Tucson to Silver City, NM, took us north to go south and finally a day of awesome riding. Getting out of Tucson was via the interstate which neither of us love, providing a means to an end. On the interstate it’s a quick jaunt of 200 miles, but we wanted to ride the infamous Devil’s Highway, the old 666 route that is now, thanks to zealots, called Hwy 191.
The twisty southern beginning of the highway begins in the company town of Clifton, AZ, and right thorough the center of one of the largest copper mines around. I was unable to get a photograph representative of the actual depth of the mine. It’s crazy!
I took this shot on a previous ride in 09.
The road rises from the mine right into some wonderful hairpin turns and then the twisty epiphany carries on all the way to Alpine, AZ, and the turn off to Hwy 180, another wonderful road heading back south. I can’t tell you what an awesome ride these two roads give any rider! Beautiful country and amazing twisties!
This photo was taken on 191 two years ago, but the road is unchanged.
A motorcyclist’s bane
Dave on 191
Pano at the top of 191
Somewhere on 191 or 180
Beautiful scenery
Hwy 180
Long horn cattle on the roadway
We stopped at the Bear Wallow Cafe in Alpine, grabbed a quick bite and then proceeded to Silver City, where we had no idea was the site of a world class bicycle race, “The tour of the Gila“. We arrived ready for the cocktail hour only to find most of the motels booked. We found one room at the Econo Inn and were happy to pour a scotch, grab a snack and call it a day! I don’t know that a motel bed has ever felt better!
The route