1 July 2017
It was warm this morning, but not bad--91-ish, and it never got above that--in fact, it was almost chilly up in the New Mexico mountains, 71 at one point. Returned to that 91 reading by the end of the day, though.
The ride started with a 25 mile run up I-25--it's almost impossible to avoid all freeways--during which I noticed one of my GPSs wasn't plugged into the bike's power, and I realized I hadn't started the 'drop breadcrumbs' function on the SPOT tracker. So after I exited, I took care of those two screw-ups, and hied my way east on US60.
I've stopped in Mountainair more often than you'd think would be the case for such a small town, but there's a National Park (Salinas Pueblo Mission) Visitor Center there, as well as gas, which is what I needed today. After filling up, I noted an inordinate amount of traffic, slowly meandering, and tables set up along the street, and umbrellas, and people wandering and waving. Saturday before the Fourth of July, I realized, and likely a parade in the offing--it was approaching 11 o'clock--perhaps at noon? Didn't wait to see.
The skies started darkening, along with the previously noted chill, but no rain ever did develop, and after an hour or so, the sun returned. Through Willard, and Encino, and Vaughn, then Fort Sumner...as I approached Clovis, I saw a strange airplane, finally recognized as an Osprey. Sure enough, Cannon AFB is right there.
Crossed into Texas, where the speed limit immediately climbed to 75, as did I, somewhat making up for the late/slow start. It's not doing my mileage any good, though, so I stop for fuel in Bovina.
I do like the way Texas treats speed limits. Shortly before the town, it drops to 70, then 55, then 45, etc, depending on the size of the 'town.' If you take your foot off the gas at that first sign, your speed pretty much decreases to hit the limits at those following signs, and the acceleration out the other side is similar. In contrast, the day before coming into Socorro, the limit dropped to 35 two miles out of town. What's the point?
I hadn't had a good idea of where I'd be stopping, but it looked like I'd hit Amarillo about the right time, so I started my Nuvi looking for motels and grocery stores--but lots of both in Amarillo, and tough to figure which were near which. Finally, I just picked a Wal*Mart Supercenter and hoped I'd spot a motel somewhere near. Sure enough, as I waited at a light just before it, I could see an "Americas Best Value Inn" just past it.
Although the place looked deserted, the clerk only had two rooms left: two beds, non-smoking, or single bed, smoking--I'll use the other bed for gear staging, thanks. (He had a pile of registration cards, and speculated that it was the Fourth of July weekend--although I don't know what's special about Amarillo and the Fourth.)
Not a great room, but the walk to Wal*Mart was short; corn was up to 25¢ / ear (just barely better than the Fair), and there was more noise bothering my sleep than I like--Holiday weekend?
Motel: $49.80
Groceries: $13.17 (breakfast, too)
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