Saturday - Sept. 19th

We had a great day of riding. Just missed being stranded along the roadside in a hail storm. We had pulled off to take cover from the rain and another rider pulled in to join the small shelter when it began hailing. It didn't last long but when it was over it looked like it had snowed.

30 miles East of Gallup, New Mexico

Hail anyone?

Cadillac Ranch - 9/18/09

Friday we enjoyed a quick stop at "The Cadillac Ranch" in Amarillo, Tx. Ten cadillacs have been buried in the soil making an interesting roadside attraction. People are encouraged to spray paint grafitti and from the layers of paint it looks like folks have been doing it for a long time. I painted my kids initials on one of the tires and a big red heart for all my family, friends and co-workers back home.

Staying in Santa Fe, New Mexico tonight. The wind whipped across the plains today and has made 2 riders very tired. Ran into brief light rain but otherwise dry. On to Albuquerque then Arizona tomorrow. We have plans to visit an old family friend of mine before leaving New Mexico.

Marc and I traveled I-40 after stopping at the Oklahoma City Memorial. It follows the old road bed of 66. We're finding time to be an issue due to my addiction for picture taking! So... we're incorporating I-40 when possible. We have many maps and have stopped at many a town to take in the local roadside attractions.
It's true everything is BIG in Texas. The billboards are 30-40 feet in the air, the speed limit is 75mph (I like that one) and the sunsets are breath taking. You can see city lights in the distance for miles before you reach the town because the land is so flat. I could take a million pictures and not be done.
Friday we travel into New Mexico.

Wednesday - Sept 16, 2009

Marc took me to Krispy Kreme for the first time. Little pillows of goodness hot off the conveyor belt. It took all my willpower not to eat a dozen of them! Marc made me don a Krispy Kreme hat in ceremony of my first ever visit.
From there we visited Cruising 66 Victory dealership in Springfield, MO. Wonderful folks! Thanks to all the guys and gals in the shop for taking time to diagnose my phantom "rattle". Thanks to Nan and her husband for a warm welcome .

From there Marc and I traveled along route 66 where ever possible. The road surface is mostly old concrete in different levels of repair. Most towns have seen their better days and it's very obvious that the larger highways have left 66 in the dust. The biggest thing we've had to watch out for has been turtles trying to cross the road.