We awoke at 8,671 feet of elevation in Red River, New Mexico, It was 38 degrees and our bikes were covered with frost. We were at 4,086 feet of elevation when the day ended in Tucumcari, New Mexico. The temperature was above 90 degrees.
Our morning respite took place at Shotgun Willie's, a local Red River eatery owned by a newcomer to town, Steve Cherry. Steve and his family moved to Red River two years ago from Denton, Texas. Steve says he has found a real home. He accepts the occasional 20 degrees below zero winter mornings because he loves the summer high temperatures of 80 degrees.
Shotgun Willie's.
Steve Cherry, Shotgun Willie's proprietor and newcomer to Red River.
We rode east out of Red River on Highway 38, the same road we had ridden yesterday (in the opposite direction, which makes for an entirely new ride). It was a great way to start the day - as many twisties and ups and downs as one could hope for. It provided another opportunity to cross Bobcat Pass at over 9,800 feet of elevation.
We turned off Highway 38 at Eagles Nest, New Mexico, and ripped across the Cimmarron Canyon, yet another 22 mile thrill ride through the heavily forested Colin Neblett Wildlife Area.
Immediately east of Eagles Nest sits Eagles Nest Lake, a 2,000 acre lake constructed in 1918 by ranchers Charles and Frank Springer to irrigate their ranch.
Jim was riding lead so I radioed him to let him know that I was pulling off onto a gravel parking lot overlooking the lake to take a photo. There is a reason people on two wheels avoid gravel parking lots. I came to a stop and raised my left foot in order to put down the kickstand. At that point, my right foot started to slide on the loose gravel. The bike started leaning left, far enough so that I was not able to pull it back up to vertical. I was able to gently lower to the ground. I radioed Jim again and he returned to the parking lot. He and I lifted the bike back up. The bike is fine. The photo was only so-so.
My poor baby has given me 44,000 miles of joy. I guess you could say I let her down.
Eagle's Nest Lake. A photo well earned.
We rode on until we reached Cimarron, New Mexico. Former boy scouts will recognize Cimarron as the home of Philmont Scout Ranch. Cimarron is also located on the old Route 66.
We turned on Highway 39 and continued our way south. We stopped for lunch at Annette's Cafe, in Roy, New Mexico. Roy is, according to the welcome sign at the edge of town, a village. It was small, desolate and actually had tumbleweed blowing down the empty streets. Lunch (Sloppy Joes with green chile sauce and an enchilada), was excellent.
Annette's Cafe in Roy, New Mexico
We rode the final 100 miles to Tucumcari, New Mexico, in high winds and increasingly warmer weather.
Mesa along Highway 39
Mill's Canyon
Our final descent from the high plains
The fine folks at Sandia BMW in Santa Fe completed repairs to Bill's bike by mid-afternoon. He got a new battery and some major work done to his front forks. His brakes were fine. He joined back up with us in Tucumcari late this afternoon..
On Wednesday we begin our return to Tennessee. Tucumcari is roughly 1,000 miles via I-40 from Tennessee and we have five days to make the journey. Our plans at this point are to do as little interstate as possible, spending our time instead exploring the back roads of Oklahoma and Arkansas.
