We had negotiated a compromise to our departure time this morning, 0730, and so when I awoke at 0600 I spent the first hour blogging. It was an overcast day, but projected high was still in the mid 30's. Bill would like to take me to the Four Corners area; where AZ, NV, NM & CO all meet, as there are some Aztec ruins there as well.

Accordingly we plot our route out of Tucson in a manner dodging the Interstate as much as possible. We end up on AZ77 Northbound, but we'll also be going back Eastward a bit. The first hour on AZ77 is pretty frustrating as we are driving through a Metro area with traffic lights at each cross street. It takes us a long, long time to get out to the 2 lane deserted highway we both love so much, but it eventually happens.

We are about 90 minutes outside of Tucson, on AZ77 when the road starts to get rather twisty, then very twisty, then extremely twisty. We end up driving though what I can only describe as a mini Gand Canyon, a Modest Canyon perhaps? It had all the same looks as the GC, with the various layers of different colors. It culminated in an area where the road ran around a central shaft, possible volcanic of origin.

After spending about an hour climbing to this pinnacle, we spent a similiar amount of time headed back down the hill on the other side. The road gradually became less and less twisty until it finally spit us out into the desert on a road laser beam straight for 50 miles.

In the higher elevations it was very comfortable, at times just brushing with being a bit chilly, but as we descended to the desert floor, you could feel the temperature rising by the second. Just before we rendevoused with Interstate 40 Eastbound we entered an area of Coyote & Roadrunner desert replete with smooth colored rocks and pipe organ cacti.

The we merged with I40 and yiou have to focus on the semi's all around you doing 90+ MPH, no more time for sight seeing! We are on I40 for about 30 minutes when, despite the need to focus on staying alive, I start to feel sleepy again. I keep negotiations to a minimum and pull over where I think I see a Navajo Market. It was that, maybe 15 years ago, but now it is a deserted lot. I was trying to find Bill some shade and some entertainment while I had a catnap.

Luckily he just read his book and let me nap for about 20 minutes. He is unbelievably patient and understanding! I put my leather jacket on the ground beside the bike, roll my gloves into a crude pillow and laydown in the shadow of The Rocket. The engine heat prolly negates any benefits from the shade created, but nonetheless I am asleep in seconds and awaken 20 minutes later feeling like a million bucks!

Back on the Interstate we could see dark clouds ahead, but we always seem to skirt the path of the rian at the last possible second. As we approached Gallup, NM, our destination for today, the dark clouds spanned the horizon, there was no way we could dodge this one.

There were maybe 200 billboards advertising various mo'tels on the road into Gallup. I chose the very first turn-off and we ended up at a Mo'tel 6 for $42.00/night. Although next to a gas station, no restaurant, therefore no TriFecta! We had some Tequilas & Krackens on the Veranda. Our DustBusters have really evolved!

Dinner was at the TacoBell about a 15 minute walk down the highway, a form of Mexican Restaurant I guess! Lou's Day is over, apparently, Bill gets his way again! When we return to the mo'tel, after a side trip to The Dollar Store for some popcorn and toothpaste we find that Bill has left his mo'tel room door open. NO, not unlocked, or not shut, but wide open! Luckily we are in Gallup!

We have a nightcap and retire for the evening. I have a FaceTime date with my BuBu, whom I miss terribly! Then some blogging and some TV.

Day Fifteen

Tucson, AZ to Gallup, NM

570 kms