MotoVermont

ITINERARY:

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Arrival day

Arrive at Albuquerque International airport

Transfer to Belen, NM (20 mi) 

Dinner, outdoor grilling

 

 

Day 1

Belen - Magdalena.  107 miles

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Breakfast.

Depart Belen on sandy desert 2-track.  Rocky and sand-strewn trails wind us up toward Magdalena where we stop and visit 2 beautifully preserved ghost towns.   One of which has a rustic pavilion area where we dig into our bag lunch.

Arrive in the historic town of Magdalena and the beautiful Magdalena Hall hotel.

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Day 2

Magdalena - Datil.  126 miles

After a big breakfast at the Magdalena Cafe we head into the high mountains of the Cibola Forest where we will reach heights of 11,000 feet.  Enjoy a unique birds-eye view of the Very Large Array, a NOAA satellite observatory in the middle of the New Mexico desert.  Some seriously fun roads wind us down into the very small town of Datil where we dine on fresh, cut-to-order steaks and slumber in a clean and simple hunters motel on site.

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Day 3

Datil - Reserve.  114 miles

Keeping to the higher elevations and continuing to cross long forgotten ranches, homesteads and village hamlets. The expanses seem endless, the views dramatic and ever changing.

Many fun two track and forest roads through the Wilderness of the Gila.  We will likely see huge herds of Elk, Caribou, Deer.  The small, funky cowboy town of Reserve is where we'll hang our helmets.    Dinner will be BBQ on the patio.

 

 

Day 4

Reserve - Glenwood.  99 miles

We wind our way up to Bearwallow Mountain for a spectacular view of the Gila Wilderness and all the way to the White Mountains in Arizona.  The trail gets a bit rough as we follow the Mineral creek off of the mountain and stop in at one of our favorite historic stops; the Old Waterman place. We end the day in the mountain town of Glenwood, cooking dinner and keeping warm over an open fire until we decide to retire to our well-appointed cabins.

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Day 5

Glenwood - Silver City.  108 miles

Out of the high altitude country and back into the rugged desert.   Day 5 is a rest day of sorts as there are few technical sections and we aim to get into Silver City with time to wander and explore the quaint and interesting little city before dining. In Silver City we will stay in a cool art deco hotel, right in the city center.

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Day 6

Silver City - Truth or Consequences.  163 miles

A truly spectacular day in the Gila.  We head North into the lush pine forest of Piños altos.  Turning into one of the most remote areas of the entire trip, we traverse the Gila and enter Chloride canyon, arguably the most fun and beautiful vehicular road in all of New Mexico.  The canyon road ultimately spills into the almost ghost town of Chloride where we receive a private tour of the 200 year old general store and the old town remains. Refreshments at the WInston store before heading onto T or C on a desolate stretch of blacktop as the sun sets behind us.  Dinner of deliciously sloppy Green Chile Cheeseburgers and homemade onion rings awaits!

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Day 7

Truth or Consequences - Truth or Consequences.  45 miles

We head out of T or C for a 2.5 hour loop ride through some fun sandy washes and make a stop at a now defunct dam in the middle of the desert.  We return to T or C in time for a hot spring mineral bath.  Soak away 7 days of desert riding in the 105-degree natural mineral pools on the edge of the Rio Grande River.  This is truly the best way to end a trip.   Soak, relax, think back on the amazing ride you've just experienced and prepare for your journey home.

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Day 7/8

Transfer to Abuquerque International airport from Truth or Consequences, NM (140mi transfer)

 

We will offer 2 options to get back to ABQ for a flight; 

 

Option 1 - Depart for ABQ end of Day 7 - This option works for Red-eye or next day early morning flights.

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Option 2 - Depart for ABQ morning of Day 8 - This option works for flights departing Noon or later on Day 8.   

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