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November 14, 2017
Day 2: Fort McDowell, Arizona
Starting Odometer: 4,961 miles
Ending Odometer: 5,423 miles
Today's Mileage: 462 miles
Trip Total Mileage: 820 Miles [5,423 - 4,603]]
I am alive and well and resting peacefully in Fort McDowell, Arizona.
This is roughly what my ride looked like today.
Once again, I wanted to take the interstate, but Steve wouldn't let me. He made me turn off of I-40 at Holbrook, and it was a beautiful ride from Holbrook to Fort McDowell, Arizona.
Today was a long ride, and I didn't get away until 11:00 a.m. because I was fiddling with my photos on my laptop in the hotel room for way too long.
I got up and rode out of Santa Fe this morning. My buddy Devon said that New Mexico is the poorest state in the country. I was like...I thought it was Mississippi or Alabama? But apparently, New Mexico has been sliding into last place for some time.
But I dunno if this is true or not. They're trying to revitalize the econmy, attract computer workers, etc.
Good luck with that.
Like, for some reason, Steve decided that I needed to ride 450 miles today. So, basically, I rode all day today, from noon until 6:00 p.m.
At first, on I-10, the biggest problem was that there's a bunch of 18 wheelers doing the 15 mile pass routine, where they take way too long to pass each other. So, as I passed people riding out in the left lane, I'd flip them off and keep going This worked pretty well until I realized I was about to run out of gas. The thought of all of these angry motorists stopping to assualt me on the side of the road was not something I wanted to happen.
My first gas stop is supposed to be Thoreau, NM. But, the winds are so high that I'm getting 36 mpg instead of 45 mpg. I'm basically out of fuel, praying I don't run out. When I get to Thoreau, NM, there was no gas station. Not clear why I thought that there would be one there. Oh well.
So I ride on down to the next exit or so and see a sign for gas and stop in and refill. But, when I refill my gas tank, it doesn't hold 5 gallons. It only held 4.8, even though it said it was empty. Liars.
I keep on riding and riding and eventually, I get to Holbrook, Arizona. This is my 2nd refueling point, and now Steve has me riding down some random road. But as I keep riding, the road gets nicer and nicer. Lots of trees now. Climbing and descending through conifer forests. Eventually, the sun setting before me with a range of mountains silhoueted.
I would not have chosen to come this way, but I'm glad Steve told me to follow this road. It was a scenic drive, and not one that I've been on before, I'm sure.
Posted by Rob Kiser on November 14, 2017 at 7:55 PM
Comments
That sounds lovely. Say hi If you come back via Nevada.
NJ
Posted by: Nevada Joe on November 15, 2017 at 8:21 AM
49th economy....Mississippi is still 50th! Looking forward to following your your trip. Hopefully motivating me to finally do it as well.
Posted by: Devin Pinckard on November 15, 2017 at 10:16 PM