jamawani:
you might have missed my post about not leaving from mi, but from st joseph MO to cut the trip in 1/2.
nevertheless, I think I will start at the beginning of the Katy after following the link you posted. so, now the trip is about 1100 miles. 50/day means about 22 days, maybe 3 rest days and I can see doing that. i couldnt see doing 1600+ miles to go from ann arbor mi to Taos nm. i would like to, but have to board my dog.

I know about the NM roads having lived in taos and have biked enough thereto know that I do not want to go to ratone, cimmaron NM-anglefire-taos - the canyons between taos and angelfire, eagle nest-cimmaron kill folks all the time. allegedly the most deadly stretchs in NM. I'll was planning going tucumcari-las vegas taos - its a great road, and a low elevation pass. (8500 i believe). the problem is liberal ks to tucumcari - it looks like 54 is the only pavement, takes you thru dalheart tx. looks like i'd be on 54 for 200 miles! what do you think?.

i could change routes to avoid 54 and enter NM from the north - walsenberg CO-> La Veta Pass (9500') then to taos. takes 80 miles off the trip, keeps me in some pretty country longer (126 miles from walenberg to taos) at the expense of 1000' higher pass to cross the rockies. I think thats the way. just have to catch a decent window of weather and in early october thats doable in the southern rockies.

thanks about the katy trial tip - i'm definately strting in st charles mo!!!