Solve for M
Solve for M
Truth or Consequences. The name alone is reason to go, don't you think?
Truth
or
Consequences
And, possibly, aliens.
T or C, it wasn't always so. The original name was, appropriately, Hot Springs. But in 1950, the city took the name of a then-popular radio program. Every May for the next 50 years, the host of the show visited the town for Fiesta, which included a parade, beauty contest and stage show. Even local celebrities like the reigning Hatch Chile Queen would attend.
T or C also happens to lie at the eastern end of Route 152, a terrific riding road that takes you over Emory Pass. A full day of twisty roads, a relaxing hot springs soak followed by a visit to the new local brewery was a great start to a long weekend.
First, some fuel.
Then the "back way," through Bonita, over Mule Creek and on to Silver City. Route looks like this:
Time to tilt the horizon a bit.
Lunch in Silver City at the Adobe Springs Cafe; convenient, very nice and helpful waitstaff, meh food. We were, however, able to find out that Routes 15 and 32 were open, contrary to the electronic signs...a terrific loop off Route 152 on the way to T or C.
More tilt-a-whirl, yeee ha!
Emory Pass, about 8800 feet and WINDY today!
On every trip, I try to find at least one "interesting" hotel, something out of the ordinary, funky and eclectic. Enter Blackstone Hotsprings; T or C has many hotels with hot springs, Blackstone has them piped into every room. A very cool little oasis in the desert.
I had the Babaloo Room, named after Lucy and Ricky:
Really roughing it.
Every room has a deep soaking tub; the hot springs fills it up fast, step right up, no waiting!
All I can say is, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Time for a beer. Luckily, the Truth or Consequences Brewing company is across the street.
Really good beer, really good vibe. Interesting conversations with the locals about the challenges T or C faces, and the efforts to revitalize it. A local restaurant also delivers...we call them up and order. I want the steak and arugula salad, they say no arugula today, only kale...bartender overhears us and is shaking her head violently "NO." Taking that as a hint, I revise my order...
A great evening that sets us up for some alien hunting tomorrow. Or pie. Aliens or pie. One or the other, maybe both, who knows.
More T or C:
Breakfast the next morning at the Passion Pie Cafe, excellent.
Time to look for aliens, or maybe Jodi Foster.
Hunting aliens works up a powerful hunger, fortunately Pie Town is just down the road.
Pink flamingos guarding the entrance:
"Of course I want ice cream!"
On to Alpine, AZ, and a loop out and back to Big Lake before bunking at the Sportsman's Lodge, with dinner at Foxfire.
Live music at Foxfire, with great food.
Today's route:
Home Sunday, with a 6:30 am leave to beat the heat. We'll ride through 50 degrees of temperature change today: 53 when we leave, rising to 103 on the way. South on 180 and back over Mule Creek, through Safford and Bonita again, then a blast west on 10. Cooling vests are your friend here in the desert.
About 1000 miles of smiles. One note: it is dry, dry, dry out there. A fire going on in Reserve, NM, and the rest just waiting for a spark. Do a rain dance for the Southwest...
Oh, and the equation:
Truth or Consequences. The name alone is reason to go, don't you think?
Truth
or
Consequences
And, possibly, aliens.
T or C, it wasn't always so. The original name was, appropriately, Hot Springs. But in 1950, the city took the name of a then-popular radio program. Every May for the next 50 years, the host of the show visited the town for Fiesta, which included a parade, beauty contest and stage show. Even local celebrities like the reigning Hatch Chile Queen would attend.
T or C also happens to lie at the eastern end of Route 152, a terrific riding road that takes you over Emory Pass. A full day of twisty roads, a relaxing hot springs soak followed by a visit to the new local brewery was a great start to a long weekend.
First, some fuel.
Then the "back way," through Bonita, over Mule Creek and on to Silver City. Route looks like this:
Time to tilt the horizon a bit.
Lunch in Silver City at the Adobe Springs Cafe; convenient, very nice and helpful waitstaff, meh food. We were, however, able to find out that Routes 15 and 32 were open, contrary to the electronic signs...a terrific loop off Route 152 on the way to T or C.
More tilt-a-whirl, yeee ha!
Emory Pass, about 8800 feet and WINDY today!
On every trip, I try to find at least one "interesting" hotel, something out of the ordinary, funky and eclectic. Enter Blackstone Hotsprings; T or C has many hotels with hot springs, Blackstone has them piped into every room. A very cool little oasis in the desert.
I had the Babaloo Room, named after Lucy and Ricky:
Really roughing it.
Every room has a deep soaking tub; the hot springs fills it up fast, step right up, no waiting!
All I can say is, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Time for a beer. Luckily, the Truth or Consequences Brewing company is across the street.
Really good beer, really good vibe. Interesting conversations with the locals about the challenges T or C faces, and the efforts to revitalize it. A local restaurant also delivers...we call them up and order. I want the steak and arugula salad, they say no arugula today, only kale...bartender overhears us and is shaking her head violently "NO." Taking that as a hint, I revise my order...
A great evening that sets us up for some alien hunting tomorrow. Or pie. Aliens or pie. One or the other, maybe both, who knows.
More T or C:
Breakfast the next morning at the Passion Pie Cafe, excellent.
Time to look for aliens, or maybe Jodi Foster.
Hunting aliens works up a powerful hunger, fortunately Pie Town is just down the road.
Pink flamingos guarding the entrance:
"Of course I want ice cream!"
On to Alpine, AZ, and a loop out and back to Big Lake before bunking at the Sportsman's Lodge, with dinner at Foxfire.
Live music at Foxfire, with great food.
Today's route:
Home Sunday, with a 6:30 am leave to beat the heat. We'll ride through 50 degrees of temperature change today: 53 when we leave, rising to 103 on the way. South on 180 and back over Mule Creek, through Safford and Bonita again, then a blast west on 10. Cooling vests are your friend here in the desert.
About 1000 miles of smiles. One note: it is dry, dry, dry out there. A fire going on in Reserve, NM, and the rest just waiting for a spark. Do a rain dance for the Southwest...
Oh, and the equation:
