Just back from a trip to New Mexico but

[DanL]

couldn't get Carol to go on 2, 3 or 4 wheels.  
Flying is ok but I'd prefer the bike because NM has some awesome roads.  We rented a car and on one road we gave up counting the 180 degree corners after 16 (Carol wouldn't let me drive either - something about not trusting me  )  We stayed in Santa Fe and hit Bandolier National Park, Taos, Scandia peak (and a couple other mountains that I can't remember their names) Los Alamos (where our grandson is working) and 4 corners.  A great trip and I'd still like to go back on a bike.  Also took a two hour balloon ride out of Albuquerque which was amazing.  I'd recommend the area to all of you for riding. 
Santa Fe averages less than 5% humidity all year so there is very few bugs anywhere BUT we passed many signs on our walks to be aware of mountain lions, bears, rattlesnakes and bobcats. 
There are a lot of bikes in the area and we met a couple who came from the state of Washington on there BMWs.  Also met a number of people who visited the area over 20 years ago and never left!
We think Mt Washington is high, Santa Fe is at 7,000 and we got to the top of a few "hills" that were higher than 11,000 feet and my lungs could feel it.
Glad to be back home but it was a good trip

[ybnorml]

Sounds like an awesome get-away Dan....
Damn, still adding to my bucket list and haven't been able to cross anything off yet !!!
Glad you and Carol enjoyed yourselves...Now, about the part where Carol didn't trust you ...hmmmmm

[Motodad71]

New Mexico is bar none my favorite state to ride and explore, it literally blew my mind....yes I would love to move there.

[Tony C.]

What a great trip! Welcome home. 

[dalai-lama]

We think Mt Washington is high, Santa Fe is at 7,000 and we got to the top of a few "hills" that were higher than 11,000 feet and my lungs could feel it.
Glad to be back home but it was a good trip

It's all relative.  Albuquerque elevation is 5,312.   The peak of Sandia Mountain is 10,679.  So about a 5K feet rise from the base.

Gorham NH elevation is 794 and the top of Mt. Washington is at 6,289.  So about 5K feet rise from there.

That is not to say that you don't breath hard on the top of Sandia Mountain    But Mt. Washington is still pretty impressive in its own right.

I do love New Mexico around the Enchanted Circle area however.   That would be one place I could relocate to.

[DanL]

We think Mt Washington is high, Santa Fe is at 7,000 and we got to the top of a few "hills" that were higher than 11,000 feet and my lungs could feel it.
Glad to be back home but it was a good trip

It's all relative.  Albuquerque elevation is 5,312.   The peak of Sandia Mountain is 10,679.  So about a 5K feet rise from the base.

Gorham NH elevation is 794 and the top of Mt. Washington is at 6,289.  So about 5K feet rise from there.

That is not to say that you don't breath hard on the top of Sandia Mountain    But Mt. Washington is still pretty impressive in its own right.

I do love New Mexico around the Enchanted Circle area however.   That would be one place I could relocate to.

Brett, we visited the Bradbury museum in Los Alamos for over 3 hours and when we left, my mind was swimming! Wow!  For someone like you or Chris or anyone else who likes geaky stuff, you would be in nirvana.  I had to take pictures of some of the projects the lab won awards for so I could Google it when I got back home and understand what they were talking about.   Most of the research work being done at the lab is non-military in nature (i.e. cancer research, nano-technology).  I think we will be visiting him again, next year, and looking forward to it.

[idaida98]

 Been to New Mexico once on the bike long ago,I think that is were we saw the groups of donkey's running loose./Years later at a benefit  for a friend who had cancer I was talking to his sister Pat she told me her and her husband ran a hot air balloon company in just that spot you were in.Pat would be blonde 70 yrs old,could this have been her company you rode with ?

[DanL]

Didn't deal with anyone my age only younger people.  The driver of our balloon was about 45 years old.  and he was good at directing the balloon.

[DanL]

animals have the right of way.  if you hit a cow, deer, elk, sheep, pig, etc YOU are at fault.