Here we are traveling west again! Seems better traveling to the west. Less traffic and wide open spaces.
Did my normal calling. Who’s in? R. T. from the Abilene area says I am in. Make arrangements to meet in Roswell, New Mexico.
I pull out on a Wednesday morning. Make a stop in Big Spring to see Paul and Don. Stop and check out Paul’s shop. Chat for a bit, then off to lunch. Local Mexican food. After a full tummy its westward ho.
I ran to Lemesa, heavy rain and lightning at the edge of town. Lucky for me there is an overpass at the edge of town. Shelter till the storm passes. After about 20 minutes it passes to the north. I continue west with clear skies ahead. I travel Hwy 180 through Hobbs. I took Hwy 82 to Artesia. Hwy 285 to Roswell. I met R T at the Best Western Motel in the north part of town. On the way to Roswell my charging meter was bouncing all around. There has to be a problem! It’s about 430. Maybe we can make the Harley dealer before closing time! We arrive at about 5, they close at 6, so maybe! Sure enough they check it out. Bad news, you need a new battery. They install a new one and test ride. Everything is good! Now it’s time for food and drink. Find a local Mexican restaurant with good margaritas. Time to celebrate a quick repair! After a few it’s back to the motel for soon much needed rest. About a 500 mile day.
The next morning westward again. Ruidosa here we come! We stop for gas about 20 miles out of Roswell. We met a couple of guys from Holland. Jan de Blaaij and Hans Delwel. These guys are traveling across America to raise money for research into non-hodgkin cancer. Both of these fellows have this cancer and are expected to only live a couple of years! They are traveling for 2 months across the U.S. to bring awareness and make memories. God bless these guys!
We part ways, we take the scenic route to the north and drop into Ruidosa. It has been many years since I have been here. I used to make this trip yearly back in the 80s and 90s. The old Apencade. The place has not changed a lot. Just more building going on. Stopping at the Win, Place and Show bar, this place brought back a lot of memories.
On the road again, through the Indian reservation to Cloudcroft. We checked into a motel at the edge of town. R T has stayed here before. He knew the owner! He knows everybody! The lady says the key is under the front mat! What a down home place. The room was decorated like my garage. Awesome place! The brewery was located right across the road up on a hill. The walk up was a little rough, coming down no problem! We indulged in a couple of cold brews, you know it’s been a dusty ride! We got some food and rode uptown. Hit a place uptown that R T had frequented in earlier years. We walk in, guess what? The bartender is from Fredericksburg! What are the chances! It’s a small world all I can say.
The next day it’s down the mountain. Through Alamogordo through Las Cruces. We did make a stop downtown to wet our whistles. We catch I-10 and travel west. Next stop Silver City. This is the site for the annual Blues Festival. We arrive in the afternoon on Friday. Motel 6 is our place for the night. What a disaster! This place is a dump! No soap, no towels, the floor tile in the bath is all loose! The door jams are falling off. This place should be condemned! All well got to make the best of it!
We cruise downtown to check out the local music. Awesome music at the brewery in the old part of town. Spent several hours here, it was great! Back to that great motel room! At least the a/c worked! The next morning we secure a room down the street which is much better! A Denny’s restaurant is located in the parking lot.
We hit the Blues Fest around 1030. The music starts at 11. Always good to be early! The music is good, always better with some cold brew! Jetson from Colorado is arriving around 3. The more the better! Jetson arrives. Introduced to R T and the party begins. We enjoyed a full day of music. We travel back downtown for more? Can’t get enough! More cold brews and different bands from last night. Time to shut it down for one day. Motel time and some rest!
The next day is Sunday, the final day. Joe King Carosco is the headliner. Good music all day, Finished up with Joe King. He put on a great show! The next day, there was rain in the morning, so we were delayed a bit. We traveled west to Alpine. Stopped for gas in Alpine. Fired the bike up, the red light came on, not charging. I thought I had this problem solved! Last year I had a flat tire about 5 miles from this very spot. Deja Voo!
This is the old highway 666! Maybe this place is cursed! We continue on to Pinetop. We checked into the 9 pines motel. I need someone to check my bike? Just like last year’s Memorial Day weekend. Nobody open. It’s a long way to a Harley dealer! The Flagstaff area is the closest. I asked the owner of the motel to give me a ride to buy a charger. He runs me up to the auto parts store.
Hey, I want to do something good for you! I want to buy your charger! Really, you don’t have to! Still some good people out there! Back at the motel, I need an extension cord? Hey I got one at the house, I’ll go get it! Thanks bro! Charged overnight, 100 percent ready!
Next day we head to Holbrook. Stopped at Wal-Mart to purchase a backup battery just in case. This turned out to be a good move. Just out of Holbrook the battery went dead. I coasted into a parking lot just off of I-40. Remove all my baggage. I am glad Jetson and R T were there. It would have been tough replacing that battery by myself. It is hard to lift that battery out of that compartment. The battery is replaced , time to rock and roll. Winslow is the next stop. We pulled into Earls Motor Lodge. Like I say R T knows everybody! How are you doing? Long time no see Earl! Secure a room and Earl puts my battery on the charger in his shop. We ran uptown for a bit, stood on the corner and hit the local brewery. We go to Toms on the east end of town, a local biker bar. Where we meet Carrie who works there and Kink her old man. Friendly folk, always good to meet great folk! A good place to hang!
Next day, its off to Belmont, the location of the Grand Canyon Harley dealer. We arrive in the afternoon on Thursday. Harley tech says we will check it out! You need a stator and voltage regulator. Wow, what next! We don’t have one we can overnight from Phoenix. Please do! I will see you tomorrow! We traveled to Williams for a room. All good, A room secure, food and drink within walking distance. We enjoy food and drink and hope for good things tomorrow. Charge my battery overnight so I can make the trip! Roll into the Harley dealership just before 9. Did the part showup? Nope! Where is it? It’s only 90 miles to where it was shipped from? Anyway it’s on the way, well call me? Back to Williams we go. No phone call! Next morning, it’s Saturday. The parts show up, should be here at 11 am. I am on my way. Get there, no part! Should be here at 2! You’re kidding me! By this time I am getting pretty upset! What can you do, you’re at their mercy! The parts arrive. Can you finish today? Yes we can! They get me out at about 4:30. It’s been frustrating, but what do you do? Anyway back to Williams to celebrate! Found a couple neat bars in town, not all bad! Back on the road tomorrow.
We gas up and head back east. We wave at Belmont Harley on the way back through, hope I never stop there again! We rode back to Holbrook, R. T. split off and rode south. Jetson and I continue east. We will travel to Albuquerque for the night. Secure a room. Walking distance to the bar, all good!
The next day continues east. Jetson splits off to Denver, I continue to Amarillo. I reach Amarillo and stop at Smokey Joes on 6 street. Always a good stop for a cold brew and a burger. Get my fill and run down to the Big Texan.
It’s just a few miles down the road on I-40 I walk to the bar and two truckers make room for me in the middle. There is a girl at the end of the bar that appears to be a rider. I said where you headed? Coming from Denver headed to Kerrville! Really! I am going that way myself! You want to run together? Sure! We finish our beer and head south to Plainview. We traveled to Plainview for gas. We gas up and Victoria says, sure, would like a cold beer? There happens to be a Mexican restaurant across the street. After a couple cold ones, time to roll on. We ride together to Lubbock, she splits off and runs down to Sweetwater. I continue on to Lemesa. Secure a room. It’s been a long hot day.
The next day it’s the home stretch. I roll out early to beat the heat.I make it to the front gate in the early afternoon. I got a text from Victoria. Hey, I made it to Headwaters! Great, stay in touch! It’s been a crazy trip, I am tired of breakdowns, I know it comes with the territory.
LIKE I ALWAYS SAY LIVE LIFE TO THE HILT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS YOUR LAST TRIP!
RIDE FREE RIDE OFTEN
DAD TO THE BONE
DAD
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