Start Location: Alamogordo, NM
Ending Location: Farmington, NM
Miles Today: 391
Trip Miles: 2133
States Visited: 6
National Parks Visited: 1
Low Temp: 70.3° F
High Temp: 89.8° F
Min Elevation: 4315'
Max Elevation: 7401'
Route Map:
White Sands 2024 Day06
Today was a grind - almost 400 miles and pretty windy much of the way
as well as being in the 80's most of the day. It was hard not to get
overheated and dehydrated. Much of the route was on country roads with
very few places to stop. I think we saw only one traditional rest
area all day. We actually ate lunch sitting on the ground in the shade
of a gas station that had porta potties for rest rooms. I think we may
have been on a reservation.
Speaking
of roads, New Mexico has a few peculiarities compared to other states.
Most states we have been in have separate speed limits for cars and
trucks. It appears that New Mexico has one speed for both - normally 70
or 75 MPH. Also, when a road develops a significant bump, for some
reason, instead of repairing the bump it appears that they just put up
a sign that says simply "BUMP". We also saw several signs that said
"DAMAGED GUARDRAIL AHEAD" - some of the bumps were significant. You
would think that they would repair the guardrail, especially since it's
sort of a safety issue.
One of the things we saw today was a
huge array of solar panels. We tried to get a couple of pictures but
they were just too far off the road to get a decent shot. I also saw
what appeared to be a memorial, apparently for someone who died on a
motorcycle accident. It was a cross and an actual motorcycle painted
all white. We went by too fast and it was just too hard to go back and
get a shot. That's part of the problem with taking photos from a moving
motorcycle. Besides the fact that you seldom have time to turn the
camera on when you see something, there's the issue of not really being
able to see the display. You just have to point in the general
direction and shoot. Linda does pretty well all things considered.
Today
was day 6 and, since we take 6 days worth of clothes, it was laundry
day when we got in this afternoon. If we make it back in 6 or maybe 7
days we should be okay for the remainder of the trip.
Tomorrow
we head for Bryce Canyon National Park. Unfortunately it looks like it
will be another ride like todays. We had planned to stay at a hotel
very close to the entrance but it was full so we are about 20 miles
west of the park which is not really a big deal. We'll check in late
tomorrow afternoon and then drive to the park Sunday morning and be
able to spend the day in the park and hopefully do at least one hike in
the hoodoos. We may actually stay an additional day and drive to Zion
for the day since it will only be about 50 miles.
