Holbrook Arizona to Sante Fe New Mexico

Two days of riding, over 1,100 kilometres, a number of new discoveries and a few adventures.  First, I left the Desert Mirage Inn and Suites in Needles California at 8:00 on Thursday and was able to find some more long stretches of Route 66 to ride on. In Kingman Arizona I stoppoed to take a few pictures including this one of the Hotel Beale that advertised itself as being air cooled. Was this early air conditioning or simply letting travelers know that they could open the window in their room to let in the cool desert breeze.

I had breakfast at the Mr D'z (that's not a typo) Route 66 Diner, a classic
.

But nothing yet could match the Hackberry General Store. it's now a souvenir shop stuffed with really old stuff like a soda bar,

 and a stove made from two oil drums set one on top of each other.

The scenery of which I never tire of, though some of you may be starting to, continues to amaze as it unfolds before me mile after mile.

Another well known and oft photographed spot is the now closed Twin Arrows Trading Post.  While the store has been closed for many years someone continues to maintain the arrows.

Route 66 runs a few kilometres north of Meteor Crater. The huge crater, 4,000 feet across and 700 feet deep, was created some 50,000 years ago by the impact of a several hundred thousand ton, 150 foot wide meteor travelling at about 26,000 miles per hour. The crater still attracts a number of researchers and many tourists who are well served by the modern interpretation centre and knowledgeable staff.

Once back on I-40 i was caught in an hour long slowdown caused by paving that closed one of the two eastbound lanes for a 5 mile stretch.

After a good night's rest I left th Holbrook Arizona's Americas Best Value Inn and headed off to visit the Painted Dessert and the Petrified Forest, both of which are in a national park about 20 miles from Holbrook.

In addition to the scenery I stopped to admire some of the vegetation including these delicate bushes that would look good in a garden at home.

The rest of the ride to Santa Fe New Mexico, where I have decided to spend an extra day was uneventful. Well except for getting caught in a torrential downpour that forced me to stop at a service centre. I had never before rode my motorcycle completely crouched over the fuel tank, hiding behind the windscreen, with the four-way flashers on; probably the longest 5 miles, and certainly the slowest for me on an interstate highway.

Tonight, as a reward for making it to Santa Fe, I had a lovely dinner consisting of a perfectly cooked piece of flake with a medley of vegetables and two glasses of Californian Chardonnay.

I'm looking forward to walking around the capital of New Mexico tomorrow.