RIDING TO R2R? JOIN ME FOR A MOSTLY OFF-INTERSTATE SCENIC RIDE.

I am taking a mostly off-freeway, picturesque route to the hotel in del mar, allowing a leisurely 5 days for the trip, leaving very early on sep 4.

I've ridden most of this route several times. You will enjoy it. If you want to ride with me from austin, tx, (or a convenient meeting spot along the route) pls let me know by sep 3.

310.386.3167.

First part is 100+ miles of riding through the Texas hill country leaving Austin heading west. First nite in pecos, tx

We will traverse the oil-rich permian basin with toxic flares burning and travel under Guadalupe peak, at 8,700 feet, the highest mtn in tx. Out in the middle of nowhere we can stop for lunch at the cornudas cafe in salt flat, tx before heading into el paso for the second nite.

Here is the pretty amazing el paso holocaust museum (which is free), the franklin mountains (which are free) and the war eagles air museum (which is not free, but worth the entry).

Leaving El Paso we will travel for many miles along the southern border of new mexico on a road that sees mostly border patrol suburbans and immigrants crossing thru the $56 billion trump "wall" that rips thru the environment from texas to california. You must be alert for immigrants running across the road.

A great feature of this section is that guys with gs's can ride on the dirt/gravel/sand road that precisely parallels the pavement for hours. We can fill up on food at the borderline cafe in Columbus, nm.

Continuing on along the border we will travel thru two desert environments: first the chihuahuan desert and later the sonoran desert.

Third nite is in bisbee, az, an old mining town now a funky artist/tourist location.

Fourth nite in gila bend, az. not much but motels and then onto delmar.

We will be staying at motels along the way. Only place needing reservations is bisbee. The weather will determine when we leave each morning. The hotter it is the earlier we leave. I hope some of you will join me.

We will pass or visit many interesting towns, features, hot springs, historic bldgs, etc. Some listed below:

Pass Kitt Peak National Observatory (closed now)

Swim at a hot spring in the middle of the desert.

Yuma state territorial prison form 1876

Ocean to Ocean Highway Bridge

Holtville Hot Springs free bathing right off the 8 in California.

Desert View Tower

Pass alonside the barry goldwater bombing range (remember?)

Top-secret, cold war-era missile silos now a museum with tours

ASARCO mine and tours

Ride the great southern overland stage route (great road)

Route maps