Rained out

Rough day to leave Gallup as the surprise monsoons kept on all afternoon. I waited 3 hrs for the storms to blow over, but at 3pm decided to call it off. A little frustrating to stay amped up to ride the 90 miles to Holbrook and have to sit on your hands. Gonna get an early start on Monday, and take it easy tonight with the cubs game and some beer. I'm ready to get outaa dodge.

into Albuquerque

Uphill

So Saturday was my 2nd straight long day. I had about 130 miles to go, heading higher and higher up to gallup, NM. The first stretch of hills that didn't have a descend on the other side. With my souped-up new tires I had new confidence riding along the highway shoulder, until hitting a god awful shoulder from he'll that stretched 3 miles just as the sun was setting. Just after the rumble strips along the road, the shoulder would drop down about 3 inches and was full of loose stones and gravel , I kept with it for a half mile thinking it would pass. Finally I gave up and walked the bike to the next off ramp 2 miles away. That was so demoralizing when I though I only had about am hour to go to Gallup, and 45 min later I had only gained 2 miles. Throw in all the scratches from bumping my pedals and it was a rough evening.

I met Paul thru couchsurfing and he picked me up in Gallup and had a good dinner. He's a bike racer and we shared stories over some white Russians and then called it a night.

This will be my latest start for any day of the trip, but I definitely nSeder the rest after two rough days. The road to Holbrook, arizona should be flat, although I am up at 6500 feet and I get out of breath easier. Only 20 miles to go to the border

Friday in Albuquerque

I as dead tired last night. A long ride into Albuquerque or about 115 miles, about 80 of that was on the shoulder of I-40. While it's always a clear line to ride and has much more gradual hills and descents, there's so much debris hidden on the pavement. I've been on the highway about 150 miles so far this trip, and it accounts for all 3 of my flat tires. So today about 40 miles outside Albuquerque I blew the last tube I had on me, so the last 2 hours I had to patch an older tube and keep checking the pressure on it. A little frustrating to do, but I knew a bike shop downtown that would help me out. My friend Alex from Amarillo recommended the Bike Coop which is right on 66. So an easy stop for me and theg stayed late ona Friday to help me on my way. New slimed tubes that will help resist the small staples and needles that seem to cover the highway shoulder. Also a new chain and thicker set of tires.

Yesterday was also an early rain that luckily was only heavy for about 20 minutes. It doesn't affect my riding much, but you hate to be so close to cars that don't have full visibility.

Now I'm stuck in my motel at 7am and waiting for the manager to arrive to see if a fax came in for me. Inthe meantime I can grab breakfast and do some more gear organiZation. Ca long 135 mile day to Gallup, and it might go into the dark tonight. Carter this though, the mile drops down to 60-90 miles a day. Hoping to get another off day once I'm in flagstaff. The elevation doesn't seem so intimidating anymore. Flagstaff sits at 7700 ft, cbut I've already rode to 6400 so it should be just a little more ways up. And no problems with the acclimating, conly problem so far is my tires and my ever-changing sleep schedule.

into Santa Rosa, NM

headed to Tucumcari, NM

Easy day to Santa rosa

Pretty easy day taking my time to santa rosa today. I took off from tucumcari about 7:30 and took the frontage road out of town. Unfortunately it deadened and I was walking my bike next to the dirt trail next to the railroad tracks. Once the trail got close to he interstate I jumped on and stayed on until Santa rosa. It was a cool day and I managed to get to my hotel by 1:00 and took a nap durin the heat.

I wanted to get over to the Blue Hole, a natural spring in town hat stays at 65 degrees year round. So by 4:00 I was ready to ride the 2 miles to swim, but when I came out dark clouds and wind were rolling in and he rain started to sprinkle. its supposed to rain all week in Albuquerque, by he storms don't start until the afternoon. So I'm hoping to get a 3am start tomorrow to be sure I get to Albuquerque around 1 or 2. I stopped by the truck stops and asked advice about getting to Santa fe, but it's a pretty desolate road out there. So I'm skipping Santa fe And heading west with I-40 across new Mexico.

Radio interview

I did a radio interview today with Josh from www.lastchoicecountry.com. It should air at 11am on Thursday and updates how far I've come and the covenant healthcare I'm supporting

Off day

An easy day for me on Wednesday. I stayed an extra day at he blue swallow motel and feel ready for the long haul thru the desert now. Nancy and Kevin mueller are originally from Brighton, michigan and just took over the motel this year. They passed along a donation, and a long sleeve souvineer shirt that will help once i head to higher elevation. It's just off of I-40 by the new mexico/Texas border and I strongly recommend you swing by.

I go to sleep in for the first time all trip (8 am) and lounged around after a big breakfast. I checked Out the local Quarles art gallery, who painted murals all around town. The blue swallow has some around the walls and even in the motor garages. Just watching some baseball now and getting ready for an easy ride tomorrow to Santa rosa. There's always a feeling that when I ride I want to keep going, and taking days off like this make me want to relax a little longer. So before that feeling gets too strong, I'll be on my way. See you again someday tucumcari!

Day 14 Pics

Tucumcri tonite

Long, but comfortable day to tucumcari, NM yesterday. Finally made it to my 8th state and into mountain time. I took off from Amarillo at 630, and had an easy time getting out of town and back on the I-40 frontage road. I made it to the cadillac ranch with the sun shining and got some pics. The whole road to tucumcari was 120 miles with major towns every 40 miles. I've been carrying 1.5 gallons of fluid with me now that it's thinned out and every gas staton I ask where the next fillup comes. Truck stops have been great with so many travelers coming thru, and everyone has advice for the road. I grabbed lunch at he Halfway Cafe when it was dead at 12:30. I asked to take a nap and the waitress didn't mind so I fell asleep on my arms at the table. No idea how long I was out, but I woke up to 10 people around and got really embarassed. I was trying to rest up for the next 40 mile section of open range, but then was pleasantly surprised to find the new Mexico welcome center, with AC and free coffee. A great oasis to welcome me to the desert. I saw the first of the mountain plateaus today and enjoying an offday at the doormat to he mountains.

Day 13 Pics