A small contingent met in Alamagordo on Friday the 19th of October.  Sky/Solstice enthusiasts from Clovis and Ruidoso N.M. along with a couple from Goodyear AZ chose to dedicate their weekend to exploring some exciting roads in New Mexico. 

We ate a relaxing dinner and had our drivers meeting the night before we left for Cloudcroft.  Early Saturday morning, we rinsed down the previous days dust from our rides and left to find the Sun Sport Observatory. 

We drove up above the Tularosa Basin for a photo opportunity and admired the beauty of White Sands and the basin from the mountains.  On up to the Sun Spot Observatory we drove, there were deer everywhere at the observatory.  Doe, young stag and fawns abounded as we looked around with delight.   

We were given a presentation, on the study of the sun, by the observatory’s educator, Jackie.  We learned a great deal including that the route 6563 we had just arrived on was specially named as the Sunspot highway because 6563 stands for the number of angstroms in white light.

The twists and turns abounded up and down and over to our second destination – Cloudcroft – we glided.  The delightful town of Cloudcroft had many interesting shops and Karen and Debbie headed out to do some shopping while Rick, Steve, and Phil relaxed and waited to be seated for lunch.  Lunch was a delicious meal that tasted like home cooking.  We were fed and rested and ready to take some more curves when we met a sweet 81 year old who loves her Miata…she wanted to share and so we took her picture with her car. 

Debbie and Karen disappeared…again…and we found them a short while later in a shop called Off the Beaten Path.  They are already making plans to go back there.  Down through the twisties we flew and off to the hotel in Ruidoso to check in.  The town is celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend, and the streets are filled with excitement. 

We dropped off our bags and headed up Sierra Blanca to go to the Apache Ski Resort.  Twists, turns, dips, dives, close calls, hairpin turns, and more up, up, up to the lookout filled with all sorts of cars and then down through more great turns through the leaves changing color from greens to gold and red, beautiful scenery was everywhere, and we drove down into the Ski resort, but dusk was fast approaching so we did not stay there long.  Rick continued to lead the pack in his month old white Sky pushed on by Steve and Karen in their black LSII V8 Solstice and bringing up the back of the pack were two NA Sols from AZ. 

Back up through a series of twists and turns to stop at the lookout and take a breather to enjoy the spectacular view of the valley below we paused and appreciated the fun we had been having all day.  Soon we found ourselves headed for Ruidoso and dinner at the Pasta Café.   Dinner was very Italian and there was even musical entertainment. 

We said our farewells to Rick at the hotel after dinner as we all had to head out early the next morning.  The five of us are already making plans to have a reunion in Cloudcroft next year.  Perhaps you will be ready to join us next year.  We are planning to take more time to shop next year when we reach Cloudcroft. 

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