"CC Riders" take season's first ride

  • Published
  • By John Cochran
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  For a beginner, learning to operate a motorcycle in town can be tough. Going on a 450-mile group ride on your new bike for the first time can be even tougher.

That was the setting for me Saturday, as Brig. Gen. Everett H. Thomas, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander, led a group of eight motorcyclists on the first of a series of trips planned for the current riding season. The initial trip's itinerary took us to Ruidoso and other places throughout the southern part of the Land of Enchantment.

After meeting for breakfast at a local restaurant, we reviewed a roadmap, discussed the route of travel, appointed a leader who knew the roads, and agreed to ride in a staggered formation, alternating position based on experience, which ranged from two weeks to 30 years. Then it was time to don the protective gear, mount up and get rolling. Two couples rode two-up, while the rest of the riders were solo.

We took I-40 East to Moriarty, then turned south on New Mexico Highway 41 to Corona and continued south on U.S. Highway 54 to Carrizozo, where we turned east on U.S. Highway 380 until reaching New Mexico Highway 37, where we rode south to New Mexico Highway 48 and on into Ruidoso.

The scenic views of wooded mountains there were spectacular. Such displays of nature's handiwork, along with the dry climate and clear skies, contribute to New Mexico's well-deserved reputation as a motorcyclist's paradise.

We stopped for lunch at a barbecue place in Ruidoso, where a young man who looked like he could be Olympic snowboarder Shaun White's stunt double took our orders. Ninety minutes later, we were back on the road for the ride home.

The homeward ride took us south on New Mexico Highway 70 to Tularosa, back to Carrizozo on New Mexico Highway 54, then on to San Antonio via New Mexico Highway 380. From there, we got onto I-25, which brought us home at a constant speed.

Throughout the day, all was well with humans and machines, and as the new guy, I was pleased that I was keeping up with the others. The sportiest part of the trip home for me was getting onto the circular on-ramp to I-25 -- it felt like I was leaning far enough to be parallel with the pavement, but properly rolling on the throttle kept me firmly planted on the right path.

Brig. Gen. Thomas, my wingman and mentor, rode behind me in the formation, and he said I did well. Not bad for a guy who just got his first bike two weeks before.

After that long ride, I was a little sore the next day, but pain is temporary. The memory of a fun ride with a good group will stay with me forever.

Future group rides will take place the second Saturday of each month during riding season. The next event will be May 8, and all safe riders are welcome.
As Brig. Gen. Thomas said, "We're looking to get some quality miles in while there's good riding weather."

Check the Nucleus and other information channels for details.