Pork, Bridges, Voting, Sustainable Building, Brake Problems, Trains, Boxers, Hot Wings and Cows

We have heard from loyal readers who say they miss our traditional morning porkfest photos.  So, we began the day wolfing down big breakfasts with camera in hand.

Breakfast in Taos

After the portfest we took Highway 64 north out of Taos.  Our first stop came after crossing the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.  The bridge sits 565 feet above the Rio Grande River below, making it the seventh highest bridge in the United States.

The Rio Grande George Bridge

The Rio Grande Gorge just south of the bridge

Bill, Bo and Jim at the Rio Grande George

Visitors to the Rio Grande Bridge rest area are invited to cast a Yes or a No vote on whether they approve of the place.  Very odd.  Regardless, the facilities were clean and tidy and did nothing to offend us.  We cast a Yes vote. 

We turned onto Highway 285, which runs north toward Colorado and crosses the high plains at elevations over 8,500 feet.  Along the way we came across the Earthship Biotecture project.  Workers were busy constructing earth-friendly dwellings as we looked over the facility.  The dwellings appeared to be renewable, sustainable, inclusive and green in a ethically, politically, environmentally and socially responsible way.  Whew.

House under construction by Earthship Biotecture

High plains hillside at 8,500 feet of elevation.

Bill's BMW R1100RT developed a small leak in the front brake.  Although it was working fine at the time, he did the smart thing and decided to return to Santa Fe and get it repaired.  Naturally, motorcycle shops nationwide are generally closed on Mondays so he will have to wait until Tuesday morning to get it fixed.  As Bill turned south we continued on north.  We will meet up with him sometime tomorrow after the repair is finished.

Jim and Bill moments before Bill turned south to get his bike fixed.

Our route north took us into Colorado for a several miles until we turned south back to New Mexico.  Our short Colorado visit did offer a few items of interest, as pictured below.

Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway in Antonito, Colorado

Boxer Jack Dempsey's birthplace in Manassa, Colorado.

Statue of the "Manassa Mauler" in front of his birthplace.

The Old Fashioned Soda Fountain and Ice Cream Parlor in San Luis, Colorado.  San Luis is the oldest town in Colorado.  The Ice Cream Parlor served, surprisingly enough, incredible hot chicken wings.

Once back in New Mexico we came across highway signs featuring cattle and flying saucers.  It is unclear whether we were being warned of both or if the cattle were being warned to be on the lookout for flying saucers.  We had to stop and look closely to determine for sure it is a flying saucer and not a sombrero, which would have deepened the mystery.

 Jim riding down Highway 196 toward the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

We decided to spend the night in Red River, New Mexico, a resort town of 484 people in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  The short ride there was extremely twisty and a fitting end to a great day on the road.

 Bikes at rest outside of our cabin in Red River, New Mexico

Bill made it safely to Santa Fe and enjoyed a fabulous ride while getting there.