Day 2 - 401 miles Littlefield, TX to Bernalillo, NM
Littlefield, TX to Bernalillo, NM
Day 2 was much better. Left Littlefield around 7:15 a.m. on Hwy 84 N. and got to replay an hour thirty minutes later when I entered NM and the Mountain Time Zone. Turned north at Clovis onto an obviously little-used NM209. Just outside of Grady I noticed I'm running on fumes and the "need gas" light had been on for, obviously, quite some time. This is not the time or place to fail to pay attention to gas gauges. This is no-damn-where, America. I mean, this is so far out in the sticks it’s legal to yell “FIRE” anytime and anywhere you want. Fate saved me though. A few minutes later I found a, can you believe it, unattended, creditcard-only gas vending site selling only regular and diesel. I bought a gallon of the regular to mix with what little was in my tank to get me to San Jon 26 miles away. (I know, that's not how I would have spelled it either).
Why take this route? Tucumcari, of course. One of the great songs is ‘Willin’ written by Lowell George of the band Little Feat? If you don’t know who Little Feat is, go to the corner, give me fifteen hail Waylons, and three Mother Emmylous. I'm pretty sure Emmylou cut this song. I know it was covered by Linda Ronstadt on “Heart Like A Wheel,” one of the greatest albums ever cut. If you don't know that, buy a copy. You won't regret it.
Anyway, the chorus goes:
“And I've been from Tucson to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonopah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Driven the backroads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me weed, whites and wine
And you show me a sign
And I'll be willin' to be movin”
Now how can a guy on this ride, willin' to be movin', not go through Tucumcari? Tehachapi? I don’t know where that is, and Tonapah and Tucson are just too far south. So...tomorrow we’ll cover the Eagles. (“Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ”)
After Tucumcari, turned north on 104, again, avoiding Interstates. And boy, did I? On this route you practically avoid everything but small animals and cows. Road was a little bumpy at 75+ but the bike handled it well. It’s just miles and miles of miles and miles. Saw a coyote and a roadrunner. They were about 50 miles apart so I’m assuming Wiley’s screwing up again.
Stopped for some water in a ice-house/boat repair facility in Conchas Dam, NM. There were three local ladies in the store, late forties to early sixties. Couldn’t tell if they all worked in the store, or only one did, but they were sitting around sharing a pot of macaroni and jalapenos. (Ain't that great?) When I asked how in the world they ending up in such a remote place they replied, “Oh, the same way. Brought by husbands who are no longer around.” One had been there thirty years, the shortest, in time span, for ten. The short-timer had her house up for sale but, unless her ex-husband remarries and wants to move another one out there I don’t hold out much hope for her. It takes two to make a market.
Successfully negotiated NM104 to Las Vegas (NM) and took I-25 to Santa Fe. This is one of my favorite cities in the country. Rode down to the square and had a late lunch then took I-25 to Bernalillo. Just decided to stop here and got a motel. The fact that down the street is a casino with a great poker room is purely coincidental.
Tomorrow, probably poorer, westward ho.
Day 2 was much better. Left Littlefield around 7:15 a.m. on Hwy 84 N. and got to replay an hour thirty minutes later when I entered NM and the Mountain Time Zone. Turned north at Clovis onto an obviously little-used NM209. Just outside of Grady I noticed I'm running on fumes and the "need gas" light had been on for, obviously, quite some time. This is not the time or place to fail to pay attention to gas gauges. This is no-damn-where, America. I mean, this is so far out in the sticks it’s legal to yell “FIRE” anytime and anywhere you want. Fate saved me though. A few minutes later I found a, can you believe it, unattended, creditcard-only gas vending site selling only regular and diesel. I bought a gallon of the regular to mix with what little was in my tank to get me to San Jon 26 miles away. (I know, that's not how I would have spelled it either).
Why take this route? Tucumcari, of course. One of the great songs is ‘Willin’ written by Lowell George of the band Little Feat? If you don’t know who Little Feat is, go to the corner, give me fifteen hail Waylons, and three Mother Emmylous. I'm pretty sure Emmylou cut this song. I know it was covered by Linda Ronstadt on “Heart Like A Wheel,” one of the greatest albums ever cut. If you don't know that, buy a copy. You won't regret it.
Anyway, the chorus goes:
“And I've been from Tucson to Tucumcari
Tehachapi to Tonopah
Driven every kind of rig that's ever been made
Driven the backroads so I wouldn't get weighed
And if you give me weed, whites and wine
And you show me a sign
And I'll be willin' to be movin”
Now how can a guy on this ride, willin' to be movin', not go through Tucumcari? Tehachapi? I don’t know where that is, and Tonapah and Tucson are just too far south. So...tomorrow we’ll cover the Eagles. (“Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ”)
After Tucumcari, turned north on 104, again, avoiding Interstates. And boy, did I? On this route you practically avoid everything but small animals and cows. Road was a little bumpy at 75+ but the bike handled it well. It’s just miles and miles of miles and miles. Saw a coyote and a roadrunner. They were about 50 miles apart so I’m assuming Wiley’s screwing up again.
Stopped for some water in a ice-house/boat repair facility in Conchas Dam, NM. There were three local ladies in the store, late forties to early sixties. Couldn’t tell if they all worked in the store, or only one did, but they were sitting around sharing a pot of macaroni and jalapenos. (Ain't that great?) When I asked how in the world they ending up in such a remote place they replied, “Oh, the same way. Brought by husbands who are no longer around.” One had been there thirty years, the shortest, in time span, for ten. The short-timer had her house up for sale but, unless her ex-husband remarries and wants to move another one out there I don’t hold out much hope for her. It takes two to make a market.
Successfully negotiated NM104 to Las Vegas (NM) and took I-25 to Santa Fe. This is one of my favorite cities in the country. Rode down to the square and had a late lunch then took I-25 to Bernalillo. Just decided to stop here and got a motel. The fact that down the street is a casino with a great poker room is purely coincidental.
Tomorrow, probably poorer, westward ho.
posted by Minuend | 10:11 PM
2 Comments:
Brother, all I can say is WOW. Sounds a lot like Ron traversing the country in his VW way back when, only better. You already pointed out the obvious, so please pay attention to your gas gauge. How convenient for there to be a Poker Room just down the street. I am sure you did okay. Talk to you soon.
Not Randy, but as close to family as I can get.
Brother, I wish I could have gone with you. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. Been wanting to ramble along since Tavares.
Donna and I stopped in Clovis one sat. nite and found it to be a great "watch the kids drag main" towns. Love Sante Fe also, along with Taos which has a great golf course to go with the great food and views.
Good luck.
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