Making a loop around the Brazosport area

Taking a break at Oyster Creek Municipal Park

Alligator Hunter? No but....

I think I can handle one this size!

Gator Gulley on the Monica Brown Trail

There really are gators on the Spc Monica Brown Trail at AA McLean Park

A Dish from my Sister's Home Garden!

Visited my Sister yesterday and she has a beautiful home garden... she gave me a sack of fresh green beans, peppers, squash and basil which I combined w/ onions, garlic, pan sausage, corn tortillas and an egg for a wonderful, tasty and nutritious meal!

Leaving Sumner Lake State Park before Sunrise

My VZW Navigator says it's 781 miles from SLSP to Home so I'm getting an early start. I wanted to thank Ray Drake and his family for another wonderful evening of great food and fellowship. It saddens me to leave this beautiful, wild country but I have the May 15th Brazosport Bicycle Tour and am looking forward to that... now let's see how far we can get today!

Eating at Charlie's Spic and Span in Las Vegas New Mexico

Asked the guy I returned the wallet to where I could get the best Mexican food in Las Vegas and he said Charlie's Spic and Span... so here I am!

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Leaving Morphy Lake State Park

Will drive to Storie Lake State Park but will just tale a look-see and then press on to Sumner Lake State Park where I'll stay tonight... found a guy's wallet at the park entrance... he lives in Las Vegas NM which I'm passing thru so will make some calls and try to return it... on the road again... yeah yeah .... on 4 wheels!

Made it back up the Hill

Well my Mountain Bike is a little under-geared for that grade and I still need to lose 10 lbs but I still did pretty good... stopped once at the 2nd turn to catch my breath... probably could've done it easier on my road bike which currently has lower gears (11-34 vs 11-32) than my mountain bike... but sometimes I just like to do things the hard way... just ask RJ... oh well... it may be the hard way but it's my way... say somebody oughta write a song about that! Oh yeah... Frankie S already did it...Maybe AC DC will do a remix... now I'd buy that for a dollar!

2 Turns to the Top... if You Wanna Rock N Roll!

No AC DC on this ride... just me and the Wind and this Road which only makes 2 turns and goes up at least 400 - 500 ' in less than half a mile... OK Big Dogs... it's time to get off the porch and hunt!

Headin' back up toward Morphy Lake State Park

It's no wonder Louis Lamour set many of his stories of the Sacketts in this area... it is a land of rugged splendor where every day in it is met with Discovery, Adventure and Challenge... those who live and work here are a different breed... this place molds you into its form.... or it breaks those too rigid to change to its will.

Beautiful Ride down the hill toward Mora

Taking the Red Mule for a Spin around Morphy Lake State Park

Had a nice Campfire Breakfast, drank Coffee, took a Bucket Bath and now I'm riding my Mountain Bike around the Park. I think I'll take a ride down "the Hill" towards Mora and try to ride it back up. I don't know what the grade is but I had to have my truck in 1st gear to make it... I think HC which is Tour de France talk for "beyond category" applies...it's a road so steep the TDF officials don't even give it a category... bottom line... when you can't hardly walk up it... it's HC... let's go do an HC climb at Morphy Lake State Park!

Just keeps gettin' better...

Ate Rainbow Trout for Supper last night... Slept under the Stars in the bed of my truck... Then woke up to the sounds of the Trout breaking water, the Crows raucously welcoming the new day so I walk to the edge of the lake (50' from my campsite) and take in this view... like I said last night... Thanks God!

Good Morning from Morphy Lake State Park!

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Campsite #18 at Morphy Lake State Park

I've gathered firewood and am getting ready to grill the rainbow trout. I'm gonna score them on each side, douse them w/ olive oil and dust w/ salt and pepper and grill them till I can pull the meat away from the bone. I'll have them with grilled bell peppers and onion over Spanish Rice w/ a Tecate on the side...Man! I'm getting hungry just talking about it. Let's see ... fresh caught Rainbow Trout grilled over an open fire while overlooking a beautiful 8000' high mountain lake at sunset.... hmmm... thanks God!

Rainbow for Supper!

Stopped at the Mora Valley Ranch Supply

Decided to stay at Morphy Lake State Park tonight and do some fishing today so I drove back to Mora to buy some tackle... stopped in at the Mora Valley Ranch Supply.... talking about a place with everything from hardware to work clothes, tools, something to fix or fit anything and everything... including the fishing tackle I needed.... Mark and Martha even let me charge up my laptop while I was there... the mora I'm here the mora I'm liking Mora New Mexico!

Did Somebody mention GORGEOUS! Morphy Lake State Park south of Mora New Mexico

This reminds me of some of the High Mountain Lakes I've seen in Glacier Natl Park and in the Absarokas northeast of Yellowstone NP... and here this is right here at Morphy Lake State Park in northern New Mexico!

I will come on my bicycle and bring my rod and reel and a jar of salmon eggs... you can get a 5-day NM Fishing License and can keep any combination of 5 trout you catch.... nothing like fresh trout cooked over an open campfire!

Holy Beautiful Lake in the New Mexico Mountains! Morphy Lake State Park

Check this place out... it's a beautiful mountain lake at 8000' elevation full of rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout. Me and the Lone Ranger John (literally... he's the only Ranger here) are the only ones in the whole park. There is NO POTABLE WATER (you have to bring it in or get it out of the lake and treat or boil it), NO ELECTRICITY and bathroom facilities are limited to the state park style bo-jons. There is a boat ramp and 26 lake-side campsites. This is a place I will come back to and I will bring my

Now that's a breakfast!

Hashbrowns, 2 Eggs, Sausage and Red and Green Chile w/ Corn Tortillas.... Home Run Baby!

Eating at the Cowboy Kitchen in Mora New Mexico

Great Menu, Great Prices, Great Atmosphere on the main drag (NM 518) in Mora New Mexico.  I could tell this place was gonna be good because the parking lot was full when I drove by and then I walked in and looked like a bunch of locals eating there.

You know when the locals like it, it's gotta be good and it was....

Phyllis did a great job of keeping my coffee cup full and my skillet breakfast was a wonderful, flavorful and hardy plate of food.

Definitely a Discovering America on 2 Wheels Winner!

Leaving Coyote Creek State Park

Headed for Morphy Lake SP... May just stop for a bit and hike and bike around ... haven't decided yet. Will probably stop off in Mora for breakfast... You know some folks (like Boo) may think that what I'm doing is "cheating" on the concept and theme of Discovering America on 2 Wheels, i.e. driving my truck and hauling my road and mountain bikes in the back. There were 2 main reasons for this "road trip" - 1) Get my mountain bike, backpack and gear out of storage in SF NM and 2) Do the Business Advertising Videos for selected high quality businesses / organizations along the route. Let me remind you that along the way so far I've camped out and explored 6 state parks - 2 in Tx 4 in NM, 1 National Park - have hiked over 25 miles, road biked 200 miles, mountain biked 30 miles and driven 1150 miles, done 4 business ad videos and seen some of the most rugged and beautiful parts of
America... not bad for 2 weeks work or play... I'm still Discovering America however many wheels I'm on!

Back at the Hacienda... having a Cold One!

38 miles up and down between 7000 - 8000' and averaged 14.5 mph. My campsite is the highest in the campground about 150' above the creek and the rest of the campground...I'm all alone on the top of the hill... just the way I like it! Gonna finish my Tecate and drive down to the main campground and take a shower...another great day Discovering America on 2 Wheels... too bad America hasn't discovered me yet...oh well... their loss.

Approaching Mora New Mexico

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At Coyote Creek SP

Going for 25-mile ride south on Hwy 434 to Mora and back.

Beautiful Scenery on the road to Mora

Mora New Mexico and the surrounding area is the setting for many of the Louis Lamour books I read... and I am riding my own 2-wheeled stallion through this beautiful landscape as the horses race me along the fenceline... it's the stuff dreams are made of...my dreams.

Back at the Tolby Campground in Cimarron Canyon SP

Rode down past Ute Park NM on Hwy 64 East about 12 miles and 1000' elev drop... then turned around and rode it back up against the wind averaging 14 mph... I'm finally getting my Mountain Lungs... and go figure... I'm making my turn south toward home about 8000' lower... getting ready to break camp and head for Coyote Creek State Park.... see ya Down the Road!

Rinse and Repeat!

Slept in the bed of the Red Rider (my Fire Engine Red 2003 Ford F-150) last night with the Red Mule (my Red/White 2007 Trek 3700) next to me and the Stars (don't own those...I think God holds the title to 'em) above me. Woke up to a clear, cold Mountain Morning with the sounds of the Cimarron River flowing by me. Then it's Fire, Coffee and Sunrise... will be cycling the length of Cimarron Canyon SP (20+ mi RT) on my Trek 1500 road bike this morning... It'll be a challenging up and down ride at > 8000' elevation but what better way to see this beautiful piece of God's Country than to spend the morning Discovering America on 2 Wheels.

At Campsite 3 in the Tolby Campground at Cimarron Canyon SP

What am I doing???

Geez... Taos New Mexico is beautiful so I'm just kinda walking around checking things out...including the Plaza... then to the washateria... oh yeah...I'm also going to Cimarron Canyon State Park. I'll get there eventually... I think!

Stopping at Gearing Up Bicycle Shop in Taos New Mexico

Getting an adjustment on my derailleur on my Mountain Bike... the wind blew it over yesterday while I was taking a picture... stopped in at Gearing Up to have the work done.

Eating at the Guadalajars Taqueria and Grill in Taos

Great Food... Reasonable Price... Nice Atmosphere... My Kind of Place!

Leaving Orilla Verde Recreation Area

Heading to Taos on 68 then will take 522 to Questa then 38 around to 64 to Cimarron Canyon SP. This route is called the "Enchanted Circle" cause it goes through the Taos Ski Valley, Red River Ski Area over Bobcat Pass at 9820' and then to Eagle Nest. As I said in a previous post I'm driving this route to scout it for a future cycling tour...Onward and Upward... to the Enchanted Circle!

Standing on the Edge

Another Beautiful Ride on the West Rim Trail!

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Well...Let's see...

We got the Cool Mountair Air... Check... We got the Beautiful New Mexican Sunrise... Check... Got the Campfire going w/ Sausage, Peppers, Onions and Jalapeno Cheddar Bread grilling.... and a steaming Hot Cup Of Coffee in my hand... Yup.... Looks like we got everything we need to start the Day!

Riding up to the Rim w/ Shad from Whitewater Colorado

Couldn't resist going up the steep road to the rim again w/ a fellow Mountain Biker.

Good Morning!

Now this guy has the right idea! Forget sleeping in the Shelter... sleep on top of the shelter... he pulled in late last night or early this morning and... slept under the stars... I like it!

Seem to be seeing a lot of these signs lately...

Oh yeah...that's right! I'm in the Mountains!

Back at the West Rim Trailhead

2 miles to go to the Taos Junction Campground

Heading back to the Taos Junction Campground

The Red Mule is Lucky...

She gets to see all kind of neat stuff!

On the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

The wind is really blowing and the bridge is vibrating. I'm having to hold onto my bike... the wind has already knocked it over once.

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Will eat a sandwich, ride across, then head back... the way back will be longer and I must be stronger for yon winds have found their place in my face...

Thar She Blows!

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge... I'll get some specs for you when I get ther

Now that's a Big Freakin' Hole!

1 mile from the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge on the West Rim Trail at Orilla Verde Recreation Area

Hanging on the Rim Baby!

The West Rim Trail is a fantastic Mountain Biking Trail that winds along the rim of the Rio Grande River with the High Desert scenery on one side and the mountains on the other side. It's simply GORGEous!

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I almost forgot... this is the desert and there are...

Snakes! Luckily. this is a friendly King Snake...onward Ho!

Taking the West Rim Trail to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

It's 9 miles to the bridge and the wind is at my back and AC DC is screaming in my ears and the snow-capped mountains lay before me...I'm sure I'll wake up anytime now...

Mountain Biking up the Switchbacks To the Rim overlooking the Rio Grande

And then down the West Rim Trail to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.

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