May 2, 2011

MotoPhoto Adventure – Hanging in Ruidoso

So it’s Day’s 4 and we’re still hanging here in Ruidoso, NM. It’s been a few chill days and allowed us to do some laundry and for me to get some much needed photo editing done. So you’ll also see a few new  blog post of some shoots I did in West Texas last month.

Mike the guy we’re staying with is funny as hell. He’s an old school cat. A total gear head, knows a ton about bikes and just way cool. Hell he just got a cell phone like 4 years ago. Most of the fun has been the hazing Craig and me receive from him about blogging, Facebook, etc… haha. Some memorable quotes are “I woke and I saw pretty snow flurries, let me put it on the blog”, “we just had a divine lunch”, “have you two heard yourselves, all you need is the lisp”, ahh…good times indeed.

Tomorrow we head out to Taos, New Mexico and will make a stop in Alberguerque for lunch. Maybe I can meet up with my friend QiaoQiao 🙂 Anyway, how about a little vid I shot at lunch today. Had to catch the snow flurries on vid you know!

May 1, 2011

MotoPhoto Adventure – Day 3 (Ruidoso, New Mexico)

Day 3 – May 1st, 2011

Alright, so it’s Day 3 of MotoPhoto Adventure and we find ourselves in Ruidoso, New Mexico. We woke to some snow flurries from high in the mountains and it was pretty cool. Not enough for photos but still cool.

We’re currently crashing at Craig’s friend Mike’s place here which is pretty sweet. Mike’s an old school bike/gear head and is fun to chat with. Going to be here thru Monday and heading out Tuesday morning. Of course while on this Moto ride one of the most important things to check is the weather. Some of our destinations were possibly going to be re-routed due to snow or other weather conditions which would make the riding pretty hazardous. Luckily weather in Durango, CO looks favorable next week so we’ll still be on track.

Downtime here in Ruidoso also allows me to post some of the photos from yesterdays ride.

Day 2- April 30th, 2011

Yesterdays ride from Carlsbad, New Mexico to Ruidoso was incredible. I mean taking a nice long road trip thru National Parks is cool in a car but out of this world on a bike. From Carlsbad we headed North on 285 towards Artesia. From there we took 82 to Mayhill which made a good stop for lunch. I was already stoked by the time we arrived here because of the scenery. Guys were like, just wait man, this is just the road to get to the pretty stuff. Well while having lunch I made an interesting cat named Pigpin and his wife Ms. Piggy. They were Harley riders and serious because Ms. Piggys bike was almost at 100,000 miles. Well after talking for a bit I told Pigpin I’d like to feature him in my “Reflection” book and he was down. Definitely a win for Jay Marroquin Photography and got my 2nd person for my book, only 298 more to go.

Right outside of Mayhill we made a stop at a old farm house that Ed had mentioned. It was  perfect opportunity to bust out the camera and really the first time I took it out to shoot something. Just incredibly pretty. After photos we hit up a little side road (24) which headed to Piñon, NM. Well this road was absolutely incredible and a riders dream (check out the map photo at the bottom). Started off by going straight up into the mountains and was filled with switchbacks, curves, elevation changes and off camber corners for you motorsport enthusiast. It then dropped back into a valley which was Piñon. We anticipated putting gas there but when we arrived there we found out they didn’t have  a gas station. Next stop was too far so what to do but ride back thru the fun stuff 🙂

Well after all the fun we needed to make some time so got on 82 and headed towards Cloudcroft. This also got us into the heart of Lincoln National Forest. Until you ride in some valley surrounded by Mountain Pines you haven’t lived, it was surreal. From Cloudcraft we took 244 continuing thru Lincoln and on to 70. From there it was a pretty straight shot to Ruidoso and Mike’s place. Anyway, enjoy the shots.

Day 2 Photos

  • Me and Mooty
  • Pigpin – One cool cat I met in Mayhill, NM
  • Farmhouse outside of Mayhill, NM
  • A shot I tried to get of this dude flying by on an old Triumph bike. Came up on me too quick and I wasn’t expecting him so couldn’t lock on focus. I like the way the shot came out anyway. Kind of a poster like feel to it.
  • The Mooty man riding the Goldwing
  • This was at a 90 degree left off of 244 in Lincoln National Forest
  • Sweet, finally arrived at Mike’s place in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
  • The absolutely blast of a road (24) outside of Mayhill, NM

April 28, 2011

MotoPhoto Adventure – Day 1

April 29th, 2011 – Craig Mooty and Jay Marroquin will kick off a epic motorcycle/photography adventure which will have them traveling from Wimberley, TX (near Austin, TX) towards the Pacific and then up towards Canada and Vancouver, BC. Follow me around the world via SPOT Connect GPS!

If you need some backdrop on this adventure and how it came about, check out the following blog post – http://jaymarroquin.com/blog/2011/projects/riding-west-with-mooty/

Make sure to also check out Craig’s blog (MotoPhoto Adventure) at www.motophotoadventure.com

Day 1 – Day 14 Itinerary

Day 1 – Friday, April 29th
Wimberley, TX to Carlsbad, New Mexico
467 Miles (7hrs – 51mins)

Day 2 – Saturday, April 30th
Carlsbad, New Mexico to Ruidoso, NM
195 Miles (4hrs – 15mins)

Day 3 – Sunday, May 1st
Ruidoso, NM to Taos, NM
265 Miles (4hrs – 15mins)

Day 4 – Monday, May 2nd
Taos, NM to Monticello, Utah (via Durango, Colorado)
320 Miles (5hrs – 59mins)

Day 5 & Day 6 – May 3rd and 4th
Moab – Archer National Park
Canyon Land National Park

Day 7 – Tuesday, May 5th
Moab, Utah to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona
326 Miles (6hrs – 5mins)

too be continued…

Bike Prep, Wimberley and one kickass cloud!

April 15, 2011

Life’s an Adventure, I’m riding West with Mooty!

It’s Friday, April 15th and after a stint in West Texas I’ll be headed back home to Houston Monday night. I mean, how can I miss Easter with the family? Lubbock has been fun and visiting the family up here has been great. During my stay I’ve noticed how much Lubbock has changed since my real last visit. I also noticed there might be the need for a good photographer here since the market isn’t too saturated. I decided to advertise a bit and ended up booking a few sessions which is  always good for business. I even had a photoshoot this morning which went very well. I initially didn’t have too much interest but this week has definitely been busier. Coming back to Lubbock for a few months before my world travels projects kick off is now being considered.

One of the things I’ve been meaning to do is visit my good friend Craig who has a beautiful spread in Wimberley, TX. We became good friends and met in Houston. With a mutual interest for cars, motorcycles and photography, it was quite natural. I was racing when I first met Craig and he had a glass business. Not only that but Craig is an extremely talented photographer who I’ll always credit him with getting me to go “pro” with the photography. He loaned me his Nikon D1oo for a few months and I was hooked on photography again. Craig is the type of photographer who makes other photogs sick including me because he’s a natural. Everything he shoots just looks magical.

Well my bud is no longer living in Houston and recently commented on a photo I posted on Facebook of a Wienerschnitzels. We don’t have those in Houston but they’re a fast food chain were you can get some yummy corn dogs. Anyway, he commented that there was one a stone throw away from his place in Wimberley and said I should visit. I agreed that I had some time and would make it happen.

Well from that conversation I don’t know how it happened (actually I do know how it happend), but Craig has convinced me on doing some Motorcycle Adventure riding with him which means we’ll be leaving the Austin, TX area and headed West towards the Pacific, then North towards Canada. We’ll be on the road 3-4 weeks and I’ll be rocking my camera. Look forward to capturing some amazing images for my “Reflection and Dreams” book projects. I’m also going to be taking advantage of the opportunity to learn more from the master :).

Quoting Craig, how could I say no!? “This is the plan “Bike prep Monday through Weds April 25th – 27th. Leaving on the ride Thursday April 28th. Route = Head West through a bunch of the National Parks and through Death Valley until I hit the Pacific Ocean. Turn right and head up the Pacific coast highway. I’d like to reach Olympia National Park (weather permitting in the mountain passes…still a chance for snow this early in the season…I’m told…) Maybe through Seattle up to Vancouver BC…Then wandering back…whichever way the wind takes me! 🙂 You in? The red VFR has brand new tires (28 mile on ’em) and a fresh oil change. Yours for the riding my friend!”