Southwest Conference - Santa Fe

June 11-14, 2008

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Clint and Ron attended the Southwest Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico this year. We left in a light rain on Monday morning June 9th heading west on Hwy 11 to Dubuque, IA, where we picked up Hwy 151 heading SW to Cedar Rapids. We rode out of the rain and into clear skies along this stretch. South of Cedar Rapids we picked up I-80 and took that to our first nights stop at a KOA campground in Gretna, Nebraska just SW of Omaha. Clint had reserved a little cabin at the campground which worked out nicely. I was glad Clint packed an extra blanket that he loaned me. All I brought was one of those emergency aluminum blankets but that worked well as a sheet.

Our first night stay was in a cabin at the KOA in Gretna, NE

Clint setting his trunks out to dry after our swim in the pool.

With storm clouds on the horizon, it might be a good idea to cover the bike.

On Tuesday morning we were up early and headed west on I-80 until we turned south on Hwy 81 about 45 miles west of Lincoln, NE. We took Hwy 81 down to Salina Kansas and picked up Hwy 56 heading SW to Dodge City and then continuing into Liberal, KS. It turned hot and windy in the afternoon blowing us around quite a bit. The south wind was gusting up to 35-40 MPH with temps in the upper 90's. As we rolled into Liberal we were looking forward to a shower and a cool room at the motel. We ran into a snag as the girl at the desk told us our reservation was for the following week and they were out of rooms. It turns out they had put in a new computer system and had no record of the old confirmation number. The clerk made a call to the manager to get the matter straightened out and we were soon cooling off and getting cleaned up.

Liberal Kansas, was the setting for Dorothy's house in the Wizard of Oz. There is a little museum there and seeing that Tina loves that movie, Clint had to stop to check it out. 

We rode over to the Harley dealer where Clint picked up a cool t-shirt with a Wizard of Oz motif and then we stopped at a Mexican place for dinner.

Wednesday morning we took Hwy 54 southwest to Tucumcari, NM. That was a straight flat ride that got more arid and dry as we went and we were still fighting strong winds. In Tucumcari we picked up Hwy 104 which cuts NW to Las Vegas, NM. Here we started getting into foothills and mountains. From Las Vegas, we took I-25 into Santa Fe.

Along Hwy 104 in New Mexico

We climbed into the mountains south of Trujillo, NM

We arrived at the host hotel, the Holiday Inn in Santa Fe, in the early afternoon on Wednesday. After settling in our room and hitting the registration desk we visited the hospitality room and had some snacks and a few beers while making some new acquaintances. We walked a few blocks around the hotel area to get the lay of the land. Since there was no breakfast included in the package but the room had a refrigerator and microwave, we stopped at a grocery store and picked up cereal, milk, fruit and some sandwich fixings to tide us over for our stay.

On Thursday we joined the ride up to Taos, NM to visit the Taos Pueblo. We were up early for a walk before getting ready for the 9:00 a.m. departure. We took the High Road to Taos. Pressing into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains past 13,000 foot peaks, this route is the most scenic between Santa Fe and Taos. The small, isolated mountain towns sprinkled along the way retain the flavor of the early Spanish settlers who came here four centuries ago. We travelled about 20 miles north of Santa Fe on Hwy 84 before turning NE onto secondary road 503 near Pojoaque taking that to Hwy 76 near Chimayó.

From Chimayó, Hwy 76 climbs into forest past Cordova. After climbing nearly 7 more miles, the route cuts through Truchas, once a Spanish outpost high on a mesa beneath 13,102 foot Truchas Peak. With views of the Rio Grande Valley, Truchas was the setting for Robert Redford’s film The Milagro Beanfield War. From Truchas the High Road enters the Carson National Forest and continues to the Picuris Indian Reservation where we hit Hwy 75 taking that east to Hwy 518 and then north into Taos.

Pre-ride briefing before the ride to Taos

New Mexico host member conducting the briefing.

The Wisconsin contingent paying attention.

We stopped at Rock Wall at the intersection of Hwy 75 and 518 for a break

A great day for a ride!

Bruce Gondert, WI-II

Carl Karwacki, WI-VI

Upon arrival in Taos we pulled into a Wal-Mart lot to wait for our escort officers who would lead us through town to the Pueblo. I went into Wal-Mart for some Gatorade and when I got back out most everyone had left. Not a problem though. I plugged Taos Pueblo into my GPS and managed to pull in with the others just as they were taking a group photo.

The main part of the buildings at Taos Pueblo were most likely constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D. They appeared much as they do today when the first Spanish explorers arrived in Northern New Mexico in 1540. The two structures called Hlauuma (north house) and Hlaukwima (south house) are said to be of similar age. They are considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the USA. Here 150 Indians forsake electricity to live in the pueblos, hauling river water and baking in outdoor, earthen ovens.

Arriving at the Taos Pueblo.

Taos Pueblo.

Clint checking out the menu.

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