Three Day Challenge plus One

[Sparksalot]

Recently @Michael posted, reposted?, a three day challenge to YouTube viewers. Adventure is necessary! Being Texans, a few of us had to one up and make it a four day challenge. Last Friday, at oh dark thirty @Mrprotaganist @Beretta4x4 @emulous74 @Woodie102 and I left theAustin Texas area, headed for Queen, NM.

Distance the first day was 513 miles, check.

We stopped in Carlsbad for a hard to beat burger, the headed for the hills. There were lots of places to disperse camp, and lots of poly water lines for stock tanks. We bridged they line with traction boards, nearly stepping on a sleeping local.

View attachment 155806View attachment 155807View attachment 155808View attachment 155809View attachment 155810View attachment 155811View attachment 155812View attachment 155813View attachment 155814View attachment 155815View attachment 155816View attachment 155817View attachment 155818View attachment 155819View attachment 155820View attachment 155821

 

[Sparksalot]

Day 2, move to a new camp site, check.

Being at mile zero, we decided to run part of the Enchanted Rockies Trail mapped by @Lifestyle Overland a few years ago. We messed around the 5 points vista overlooking the El Paso Gap, then ran up the Guadalupe Rim Road. We camped near Weed that night. No more snakes, but we did see some bear tracks. And cooler temps.

View attachment 155822View attachment 155823View attachment 155824View attachment 155825View attachment 155826View attachment 155827View attachment 155828View attachment 155829View attachment 155830View attachment 155831View attachment 155832View attachment 155833View attachment 155834View attachment 155835View attachment 155836View attachment 155837

 

[Sparksalot]

Day 3, Texan bonus, we moved camp again, a whole 20 miles to near Cloudcroft, for an epic view over the valley below and White Sands monument.

Then we chillaxed. Taking in coffee and burritos in Cloudcroft, and a trip down to Alamogordo for pistachios. That’s a 6% grade for 16 miles, done in both directions.

View attachment 155838View attachment 155839View attachment 155840View attachment 155841View attachment 155842View attachment 155843View attachment 155844View attachment 155845View attachment 155847View attachment 155848View attachment 155849View attachment 155850View attachment 155851View attachment 155852View attachment 155853View attachment 155854

 

[Sparksalot]

Day 4, for bonus points right, the trip home. Was long. Because of the Cloudcroft leg, coming home was over 600 miles.

We tried to visit the solar observatory at Sunspot, but even the parking lot was closed. But, the optical observatory a 1/4 mile away still offered killer views.

Then homeward. We discovered Artesia, NM grows pump jacks by the thousands. Meanwhile, Texas is still trying to grow windmills, go figure.

The day started near 9,500 feet, and ended at 750 feet.

View attachment 155855View attachment 155856View attachment 155857View attachment 155858View attachment 155859View attachment 155860View attachment 155861View attachment 155862View attachment 155863View attachment 155864View attachment 155865View attachment 155866View attachment 155867View attachment 155868View attachment 155869View attachment 155870

 

[Adventures with Penny]

Good times!
View attachment 155887View attachment 155888View attachment 155889View attachment 155890View attachment 155891

 

[Beretta4x4]

I had a fantastic time, as always. I didn't take many pics.
View attachment 155894
View attachment 155895View attachment 155896View attachment 155897View attachment 155898View attachment 155899View attachment 155899View attachment 155900View attachment 155901

 

[Adventures with Penny]

Someone on Texas Overland saw my post and then posted a video of him passing us on his motorcycle camera.

 

[Beretta4x4]

Someone on Texas Overland saw my post and then posted a video of him passing us on his motorcycle camera.

Would be cool to see that, but they don't like new members.

 

[Adventures with Penny]

He is going to email the video so I can share it with you guysView attachment 155913View attachment 155914View attachment 155915

 

[Sparksalot]

He is going to email the video so I can share it with you guysView attachment 155913View attachment 155914View attachment 155915

That’s cool!

 

[Sparksalot]

Would be cool to see that, but they don't like new members.

No they don’t.

 

[Matt L.]

Would you mind sharing the location of your day three campsite. I am headed in that direction tomorrow morning and I need a place to stay for a few days.

Day 3, Texan bonus, we moved camp again, a whole 20 miles to near Cloudcroft, for an epic view over the valley below and White Sands monument.

Then we chillaxed. Taking in coffee and burritos in Cloudcroft, and a trip down to Alamogordo for pistachios. That’s a 6% grade for 16 miles, done in both directions.

View attachment 155838View attachment 155839View attachment 155840View attachment 155841View attachment 155842View attachment 155843View attachment 155844View attachment 155845View attachment 155847View attachment 155848View attachment 155849View attachment 155850View attachment 155851View attachment 155852View attachment 155853View attachment 155854

Would you mind sharing the location of this campsite. I am headed that way tomorrow and I need a place to stay a few days. - Matt L.