Bandelier National Monument (Part 1)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03af0f21egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="03b203c0.jpg" border=0 width="32" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#66334C" FACE="Arial" ><B>New Mexico National Monuments by Motorcycle</B></FONT><B>      |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New Mexico National Monuments by Motorcy"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Petroglyph National Monument"><U>Petroglyph National Monument</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monumen"><U>Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pecos National Historical Park"><U>Pecos National Historical Park</U></A>   |   <B>Bandelier National Monument (Part 1)</B>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bandelier National Monument (Part 2)"><U>Bandelier National Monument (Part 2)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Valle Grande National Preserve"><U>Valle Grande National Preserve</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="El Malpais National Monument"><U>El Malpais National Monument</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="El Morro National Monument"><U>El Morro National Monument</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Very Large Array Telescope (VLA)"><U>Very Large Array Telescope (VLA)</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chaco Culture National Historical Park"><U>Chaco Culture National Historical Park</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="El Malpais Hike"><U>El Malpais Hike</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Attempt at Pecos Baldy Lake"><U>Attempt at Pecos Baldy Lake</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="039f2f02egerdp.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03cf0f03.jpg"> <div> <I>Bandelier National Monument (Part 1)</I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="07e40f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Bandelier Visitor's Center</B></div> <bR> <div> Location:  95 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico</div> <bR> <div> Trip Length: 200 miles</div> <bR> <div> Begin: 8:30 Saturday March 17, 2003 and end 2:30 same day</div> <bR> <div> Gas Mileage: 54 mpg</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Headed up a small NM highway north into Bernalillo.  This road parallels Interstate 25 and gives the illusion of being a safer alternative.  In the afternoon everybody takes this shortcut and the little 2 lane gets crowded.  Then turned left on 555 (old NM 44) at Bernalillo and headed the 24 or so miles to San Ysidro.  After arriving in San Ysidro paid attention to all speed limit signs religiously.  When driving through this little village one should notice that the only thing going on economically there is the money in your wallet.  Don't speed and give the local authorities a reason to give you a ticket, because they will.</div> <bR> <div> At S.Y. headed north on NM 4 towards the town of Jemez Springs.  This is a classic motorcycle road that starts in the upper Sonoran desert and ends in pine forested land.  The route winds into a colorful canyon.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="08140f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Starting into the canyon.</B></div> <bR> <div> Passed through 2 Indian reservations and finally to Jemez Springs - obeying the slow speed limits all the way.  J.S. is the Saturday and Sunday destination for many central New Mexican motorcyclists.  There are some bars and restaurants and other touristy fare here.  Few motorcyclists venture past this village as these services are not available for another hour's traveling time.  After passing J.S. the roadside flora starts to become more evergreen oriented.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="07f40f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Still winding into the canyon outside of Jemez Springs.</B></div> <bR> <div> Started to feel noticeable temperature decrease due to increased elevation.  I expected 10 to 15 degree temperature loss at the highest point of my trip (8500') from the predicted high of 65 degrees in Albuquerque (6000').  A rule of thumb I use is that you lose 5 degrees for every 1000' in elevation gain.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="08240f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Stopped to warm up.</B></div> <bR> <div> The picture above was taken when I stopped to take everything of insulative value out of my tank bag and stuff it down the chest area of my leathers.  When I started in Albuquerque the temperature was 50 degrees, guess now the temperature was lower than 40.  Even though it was expected to be cold, I outran the heating up of the atmosphere at this elevation.  Radiant heat on my black leathers kept my back warm while riding and would warm the rest of the body when at rest.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Next Page:</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bandelier National Monument (Part 2)"><U>Bandelier National Monument (Part 2)</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>