New Mexico Segment
I-40 at Arizona border to Nara Visa
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| Date | Miles | Comments | Stop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
20-May | 70 | Into my third state. This was a tougher day - mostly because it felt like we were fighting the wind most of the time. The roads were, for the most part pretty good, but there were some sections of road construction. Now in the Mountain Time Zone. | Gallup | |
21-May | 68 | Crossed the continental divide at 7275'. The days ride was on I-40 or old Route 66. Still no help from the wind - drat! Encountered some construction where tar was being applied to fill cracks. | Grants | |
22-May | 80 | Had a 4 mile climb west of Albuquerque, followed by a nice (15 mile) descent. For the first time (since LA) we had to contend with LOTS of traffic (as we entered Albuquerque). | Albuquerque | |
23-May | 44 | Got away from I-40 (finally) and rode on highway 14. There were lots of climbs today. Then it got really HOT in the afternoon. When not suffering, really appreciated the improved scenery (something other than the sagebrush we've viewed to this point). | Santa Fe | |
24-May | 0 | [Well deserved] day off. Went to town and spent the $20,000 in club funds that I embezzled over the last two years. The "training" of the last two weeks is paying off. No longer feel fatigue. The weather, right now, is really looking threatening - thankfully we can hide out in the motel! I'm really enjoying myself -- the group of people I'm traveling with are lots of fun, respectful and courteous. | Santa Fe | |
25-May | 60 | Tough ride today -- I just seemed to run out of gas. Maybe it was the storm clouds that chased us all day, the showers that hit us periodically, or the heavy rain that drove us off the road and under a culvert. Whatever, it was good to get to Las Vegas (no slot machines at this one, though). | Las Vegas | |
26-May | 80 | Another long day which ended with an endless stretch of rollers and headwids. From 30 miles away, it was possible to see the road all the way into Tucumcari. Along the way, however, we had to climb a 9% grade hill, at the top of which they congratulated us on reaching the 1000 mile point in the ride. | Tucumcari |
| Emails Received | ||
|---|---|---|
| 5/21 | Barbara Cefalu | Hi Joanie, I was just looking at the map and noticed you were kind of close to Laughlin a few days ago. You should have stopped in and won that million on Wheel of Fortune then you could have taken a Limo the rest of the way!!! Hope all is going well for you. Take care and GO! GO!GO! Love, Barbara |
| 5/23 | Shirley Hess | Hi Joan! Think of you every day & follow along every evening. Hope you will have a day of wonderful rest in Santa Fe. You must be seeing some beautiful country. Hope you can enjoy it as you bike thru. We're pulling for you all along the way. Love you, Shirley :) |
| 5/24 | Larry Varnie | "Blow Doors, Joan" Love Larry |
| 5/25 | Mary & Kenny Wainscott | Joan, hope all is going well for you, looks like your heading in for some rain, that will cool you off. Say don't spend all the money you embezzled from the club .I may need some the way this kitchen is going.It's Sunday and I miss your visit.Glad to hear that your doing good. May the wind always be at your back. Love Mary and Kenny |
| 5/26 | Martha Haack | Hi Joan |
| 5/26 | Cindee Varni | Hi Joan, At the crack of dawn this morning, Lar and I decided to drive up to Hunter Liggett and do the "annual Nacimiento spring ride." I think we were about a month too late. It was still warm and beautiful though and we got a special treat--a herd of antelope ran along side of us for about a mile! Incredible!! Missed you and Harvey being with us. The place looks a little run down. Roger must be gettin' old! Hope your ride today was dry!! Love, Cindee |