So over dinner last night at the Golden Lotus Thai Restaurant Kris and I decided we needed to get up extra early and head out to Cadillac Ranch. We also had to call ahead to the Motorcycle shippers in Los Angeles to confirm shipment details - drop off point and stuff like that.....
So just before 7:15am and after checking tire pressure and loading the bikes we headed out and arrived at the Cadillac Ranch before 8am. The timing was perfect as it wasn't busy and a Motorcycle tour group arrived just as we were leaving. Think stone henge but the arse end of cadillac's sticking out of the ground in the middle of farm ground. Tourists like me then spray wording over and over again on your chosen Cadi.
The start of the day temperature was 68 degrees, so the pant rain liners were removed early on and only one long sleeve layer was needed.
By 9am the temperature hit 75 degrees as we continued onwards across Texas towards the New Mexico border. We stopped at the Hickory Inn Cafe, Vega, Texas for breakfast (I opted for a Vega Omelette, which was Avocado, Bacon and Cheese, which was really good. Lots more coffee. Another layer removed. Heated Grips now set to OFF.
We headed to Tucumcari, Texas and we wandered around a museum which had some great old memorabilia from cash tills, to telephones, cameras and lanterns and a 1917 machine gun and an original wurl juke box with the 78's still inside. the 1926 Original Chevrolet Fire Truck was impressive too and train carriage.
By noon we were leaving Texas and crossing the border line to New Mexico when I saw my first (and hopefully my last) Rattle snake!
This guy was lying in the road, a golden yellow with silver diamonds down his back and as I gave him a wide berth my knees went to jelly and bile came into the back of my throat - what am I like with snakes - I just hope it was a dead one.
So we drove over the border line into New Mexico around Noon and the temperature had changed and so had the foliage and terrain.
The temperature was now late 80 degrees, the foliage was of bush and cactus and gone was the deep lush dark green wet and sodden trees and cattle and horse ranches of Texas but burnt orange / red rock and gravel / sand ground and pastures as far as the eye can see. Mountain rock was also visible as we continued onwards. The other thing that changed was the road !
The old Route 66 part of New Mexico doesn't exist (it hasn't been maintained ) all the gravel roads lead to " Dead End Signs" and we were constantly having to re navigate with the Sat Nav having a " Hissy Fit "
Another mandatory stop to pee or to gas up and I noticed that the side stand was wobbling again..... so I sat on the bike whilst Kris got on her hands and knees and with an allen key tightened up the side stand. I will have to address this when I get back home and get a customized side stand.
This afternoon has been most challenging riding from Tucumcari, Cuervo, Santa Rosa and onwards to Moriaty due to the extreme winds. With the sat nav having a hissy fit and directing us on to the interstate due to the non existent old route 66 - Kris and I shared the road with RV, cars, and truck n trailers - with the extreme winds - and the interstate speed limit - this proved tiring and challenging however the views were breath taking.
We have now checked in to a motel and our buddy Rebecca has joined us for the evening, we are looking forward to a BBQ meal, having a well deserved couple of beers and resting up and sharing our stories.
Those important statistics:
Total Miles today - 275
Total Trip Mileage - 2297
ODO on FJ is now 5246 miles
Tomorrow we head to Gallup in New Mexico
#badass update - I heard from the Insurance Broker and from NY Honda Yamaha today. Badass is being towed from Albany where she has been stored patiently and being taken to be repaired - yippee !