After such low mileage and our "flower sniffing" ways, Ted and I have decided that we better put the" petal to the metal." We left Tucumcari (I like saying that), New Mexico at about 9:00 MST we headed west along I-40. As difficult a day that we had yesterday, today was wonderful. The wind was gone and the sun was out. The temperature was perfect. We booked down the interstate to Cline's Corners on Route 66. There we stopped for a bite to eat. We got through Albuquerque with no problems on a Sunday and kept on crusin' to Exit 85 where we got off to visit the New Mexico Visitor's Center in Grants, NM to get directions.
Back on I-40 to Exit 81 where we took Rt. 53 south. Our focus was to ride through the El Malpais National Monument area. Volcanic remains are evident along the road. Cones rise high in the distance. As we leave that behind and we climb up into ponderosa pines. It's here that we cross the Continental Divide (7982 feet). Miles and miles with only Ted and I on the road. This is heaven!
We leave El Malpais' area behind and look forward to visiting the El Morro National Monument. Even before you get to the visitor's center you see the rock formation in the distance. It is awe inspiring. Here ancient Americans settled. The Spanish came too. They both left their prints upon the area. The rock formation is dramatic. The natural water cauldron made this spot an ideal camping and stopping area for the people who came later. We didn't hike the trail that takes you to the adobe dwelling places, but this is a good place to go back to. We continued on Rt. 53 and stopped in Zuni to get gas. Route 53 is a great road. Beautiful scenery, no traffic, good surface!
We stayed on 53 into Arizona where we picked up 191 north to I-40. Just a few exits and we were off again to view the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. We stopped at the Northern Visitor's Center and got lots of info and then headed on the loop. The views were awesome! After the Painted Desert we rode into an area that reminded you of a lunar landscape. Then out again into flat land. A large antelope bounded up onto the roadway in front of Ted. We saw three more as we rode out of the park and grabbed Route 180 north into Holbrook, AZ.
This is a great place to ride! I said, "Oh, my gosh!" a million times today!
U-turns - 2
Miles - 472
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1 comment:
What an adventure so far. I like your "U-turn" and "Miles" list at the bottom of your blog. It sounds like you shoud have an "Oh My Gosh" rating too.
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