Tandem Bicycle Loop Ride from Tularosa to Bent, NM;
We Experienced Climate Changes from Semi-Arid to Mountain Sub-Alpine;
Feb, 2019
Day 2
We parked at the eastern edge of Tularosa, New Mexico,
just outside the city limits, and we rode the
tandem uphill on US-70 to Bent and back
First of all, we were happy to miss a Polar Vortex and all of the Snow that befell our home in Colorado!
Above Left: We parked just outside the city limits of Tularosa and enjoyed their Goodbye Sign, Ride with God!
Above Right: Terry and the Bee were ready for a nice Spring Day ride.
Above: Heading east on US-70 on a gentle climb.
Above Left: That is Sierra Blanca (11,981'/3652m) to our northeast, it is the tallest peak in the Sacramento Mountain Range.
Above Right: Passing by the American Legion Hall.
Above Left: Just as Sierra Blanca was disappearing, we saw a friendly sign. Just as a matter of sharing good information, we did not have a single motor-vehicle versus bicycle incident; drivers were courteous, plenty of people honked their greetings, most truckers went to the opposing lane to drive by us, and the shoulders were wide. I think that a few people were expressing pleasure at seeing a touring cyclist in the middle of winter.
Above Right: Yucca Plant in a southeast view.
Above Left: Climbing eastward, looking northeast.
Above Right: A very recognizable rural mailbox.
Above Left: Climbing eastward, looking northeast.
Above Right: Climbing eastward, looking southeast, we were getting closer to the snowline.
Above: Dennis and the Bee at the base of Round Mountain, a Tularosa New Mexico Landmark.
Above Left: Round Mountain, a Tularosa Landmark.
Above Right: The Round Mountain History Placard.
Above Left: A back view picture of a happy Stoker (Terry Struck).
We only noticed a moment later that we were viewing White Sands National Park and Missile Range on the Chihuahua Basin (shared to the south with the State of Chihuahua, Mexico).
Above Right: Our back view: White Sands, New Mexico.
Above: This caught our attention, it is called The Mission at Round Mountain. The following photos were taken on the way downhill, it may be a restaurant, an inn, or a B&B. We just do not know what it is or if it is in operation.
Above: The signs for The Mission at Round Mountain (on the north side of the US-70).
Above Left: The Elk are big in New Mexico (we're still east bound).
Above Right: The Nogal Canyon turnoff is ahead.
Above: It appears to be like a Thunderbird (but we do not know), it is painted on the side of an old unused garage, and it sure is interesting.
Above: Two Hawks or Crows at play, we could never tell, and our zoomed lens is showing the birds better than we could see with our naked eyes.
Above: The turn-off for Nogal Canyon and the town of Bent are one and the same.
Above: Terry liked this church immediately from a distance, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Above Left: Our view to the northeast.
Above Right: Our view to the southeast - We were now in 'Snow in the Shadows' country.
We Turned Around Between Bent and the Mescalero Indian Reservation
Above Left: Nice Color in that strata.
Above Right: This is our last uphill climbing photograph. We went a little further and then turned around (to ride back to Tularosa on US-70).
Above Left: We were riding west and downhill on the Dry Side or the Sunny Side of the Road toward Tularosa. Here is a beautiful Prickly Pear Cactus.
Above Right: Looking southwest, the Whites Sands area is visible in the basin.
Above Left: We were riding through dips and tops, this is a view of White Sands from a hilltop.
Above Right: Round Mountain is visible at the left.
Above: Another view of White Sands in the Chihuahua Basin, eastbound on US-70.
Above: These Stringy but Not Feathery (Alto Cirrus) Clouds usually indicate that there will be a weather disturbance in about 3 days, like a mild front passing through. Feather clouds indicate the leading edge of a strong front.
Above Left: We intend on seeing 90% of the sites on this Roadside 'Points of Interest Map'.
Above Right: This is a rather typical ranch dwelling setup along today's route ride.
Above: Our normal vision view (non-zoomed) looking over Tularosa (not in view yet) westbound on US-70.
Above: Entering Tularosa, New Mexico. There are some Oil Tanks on the east side of town, one tank has an aging Welcome Mural. Our vehicle is on the left side of the road.
Above Left: The aging Tularosa Welcome Mural, painted on the side of a tank.
Above Right: We rode the bike back to our parked vehicle, thus concluding a fun tandem bicycle ride.
Above: Dennis, Terry, and the Bee are at the east-end entrance of Tularosa, NM.
Summary
It was so nice to escape our home's winter weather and ride the Bee (our tandem bicycle's name).
Along the way, we enjoy learning about rich local history.
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