Silver City, NM is another good area to ride.   :thumbsup:My personal choice is Cloudcroft, Ruidoso, and parts north.  Lots of rooms in Ruidoso for a price (casinos in the area).  Quite a few in Cloudcroft and outlying areas.  I don't remember any tent camping , but there are several RV locations.

http://www.cloudcroft.com/ is the main site.
www.cloudcroftnm.com shows some accomodations.

Joggernot

[Tejasbusa]

Set the date and place and they will come.  

Best for working stiffs would be a Saturday evening meal near a good campground and hotel (for the woosies).

You name the place and I will do my best to be there.  May even get some of the guys from my work from California to come out.

[TEXXAS]

I'm in. lets take time and organize a good 2 day "Meet and Greet". If it goes well, it could become an annual thing!  

[rgatling]

Great idea.  I'm in for something in the April timeframe.  Cloudcroft sounds good to me, but I'll go where you decide.

[bluedogok]

A possible location could be The Meers Store in Meers, Oklahoma in Southwest Oklahoma on the north side of Lawton. The longhorn burgers there are great.

[jay547]

A possible location could be The Meers Store in Meers, Oklahoma in Southwest Oklahoma on the north side of Lawton. The longhorn burgers there are great.

i've read about those burgers in newspapers and magazines. i'd like to try one.

[rocketbunny]

Hmm -

Meers, OK is just too central to Texas/OK. I'd be worried that we wouldn't get any of the NM/AZ people.

Cloudcroft looks like a good location. It's about 600 miles from Houston and roughly the same from Phoenix. How about Saturday April 7 for the *official* dinner. This gives people the opportunity to just come in for dinner or make a 3-day weekend of it.

Can someone local to the area suggest a good hotel to designate for the group? I'm happy to call and block some rooms, but I just don't know the area at all.

How about a good restaurant that can handle a group for dinner? Preferably something very local, and yummy.

I'll change the main post once we get these details figured out.

// sidenote: I hadn't realized that there was a NM riding area at roughly the same distance away from me as Eureka Springs.... hmmmmm

[Joggernot]

Cloudcroft looks like a good location. It's about 600 miles from Houston and roughly the same from Phoenix. How about Saturday April 7 for the *official* dinner. This gives people the opportunity to just come in for dinner or make a 3-day weekend of it.

Can someone local to the area suggest a good hotel to designate for the group? I'm happy to call and block some rooms, but I just don't know the area at all.

How about a good restaurant that can handle a group for dinner? Preferably something very local, and yummy.

I'll change the main post once we get these details figured out.

// sidenote: I hadn't realized that there was a NM riding area at roughly the same distance away from me as Eureka Springs.... hmmmmm

Let me take some time to research good places.  All restaurants in Cloudcroft are local; no chains.  There is a "lodge" that has excellent food, but I'll need to check on group size.  I'll ask about a group of 10 unless there is definite larger interest.

As for a hotel, that might be a challenge.  I'll look into cabins, B&Bs, etc. as well.

Joggernot

[Cricket]

Hmm -



// sidenote: I hadn't realized that there was a NM riding area at roughly the same distance away from me as Eureka Springs.... hmmmmm

So what does Hmmmmm Mean when a woman does that trouble is sure to follow.  

[QuienSabe]

Well it just so happens that April 7th is purfect for me, as I had plans to pass thru the Cloudcroft area that weekend allready on my way to Guadalupe Mountains. And for me it is the start of a week long tour which will continue to the Big Bend area after Guadalupe Mountains.

[Joggernot]

I get vacation time next week, so this is my contribution.

This site gives the hotels, restaurants, etc.  I don't know which will handle a large group.  
http://www.cloudcroft.com/  
There are email contacts for each.  You can choose the hotel overlooking Burro Ave. or pick some of the cabin sites (individual cabins like back in the 50s).  There are also restaurants listed in the site.  I've always eaten at a restaurant that can't fit 10 people inside at the same time, so I'm not much help here.

Nearest bike shop: Champions in Roswell.  There is also Barnetts of Las Cruces and Barnetts of El Paso.  Champions is closed on Sunday and Monday.  I don't know about Barnetts, but they have lots of good bikes to admire.

Here is some information on rides...

Cloudcroft RTE

How to get there
From the West go to Alamogordo.  Take Highway 82 east to Cloudcroft.  This is a nice curving road, but you might get caught behind traffic.
From the East go to Artesia.  Take Highway 82 west to Cloudcroft.  Cloudcroft has a gas station.  Highway 82 east of Cloudcroft and Highway 244 have good curves.

While in Cloudcroft
Cloudcroft is at 8,600 ft elevation.  It will be 20°F cooler than the lower flats.
MUST STOP: Cloudcroft Mercantile for pastries.  OUTSTANDING PIES (order early for pick up later and take home to an SO), FRESH BREAD, croissants, and much more.  Cloudcroft has some interesting shops (including antique shops) and small restaurants to explore and try.

All suggested rides are on paved roads except for the road to Sunspot.  Yes, there could be deer and cattle on some of the roads.  Other gravel roads lead off from the paved roads, but I don't know where any good ones are.  Punch these into a GPS or Mapquest to get the miles and time.

Short East Loop
From Cloudcroft take 130 to 24.  I think this is the junction that has a gas station.  Pump is always “on”, so pump your gas and go inside to pay.  Talk to the good people there and enjoy a pop/soda.
Take 24 to Weed and explore the store, if it is open.  Probably closed on Sunday.
Take 24 from Weed to 130 to Mayhill.
Take 82 from Mayhill to Cloudcroft.

Long East Loop (gives you a flavor of the countryside, but has quite a bit of relatively straight road)
From Cloudcroft take 130 to 24.  I think this junction has a gas station.  Pump is always “on”, so pump your gas and go inside to pay.  Talk to the good people there and enjoy a pop/soda.
Take 24 to Weed and explore the store, if it is open.
Take 24 from Weed through Dunken to 82.
Take 82 west to Cloudcroft.

Long West Loop
Take 82 west out of Cloudcroft to I-70 north (curves).
Take I-70 north to Tularosa.
Take Highway 70 east to 244.
Take 244 over the hill to Cloudcroft (curves).
OPTION: continue on Highway 70 to Ruidoso and find your own way back.

Sunspot
There is a gravel road (about 18 miles on county road 6563) that takes you to Sunspot, which is the site of the large sun telescope.  Worth the ride if you can handle gravel and if it is open that day for tours.

Over the Hill (excellent ride, but absolutely no shoulders)
Cloudcroft east on 82 to 244.
Take 244 over the hill to Highway 70.
Now you can 1) return by going back over the hill, 2) turn west and follow Highway 70 back to Tularosa and home, or 3) turn east and go to Inn of the Mountain Gods Casino and to Ruidoso.  There are two casinos named Inn of the Mountain Gods: one on the way to Ruidoso (the "big" one) and one in Ruidoso.  Ruidoso is a resort type town with small artsy shops and great eating at local establishments.  The back road from Ruidoso to the "big" casino is a fun ride as well.  From the big casino you can take Highway 70 east over Apache Pass and back to Cloudcroft on 244.

Curves
For the sport bikes, get up early to avoid traffic and go east on 82 out of Cloudcroft.  When you get to the bottom of the hill, turn around and come back or head west or north or where ever you want to go.  See West Loops.

Joggernot

[bikerider]

Keep in mind that Easter Sunday is April 8th. That may put a damper on this for some people, me included.

I have Good Friday off, which would make this a nice 3 day weekend. The flip side is since it is Easter Weekend I may not have valid kitchen pass to go away for the weekend.

[Rabidsnipe]

I'm interested if we every get anything together.  

[DangerMoney]

Meers, OK is just too central to Texas/OK. I'd be worried that we wouldn't get any of the NM/AZ people.

Amen Sister. Over on VFRD they tried to put together a SW region VFR meet. They ended up having it in Texas... thus killing any participation by us AZ folks.

[rocketbunny]

Hmm - yeah - I would prefer not to do this on a holiday weekend...but I usually don't keep track of this stuff.

Is there any problem weather/snow wise this early in April in that area? Should we push it back, say 2 weeks?

[Fred]

Hmm -

snip..

Cloudcroft looks like a good location. It's about 600 miles from Houston and roughly the same from Phoenix. How about Saturday April 7 for the *official* dinner. This gives people the opportunity to just come in for dinner or make a 3-day weekend of it.

Can someone local to the area suggest a good hotel to designate for the group? I'm happy to call and block some rooms,

snip

I'd highly recommend considering Ruidoso as the meeting place, lots of motels, restaurants, etc, and Cloudcroft is only 30 or so minutes away...just my two cents....

and I think slipping it a couple of weeks until later in April would be a good idea.

(and in the fwiw dept, Smokey the Bear's park and grave is in Capitan, and some Billy the Kid history in Lincoln)

[jaboyak]

Any chance we could meet in Las Cruces or something? Cloudcroft is a little too far out of my riding comfort zone. One day, maybe, but not yet. haha.

[Joggernot]

Any chance we could meet in Las Cruces or something? Cloudcroft is a little too far out of my riding comfort zone. One day, maybe, but not yet. haha.

Consider Silver City, NM.  Lots of mountain rides around there, too.

Joggernot

[bikerider]

I just got my kitchen pass for this. Two weeks out from the original date won't work well for me. That would make 3 weekends in a row away from home.

I am already booked for these:

http://www.texasadventure.net/

http://www.twtex.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14782

My boss used to live in Cloudcroft and said it would be a great please to meet.

[rocketbunny]

April 21 is kinda looking like a winner here.

Looking at my map, there are lots of great roads in the Ruidoso/Cloudcroft area - making for fun both coming and going.

So..are there any restaurants that Ruidoso is famous for? Something that really reflects the cuisine of the area or is culturally significant?

Lodging nearby?

C'mon.. I don't know the area at all.... there have got to be some people here who have been!

[Fred]

I've stayed at the Alpine Lodge and the Apache Inn, although it's been 10 plus years. At the time both were adequate (relatively clean and reasonably priced) - don't know how they've weathered!  

As for dining, I never took advantage of the situation, seems I was too busy to do much more than grab a bite at the major drive-ins. Ah, the impatience of youth.... . Although, from the Chamber of Commerce's website, Casa Blanca and Lucy's Mexacali Restaurant both claim to have great Margaritas.

Ruidoso is extremely motorcycle friendly. The chrome and cruiser crowd has two major rallys there each year, the AspenCash rally in May and the Golden Aspen rally in September. http://www.motorcyclerally.com/

Hopefully someone can add some more current recommendations on the area.

[Rabidsnipe]

Researching some of the accomadations in Cloudcroft,

Camping:
It's located within the Lincoln National Forest so anywhere you want.
But seriously, there is an open campground 1 mile NE of Cloudcroft.  The interior roads were recently paved.  RV's there are limited to 16' so you wont have too much competition.
There are also several campgrounds costing $9-$11 with showers if you have to have one.

Lodging (this was the only reasonably priced one I could find that the insides didn't look like a scene from the Brady Bunch):
Cloud Mountain Inn & SKi Palace
One queen $45/night
2 Queens $65/night
It's located right in the heart of Cloudcroft.  It's also just 2 blocks west of:

Texas Pit BBQ
Texas style barbeque brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs, chicken, sausage, ham, porkloin, Sandwiches, Dinner Plates. Inside dinning open year around, outside dinning in summer/ humming bird show daily, orders to go. Catering

I don't know about you guys, but I'm in for Cloudcroft.

[Cricket]

So is Cloudcroft still the destination? It right at 600 miles from OKC.

I’m in.


Ken

[Rabidsnipe]

So is Cloudcroft still the destination? It right at 600 miles from OKC.

I’m in.


Ken

Check the new post on it.