May 9, 2008

DAY 7

I got up late today. It was 6:30 AM when my alarm sounded. I got up, got dressed quietly, so that Rip Van Winkle wouldn't wake up, and went out to the Motors to get them ready for the ride. After cleaning the Motors, I returned to the room and Rip was up and moving. Chuck was ready soon and we went down to the lobby for breakfast. After a quick breakfast and scanning the paper, we returned to the room and got the rest of our stuff. We left at 8:12 AM.

I was in the lead this morning. For those who are concerned about my new Motor, it is running great! Chuck told me that when J.B. checked the battery yesterday, one of the terminals was NOT tight, therefore not holding a good charge. It is fine now. The temperature was in the mid to upper 40's. After we were on the road, it warmed up to 54 degrees. We rode for 117 miles and at 8:34 AM we stopped in Tucumcari, NM. When we crossed into New Mexico, we gained 1 hour. It was after breakfast, after coffee, it was cold...guess what? It was time for a pit stop. We took care of business and, again, reloaded our bladders with coffee. We gassed up the Motors and we were off again at 9:02 AM.

Chuck was now in the lead. We rode for 61 miles before we took another pit stop and short break at 9:49 AM in Santa Rosa, NM. We left at 10:12 AM.

We continued for another 85 miles and stopped, yes, for another pit stop and gas at 11:16 AM in Moriarty, NM. Aren't the names of these cities sounding familiar? I know that we stopped in these cities before! We left at 11:32 AM.

I was in the lead now. Chuck had suggested that we stop later at a Wendy's because he felt like eating a salad. With every little town that we passed, I looked for signs of a Wendy's. After riding for 115 miles, we stopped at 1:04 PM in Grants, NM. at a...Subway. We still couldn't find a Wendy's and we were hungry. Chuck made the mistake of going to the restroom before ordering. I got in line and a lady came behind me. She was in front of Chuck and she ordered three sandwiches and took forever to place the order and order all of the fixins for it. By the time Chuck got his meal and sat with me, I was almost finished with mine. We left at 1:43 PM.

We continued for another 39 miles and stopped at 2:15 PM in Continental Divide, NM. We went into the shop because I needed to get something and we decided to gas up here. We gassed up and left at 2:27 PM.

Chuck was now leading again. We entered Arizona and gained another hour. We rode for 122 miles and stopped in Holbrook, AZ for a pit stop. Since we entered New Mexico and Arizona, we were battling the winds. Some of the gusts were very strong! We were riding on the left side of the lane and with some of the gusts, we were pushed to the right side. That was nasty! After the pit stop, we gassed up and continued.

It was my turn to lead...as if you didn't guess! We rode for 93 miles and at 4:34 PM, we arrived at the Best Western in Flagstaff, AZ. Time to park the Motors and get our room. No such luck! N.A.U. is having their graduation this weekend and the Best Western, as well as most of the other motels in town were all booked. We rode down the street and checked on a Day's Inn. They had rooms available, however, only suites, and they wanted an arm and a leg. We didn't want to BUY the room, just rent it for the night. We left at 4:44 PM.

We decided to ride south to Cottonwood, AZ. where there was a Best Western. We rode 14 miles and stopped at 5:05 PM in south Flagstaff, AZ. to gas up. The wind was reeking havoc with our gas mileage. We left at 5:45 PM.

Southbound we rode with Chuck leading. We rode for 38 miles and stopped at 5:38 PM at a roadside rest area in McGuireville, AZ. Chuck needed a pit stop. When he was done, we talked about not going to Cottonwood and, instead, going to Prescott Valley, AZ. We were off.At 5:21 PM after riding for 41 miles, we were in Prescott Valley heading westbound and Chuck was staring at a Denny's on the south side of the street. I called Chuck on the CB and told him about the Day's Inn, on the same side and across the street from Denny's. Chuck turned into the Day's Inn and told me that he had not seen the Day's Inn. He was concentrating too much on the Denny's. I'm glad I'm with him. Somebody has to take care of him! We checked into the Day's Inn, unloaded our Motors and tucked them in for the night. We went into the room, changed into our swim suits and went into the hot tub. That was nice. We then returned to the room, changed and went across the street to Denny's for dinner and then back to the room.

These were two long days of riding. Yesterday we rode for 651 miles and today we rode for 725 miles. Tomorrow is the retiree's breakfast at the Golden Corral in Prescott. We are so close. We will get up late, ride for 10 minutes and we will be there for breakfast. Of course, we will have horsey dervies at the Day's Inn at their continental breakfast. After the retiree's breakfast at the Golden Corral, we will head for home. More later...