Tag Archives: Gallup

Monday 15th July

Lessons learned. Never underestimate the environment.

Yesterday we studied the map, found a hotel 50 miles away and booked it. There wasn’t anything nearer, but we were happy with that as it looked down hill all day. Also as we cross the state border leaving New Mexico and entering Arizona. We have to put our clocks back. No point getting to the hotel before check in.

So we had a leisurely morning, and breakfast enjoying not to be leaving in the dark a welcome change. Almost straightaway we realised we made a mistake. Arizona is the hottest place in America and even though we have dropped over 1000ft today it wasn’t a nice down hill that we expected. It’s a bit lumpy.

At least we have plenty of services on Route today. We are back following the interstate 40. Most of them are Indian jewellery trading posts.

At one stop we started talking to a lovely man who pulled in the same time as us on his motorcycle. The normal chat. Where did we start, how far are we going, where are we from etc. He’d said that he’d been to England to Goodwood to show his car. Mike recognised the car straight away Hemi under glass. I’m not familiar with drag racing but apparently he is famous, a big deal. Mike was over the moon. He was Bob Riggle. They chatted for ages, Mike got his autograph I wondered off looking at the Indian jewellery.

What with all our stops and chats to lots of people, fighting the heat and terrain we rolled into the hotel car park 10 hours after starting in the morning. Both of us hot and tired. but still loving life.

Sunday 14th July

Forget about 1st light, we left in the early hours it was still dark. We packed away our tent by mikes mobile phone torch, normally we can see by moonlight but there didn’t seem to be any very Erie.

It’s funny when you cycle so early you spend your time trying to outrun the dogs or avoid the snakes that venture out onto the tarmac to warm up.

We started so early today because we had 65 miles to do with a 9 mile climb 40 miles in. There was no way I was going to attempt that in the midday sun.

Not much going on today we passed a town claiming to be the home of the mustang but it’s early Sunday morning nothing was open.

Made it into Gallup just gone midday. Gallup is a big city so we have opted for a motel a afternoon of veggin out tv and aircon. Can’t believe we are starting a new state tomorrow it’s going so fast.