Epilogue

After loading the bike up in Santa Fe, we headed to Flagstaff.  It was good to get off the bike after four weeks of riding.  Chuck and I would spend the next three-days hiking.   He is a capable guide and  first took me to beautiful Red Mountain in the Coconino National Forest, 25 miles north of Flagstaff. This is a volcanic cinder cone noted for its red color and forms a natural amphitheater.

Chuck at Red Mountain

Next we visited the Grand Canyon - not the tourist-ridden south rim visitors center, but to a spot about 12 miles east that only serious hikers would know about.  We hiked out into the Canyon on a rock formation where the trail wasn't marked and not well traveled.  The views were breathtaking.

 Chuck on the Grand Canyon trail.

The following day we visited Sedona.  Despite being developed, the views and red sandstone formations were amazing.

I had a great visit with my brother in Flagstaff.  It was wonderful to spend time together and a great way to end my autumn adventure.         

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  To be continued...

Day 28 (10/16)

We had a pleasant evening camping and woke up to cool temps.  After a hearty breakfast I hit the road.  It was to be another beautiful sunny day, but with one major flaw for cyclists - a fierce headwind coming out of the west.  Riding in a tucked aerodynamic  position down on the drops bars was becoming habit.  It was going to be a tough day on the bike.  What I really needed was a reprieve, a tailwind,  but it was not to be.  On the contrary, the wind forecast for the next few days was more of the same.   At maximum effort, the best I could do was 9 MPH.   After 35 miles of this, it seemed pointless to continue.  I felt like I had  ridden 70 miles. I needed to get off the bike.  Chuck came out to check on me, we loaded it into his truck.  I really wanted to spend some time with him hiking  the Grand Canyon, Red Mountain, and other adventures. So after four weeks and 1,688 miles, this segment of my 2016 Route 66 tour ended in Santa Fe, New Mexico.     My plan is to complete the remaining 900 miles to the Santa Monica pier next year (or when I turn 66 :).

Chuck grilling up a feast last evening.

On the road to Santa Fe on my last R66 touring day.

Day 27 (10/15)

The first 20 miles were spent on the I-40 freeway.  As I exited on Route 66 the winds started to gust strongly out of the west.    Adding to the day's challenge were the climbs to higher elevation as I approached the Continental Divide.  It would be a slow grind for the next 40 miles.  A compensating factor was the spectacular scenery of mesas and mountains.  I made it to Las Vegas, NM at mid-afternoon, a distance of 62 miles and 3,395 ft in elevation gain. My average speed was 10 MPH. 

My brother, Chuck, drove ahead and had his camper set up when I arrived. He had cold beer, snacks, and cooked a fabulous dinner on the Coleman grill.  It doesn't get any better than that.  It was great to have him with me and spend time together. 

Riding the original Route 66

Beautiful New Mexico

Camping in Las Vegas, NM

Day 26 (10/14)

Today was a rest day, not by choice, but out of necessity because my bike was not rideable after the  hub cracked.  My brother in Flagstaff kindly offered to bring me out a replacement wheel.  He is also bringing his camper and will support  me on the remaining miles of this tour.  Sometimes good fortune follows in the wake of adversity.  

My cracked front hub.  See the two spokes that broke loose.

Day 25 (10/13)

My first full day of touring Route 66 in New Mexico was filled with beautiful scenery and perfect weather.  Beautiful mesas and rock formations surrounded us.  Thus far, this is the best and most scenic part of R66.  The first 10 miles were on I-40, but the rest of the way to Santa Rosa was nearly traffic free.  In and after Cuervo it actually became desolate with fantastic views.

As I descended into Santa Rosa I heard a cracking sound. A moment later my front wheel started to wobble.  I stopped to inspect it and found that a piece of the hub had broken off and two spokes were hanging loose.   Fortunately my brother will be bringing me a replacement wheel tomorrow.  I was cruising downhill at over 25 MPH when this happened.  Someone was looking out for me.  It could have been very ugly.   Today's ride was 64 miles.

Route 66, The Lonely Road

Heading Into Santa Rosa moments before my hub cracked.

Day 24 (10/12)

A cold front moved in overnight and temperatures dropped to the high 40s. The wind direction also did an about-face coming out of the NE gusting at 19 MPH.  Although it was cold, the tailwind was strong and pushed us all day.  We got to the New Mexico state line at mid-morning.  We had to ride on the I-40 freeway again, this time for 30 miles. No problems whatsoever.  The NM landscape is much more interesting than the Texas panhandle. Road conditions are improved as well.

We reached Tucumcari after riding 78 miles for the day.  There are many vintage motels on their Route 66 strip.

The Land of Enchantment

New Mexico Landscape

Great vintage motel in Tucumcari

Day 23

I left Groom at pre-dawn with lights on. I had the road to myself again. After an hour or so I met up with Erik.   We rode together for most of the day, had lunch at a diner, and navigated through Amarillo.  Erik had heard that headwinds in New Mexico were giving the racers fits and slowing their pace to a crawl.  We experienced the same in the afternoon after leaving Amarillo, riding at a 10 MPH pace.  We reached Vega, TX late in the afternoon, covering a distance of 82 miles.

Tomorrow I  will be in New Mexico.

Dawn Is A Feeling

Erik Leaving Amarillo

Route 66 Reptile