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Mr. and Mrs. Tonik's epic trip

Tonik

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Tonik Grand Master

Tonik

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In the early planning stages for a big trip out west.  Plan is to take a 1.5 weeks or maybe 2 to get to San Diego.  San Diego isn't really part of the trip, it is just where we will pack the bike up and have it shipped back and fly home. We have been to San Diego several times.

 

I am thinking Texas, New Mexico and Arizona will be the primary parts of the trip.

 

Below is a VERY initial route.  Three Sisters is on it, then head up to Truth or Consequences AZ to visit some friends.

 

Where else do we need to go? We want scenery, roads and cool touristy things to see along the way.

 

 

https://goo.gl/maps/Ty9e3sUtSfm

 

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Tonik Grand Master

Tonik

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Its way out of the way but if you can re-work the route to go further north in Arizona instead of the southern part, hit Prescott. Was there for 4 days this summer I absolutely loved it

 

I actually modded the route just a few minutes ago. Skipping the three sisters, that is way the hell out of the way across a lot of crap roads. So now the base route looks like this:

 

https://goo.gl/maps/4vMHdChayyH2

 

I know that area, we have hit northern AZ hard already.  So I think the focus will be New Mexico which as tons of stuff to see and southern AZ.

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drc32-0 Mentor

drc32-0

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Arizona 191 from Alpine to Morinzi is a MUST DO road.Definitely in the top 5 best roads I have been on in America,probably number 2 behind highway 1 in California.

 

Also,don't miss Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico,an amazing cave system with a scale beyond imagination.

 

A little out of your way but 74 in California from Desert Palm to Helmet is good.Hell,just take a couple more months and ride around California.

 

But seriously...don't miss 191.

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Steve Butters Grand Master

Steve Butters

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Arizona 191 from Alpine to Morinzi is a MUST DO road.Definitely in the top 5 best roads I have been on in America,probably number 2 behind highway 1 in California.

Also,don't miss Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico,an amazing cave system with a scale beyond imagination.

A little out of your way but 74 in California from Desert Palm to Helmet is good.Hell,just take a couple more months and ride around California.

But seriously...don't miss 191.

191 is worth whatever extra time you need to work into your trip... Hint: it's only 50 miles, but plan for a couple hours on that road unless you're a lunatic

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Tonik Grand Master

Tonik

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Outstanding help gang, much appreciated.  Here are the changes.

 

Added Santa Fe, some ghost towns SW of it and an awesome scenic drive NE of it and the Rio Grande Gorge bridge.  Then 191.  Southern AZ doesn't look that interesting, so going to skip that, swing NW through the northern part of AZ, clip CA to tick it off our map and end the trip with a couple of days in Vegas.

 

Northern AZ needs some work...will hit the crater in Flagstaff which we missed last time out there and maybe Sedona.

 

Here is where I am at now.

 

https://goo.gl/maps/qKtfbgJgXV72

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Earache Grand Master

Earache

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Santa Fe was beautiful. I want to go back. 

Your favorite upstairs tequila bar isn't there anymore - moved across the street.

 

We go to Santa Fe for Xmas every year for the past 15 years and really like the area. Usually ride through here 1-2 tiems each summer too.

 

Santa Fe is a great place to hit up, especially with your wife. Tons of really good New Mexican food, loads of art galleries, oldest city in the USA with some excellent old style architecture in the Square area.

 

Good riding, mostly north of town. Check out the Valles Caldera off of Route 4 west of Los Alamos. Site of an ancient volcanic eruption. Loads of wildlife walking around and a really decent road to ride as well.

 

Taos is close and you should check out the old Catholic church at Chimayo on the way up there.

 

Nice casino - if you're into the whole gambling thing - just north of town at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder resort. Nice hotel as well with decent restaurants, etc.

 

A better route might be a little more northern through Utah and Colorado with tons more to see. But it might be a bit longer as well if your final destination is San Diego.

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Tonik Grand Master

Tonik

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Absolutely hit Sedona if you can. It's amazing. Spent a day there this Summer and wish we could have stayed longer but we had Grand Canyon to hit the next day

Gonna try and stay there one night. Same thing...we spent part of a day there then had to hit the train tp the canyon.

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Tonik Grand Master

Tonik

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Funny the lady and I are planning a trip out that way now. Hoping to hit some of San Diego as well.

About two hours from San Diego is a Meerkat rescue. For a hundy you can hang in the cage with them for a few hours. Just you and the wife, no one else. One of the more epic things I have ever done.

Pics. https://jimkennedy.smugmug.com/Meerkats

Link... http://www.fellowearthlings.org/info.html

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drc32-0 Mentor

drc32-0

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+1 for Nor Cal. I'm out there almost yearly for a few weeks in Napa Valley and Sacramento. Some amazing stuff out there.

Funny the lady and I are planning a trip out that way now. Hoping to hit some of San Diego as well.

Do you have bike out there when you visit Northern California?Have you been able to ride/explore the Napa area?

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Tonik Grand Master

Tonik

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Ok gang....am I better off doing Colorado and Utah on the way to Vegas and skip NM/AZ from a fun/roads/shit to do point of view.  I think it is a no brainer...CO and Utah win.  Better roads and scenery, a night in Denver, the salt flats and Tabernacle Choir and all that in Salt Lake City.....

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Earache Grand Master

Earache

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Ok gang....am I better off doing Colorado and Utah on the way to Vegas and skip NM/AZ from a fun/roads/shit to do point of view.  I think it is a no brainer...CO and Utah win.  Better roads and scenery, a night in Denver, the salt flats and Tabernacle Choir and all that in Salt Lake City.....

 

Like I said before, I'd definitely go this way - especially if you've never been before or it's been a long time.

Ohio to Denver sucks. But once you get here, it gets better fast.

I can suggest a few great roads if you'd like- just holla.

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