Tucumcari NM, to Adrian, TX

Monday 30 April 2018

Today's ride was from Tucumcari NM, to Adrian, TX

Unfortunately, the WIFI here at the hotel has died and I'm presently using my phone as a hot spot so no pictures will be uploaded until tomorrow.

Today ride was very enjoyable. It started out in the mid 50’s with a crosswind and ended up in the mid 80’s with a strong tailwind.  It was the first day since I left Santa Monica that I did not need to shift into the granny gear to get up a hill.  YA!

I met 4 LAPD Hollywood division, police officers that are cycling from Hollywood to Washington, DC in memory of fallen officers.  They plan on being in Washington DC by May 15 for the annual Peace Officers Memorial Day 

I had stopped for a snack and saw this group coming with the last car being a police car with his lights flashing.  One cyclist had already passed by the time I got my camera out.  A few miles down the road I saw that the group had stopped so I went in and talked to them and found out they were from the LAPD on a ride to Honor Fallen Officers. 
I left a couple of minutes before they did and... being a guy I stopped pedaling like a touring cyclist and put it into macho mode.  The road was slightly down hill and slightly down wind by the time the droup caught up with me they asked me where the motor was hidden on the bike.  We rode together for several miles, until the New Mexico / Texas boarder.  Then they had a change of escorts.

Four LAPD riders, two chase car drivers, one New Mexico State Highway Patrol, and 4 Texas Highway Patrol

and me

In Texas and the group passed me.

The day started out with a good sunrise.

Many places along the route there have been places with old cars in many different stages of dis-repair

more flowers

note the large wind farm in the background

kind of hard getting lost

The last 20 miles or so there was a good tailwind. Note the direction the wind farm is pointing. 

Great riding when the WindMill is pointing in the direction you are coming from!

I had lunch at the MidPoint Cafe

Grilled Bologna Sandwich

Apple Pie

The end of a great day of riding

Tucumcari, NM

Sunday 29 April 2018

Today I rode around the town of Tucumcari.  At one time this was a very busy town primarily catering to the traveling public.  The town is noted for the  many neon signs from days gone by but also for the over forty murals painted on the sides of buildings.  Here is a small sampling of those murals

Santa Rosa, NM to Tucumcari, NM

Saturday 28 April 2018

Today's route was from Santa Rosa, NM to Tucumcari, NM

On the route today, there was almost no traffic until I had to get onto Interstate 40 for 8 miles just prior Tucumcari.  The road was ok except for one section of 2.5 miles of very poor dirt road about 15 miles outside of Santa Rosa.

On the way out of Santa Rosa more closed businesses because the interstate bypassing the town.

Almost every town has a collection of old cars and trucks along the side of the road.  Note the old trucks in the background.

The road not far outside of Santa Rosa.

Only 10.5 more miles until I make a left turn

The top of the next hill is 8 miles away

dirt road

Cuervo, NM

Newkirk, NM

There have been a few questions about flowers.  The last couple of days I have started seeing flowers beginning to bloom.  There were close together so I stopped.  But there are some areas where these flowers were very large bunches.

Last years flowers.  Would look good in a dried flower arrangement

Same plant with this years flowers coming

And of course the place is closed

Remember "Put a tiger in your tank" ?

Tucumcari is a town that thrives on tourism. Interstate 40 and 54 intersect in the town. In its heyday Route 66 went through downtown.  There are a large number of businesses have since closed since Interstate 40 goes around the town.  There are still lots of hotels, restaurants, and curio shops for the travelers that want to get off the interstate for a break.