So the Wander has begun. As I said in the previous post, this is not at the most optimum time of the year to go motorcycle touring. I have been watching the weather and it has been volatile to say the least. The door over Monarch Pass and west to Grand Junction closed down yesterday for at least two or three days unless I thought it would be a good idea to drive a motorcycle on snow packed roads!. Vail Pass area was getting snow yesterday. Salida was supposed to get snow tomorrow (Thursday the 31st of March). So this afternoon I made the run over Poncha Pass to the south into the San Luis Valley and down into Santa Fe New Mexico. Right now I am holed up in a favorite Motel of Mary's and mine called the El Rey. A lovely adobe motor court on Cerrillos Road.
The weather this afternoon was cold, with strong cross winds from my right all the way to Santa Fe. I swear I was leaning right all the way down and probably never wore any of the center tire tread except when slowed down for a town. The temperatures ran about 37 degrees from the house all the way to Antonito. The temperature never got above 44 degrees until I was in Espanola just outside Santa Fe. There was cloud cover all the way, with huge developed cells about in the distance with virga all the way to the ground on some. It was just plain cold and even with the heated handgrips and heated seat, the cold was testing the layers of clothing I had on. As I write this I am thinking I should go check out the El Rey hot tub and sauna.
But enough complaining, I was the one who made the choice to turn the throttle and venture forth today. It is exciting to begin, to begin anything, and I have been planning this trip for some time. I was eager to begin. The drive today was familiar, that is to say, I knew what was coming next. We have driven to Santa Fe or Albuquerque quite a bit over the last 20 years. But the billowing clouds and bitter winds gave it a hostile winter look and no-one seemed to be venturing forth from the houses I rode past. It was as if it was a deserted plain, waiting for summer and life to spring forth again.
Santa Fe was busy when I arrived at five pm, probably rush hour. The wind was blowing the flags straight here also. But plenty of people out and about with the town wearing it's winter colors of brown still. The trees are getting ready but nothing bursting forth with spring like green that I have seen. Here in the motor court they have evergreens against the whitewashed adobe buildings and it feels warm and inviting.
Tomorrow I shall venture forth again with undiminished optimism, hoping for temperatures that are more comfortable for riding and see if I can slide past Flagstaff's 7000 ft elevation and down to Kingman Az where I expect to start riding in 60 or 70 degree weather. I don't expect cloud cover tomorrow, which will help make the temperature feel warmer on my dark coat. But I will confess that it is tempting not to turn right at Albuquerque toward Kingman, but to continue south on I25 till I get to Las Cruces. I could follow I10 toward California, through Tuscon and probably actually be hot!
Well, in the meantime, I will take it one day at a time.
Will by the River March 30th 2016
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