Labor Day and More Ride - Day 2 - Roswell

September 6, 2009
Fort Collins, CO

We were up early after a decent night's rest. Tim rode to get gas while I rounded up our stuff. Before long we were riding in brisk mountain air over Raton Pass. Raton is about 17 miles from Starkville so it would be a short ride before a breakfast stop. We had in mind the breakfast buffet at All Seasons Restaurant in Raton. One of our favorite stops, it is located at the junction of I-25 and US 87. It's really nothing special, just an old cafe with a good breakfast. The meal was hot and tasty as always and the coffee is good. The curio shop is well stocked with just about anything you might need in the way of tourist stuff.

From Raton, we rode south on I-25. Having never been further south than Springer on I-25, we were about to explore new territory. Although wildflowers and sunflowers lined the road and the terrain was greener than we believe it normally is at this time of year, this part of New Mexico is not what I would call scenic. Still, there's something to be said for cruising along wide open highways at 75-80 mph with you-can-see-forever views... it's relaxing.

We stopped in Las Vegas, NM around noon. It's a quaint little southwestern town with not much activity, but we weren't much interested in seeing the sights. Tim topped the tank off again, we had a cup of thermos coffee and I called and left a message for the folks about where we were. Then we drug out the map to figure out where we would ride next. We picked a spot on the map called Vaughn. We said at Vaughn, we would decide whether to revisit Ruidoso (haven't been there since the 80s) or continue south to Roswell. When we reached Vaughn, the dark clouds hanging low on the western horizon didn't look too inviting. Ruidoso was out and the search for little green men was on.

Hwy 84 south out of Las Vegas is more scenic (hills and trees) with lots of ruins or what appeared to be remnants of ghost towns along the way. At the juncture of Hwy 40 and 84 we picked up a smaller road numbered 219 to Hwy 54. We stopped on the shoulder just before turning on Hwy 54. A Texas couple hauling a really nice patriotic Goldwing in the back of a pickup stopped beside us to make sure we were OK. We stopped in Vaughn which is at a crossroads and home to a busy convenience store/gas station, a small cafe and very little else. We shed jackets and took the opportunity to stretch and rehydrate. We visited with a few folks as they passed by the Harley. Some were merely curious about where we were from and where we were headed. Others commented on the Harley and our shirts, which happened to be the Salute to American Veterans Rally shirts from Winter Park. These shirts bear the POW-MIA logo on the front.

As we were riding out of Vaughn (without filling up), Tim checked the reserve mileage on the bike against the 95 miles we had to travel on Hwy 285. We had 111 miles. He was thinking there should be at least one gas station in that 95 mile stretch. There was nothing in that 95 mile stretch except a wind ravaged rest stop about 60 miles out. Long about that 60 mile point, we picked up a stiff head wind. Great. I started scoping out the farms about 80 miles along the way - figuring one of those farmers had to have gas. When we had the water tower of Roswell in our sights, we were traveling on fumes with about 6 miles in reserve. Needless to say, we found a gas station quick. That was one long stretch of highway, especially that last part. Ha!

Note to self: Next time we ride the wilds of New Mexico, insist we fill up, even if all they are selling is regular or regular.

We checked into an old Motel (Frontier Motel on Main St in Roswell - don't do it!). It looked OK at first glance and was fairly cheap. We know better than to check into cheap lodgings without asking to see the room first. I guess we were living dangerously this trip. While Tim was parking The Ride. I rounded the corner near our room's location and encountered the Witch of Endor. I kid you not. This person was the crone stereotype personified. She was a wraith-like character, frail, and skinny, with long scruffy hair hanging out of a turban type affair on top of her head, perched with legs doubled up in front of her on a chair outside her room (first red flag - this is obviously where she lived) which reeked of cigarette smoke and other unknown odorous fumes. She was talking to herself - loudly. I almost stopped dead in my tracks. I almost turned around and asked for our money back. But where's the adventure in that? Now, those who know me well know Hallowe'en is my favorite holiday and I love to decorate for it. I could have picked this person up, added a jack-o-lantern, a cat and a broom and had one heck of a start on getting it right this Hallowe'en.

The room - was - well - memorable. Ahem! Being prone to traveling on the cheap, we've stayed in dives before. We've even stayed in motels where rooms go by the hour... Yes, this one did as well I'm thinking as doors slammed all night long. The Frontier Motel may well be the worst we've ever stayed in and was definitely not worth the 40 bucks or so we laid out for it. It was old, musty and dreary and did I mention old - as in decrepit? Scary! I'm still checking for cooties.

Note to self: Remember. Ask to see the room first!

The road to Roswell...

We stashed our gear. Actually, we hid it as best we could, turned the TV up loud and the a/c on high and rode out to see the rest of Roswell. It was getting late in the day so the first stop was Champion Harley-Davidson which is a motorsports dealership, selling several brands of motorcycles. They had a fun Alien display set up inside the dealership. We shopped for t-shirts and found a couple with eagles on the front and a little green Harley-riding man on the back, of course! We didn't linger as it appeared they were about to close. Sure nuff, as soon as we sauntered out - they locked the doors behind us.


Next stop, the International UFO Museum and Research Center. Once again, the POW/MIA emblem sparked a response. The woman at the visitor's desk asked Tim if he was a veteran. When he responded with a yes - she thanked him for his service to the country and gave us a $1 each discount on the entry fee. Tim donated the discount to the museum. We had about a half hour to take it in before the doors closed here as well. That wasn't enough time to see the collection properly. They likely have every news article ever written about the Roswell UFO incident in July 1947. A windowed room was set up like the alien autopsy. I took photos - see the slide show below.

Most of the shops lining Main St were already closed for the day as we left the museum. The street lights in this area of town have alien faces and green lights. We saw them lit on our way out of town the next morning. For our search effort we were rewarded with a glimpse here and there of little green men, painted on buildings, perched on roofs and lounging in shop windows. They were mostly of the cheesy inflatable or pasteboard type with a few ET's pointing home scattered about.

We found supper at The Golden Corral and lingered there as long as we could, reluctant to return to our creepy night's lodging I think. Ha! We visited for a long while with an older man named Al who was a long-time resident of Roswell. He is known as Al the Printer. Al was 73 and not getting around very well, but he proudly gave me his card which includes an image of him on a yellow trike which he rides all over the southwest. Tuesday, he was heading to Arkansas for a family reunion.

We talked for a while that evening about where The Ride would take us the following day. When we rode out of Fort Collins, we hadn't yet committed to a full week's vacation although Tim had reserved the days... just in case. We could head west and north toward home or we could head east into Texas. It really wasn't much of a debate... a good day's ride would put us on the folk's doorstep. Texas it is, we agreed.

Neither one of us slept well that evening. I kept having Psycho visions... ha! One or the other of us were up checking the bike every hour on the hour and the Witch of Endor howled long into the night.

Mileage today, reports Tim = 324 miles

UFO Museum - Roswell, NM
Roswell UFO Incident - July 8, 1947