The Reconnection Ride: CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, LA, MS, AR, OK, UT

[rodr]

Day 3 began with a faceful of 6am sunlight through the mesh of my tent. One good thing about camping, it's hard to oversleep.

Then, time to lube the chain. Noticing also that it was too tight, I got out the tools, loosened the rear axle net and adjusted the chain. I didn't like re-tightening the axle nut without a torque wrench, but that's life on the road.



Here is my route for the day. Jerome, Sedona, Payson and beyond for more camping!

But first, a stop at the nearest Starbucks in Prescott to get some work done, as well as catching up on email and ride reporting:



A couple of pics approaching Jerome:





Jerome is pretty much a tourist destination, and there were bunches of motorcycles. I didn't care to add to all that, but stopped just past the town to take a few more pics.


Looking back at Jerome









Approaching Sedona, I stop at a scenic overlook and chat with a fellow rider:



He obligingly takes my picture:



Here's a pic from the other side of Sedona:



The ride onward to Payson was very pretty, with many sweepers, hills, twisties and beautiful scenery. Finally I arrive at my destination without incident and set up camp.



Darkness and the chilly night air eventually put an end to my time on the computer at the campsite table, and a camp fire then provides warmth and time for meditation.

[rodr]

Forgot to mention, when I was doing my chain maintenance that morning, an older (yes, way older than me ) man carrying a fishing pole came up to me and talked about how he rode a motorcycle for 25 years but recently gave it up for safety reasons. It was obvious from the light in his eyes that he wanted to be back on two wheels again.

[rodr]

I think camping is starting to lose its luster.

More so when there is work to be done on the computer. In the daylight it's hard to see the screen. At night it gets cold and uncomfortable, insects are out, you can't see very well, battery life is a factor, mobile broadband may or may not work. I'm very happy to be in a hotel room tonight, especially when it costs only $13 more than the campground did last night!

This morning I managed to get on the road around 7:30 and a while later made it to Show Low and a McDonald's for breakfast, and a couple of hours of checking email and getting some other things done.



Bad news by email, my Tennessee sister is bowing out of the gathering in New Orleans. This cascades into the event being canceled. So my plan now is to spend an extra day with my other sister in Houston. then a couple more days with my Louisiana buddy, and maybe do the rest of the trip as planned but a couple of days shorter. This is not all bad because three weeks is a long time to be away from my honey at home; I miss her a lot already.

Some pics en route from Show Low to Eagar, taken "on the fly":











More bad news awaits me just past Eagar. There is a major wildfire near Alpine and highway 180 is closed! Even up here, smoke is heavy in the air. I'm not quite sure what to do now, but all reasonable options seem to involve going East on highway 60, so I do that intending to stop somewhere for lunch and study my maps out of the heavy gusting wind.

Edit: Here is a news story about the fires.

Here are a couple of pics where I stopped at a historical marker on 60. You can see how thick the smoke is:





And continuing on 60:





Finding a cafe in Quemado, NM:




Enchiladas - best meal I've had all week!

Stopped here to check out this large collection of radio telescopes:







Socorro, NM is my new destination for the night. Now to figure out what's next!

[Signal]

Enchiladas do look good....
Finding a good meal on the road can be a treasure.

[Albie]

No green chili????? A travesty!!!

[rodr]

Originally Posted by Bob

This is looking great!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by NorCal.matt

Thanks for sharing. I'm thinking about a route similar soon, so am excited to see where you head next!

Next, Texas hill country.

Originally Posted by AdventurePoser

Fairfield, CA....nice town. I'll be looking forward to reading your report, and checking out your pix. Enjoy, and travel safe!

Steve

Thanks, Fairfield is in a perfect area for year-round motorcycling. But as a town it's pretty dead.

Originally Posted by Signal

Enchiladas do look good....
Finding a good meal on the road can be a treasure.

Yes indeed. A non-chain that's popular with the locals is usually a sure bet.

Originally Posted by Albie

No green chili????? A travesty!!!

If you say so.

Originally Posted by iDave

Perfect place to be Rod .

Hey Dave!

[rodr]

Here is my revised route for today's travels, routing around the forest fires. Basically it's highway 380 to Roswell, NM, then 285 to Ft. Stockton, TX. I got a late start due to spending an hour on the phone with Verizon Wireless after learning that nobody was able to call my cell phone. Turns out it was a Verizon network problem in the Socorro area.

The ride to Roswell was quite pretty. Here are some pics taken in flight:








These guys were holding up traffic near Lincoln.


Lincoln seems to be of historical interest, home to the Lincoln State Monument.





Lunch in Roswell:



The Southbound leg on 285 was flat and dull by comparison:



I scored the last street-level room in the Motel 6 in Ft. Stockton.



Then dinner at the steak house across the street. New York strip, baked potato, green beans, apple cobbler. Yum. Sorry no pics!

[roadchick]

Great pics Rod!! We have a home right off 108 and have ridden over the pass many times! Beautiful ride! Enjoy your trip....I'll be watching for more pics!

[doublen]

Great report, your pictures of and near Jerome are nearly identical to the ones I shot not a month ago. 89A is one of the most amazing stretches of road I've ever experienced on a motorcycle.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...3#post15978703

[shutterman]

Hey Rodr, I rode south on 395 from Reno to the LA area on April 11th. There was still alot of snow in those mountains. All three passes were closed at that time. I came back through on April 22nd and it seemed to still be alot of snow around. I grew up in Sonora and spent time much time in the mountains from Twain Harte to the Sonora pass area. Did alot of fishing and backpacking there.

Enjoying your report - keep it coming

[PacificPT]

Enjoying the RR, keep it coming. Thanks for taking the time to share!

[rodr]

Originally Posted by roadchick

Great pics Rod!! We have a home right off 108 and have ridden over the pass many times! Beautiful ride! Enjoy your trip....I'll be watching for more pics!

What a nice place to live -- thanks for reading my RR!

Originally Posted by doublen

Great report, your pictures of and near Jerome are nearly identical to the ones I shot not a month ago. 89A is one of the most amazing stretches of road I've ever experienced on a motorcycle.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...3#post15978703

Thanks, I really enjoyed that area.

Originally Posted by shutterman

Hey Rodr, I rode south on 395 from Reno to the LA area on April 11th. There was still alot of snow in those mountains. All three passes were closed at that time. I came back through on April 22nd and it seemed to still be alot of snow around. I grew up in Sonora and spent time much time in the mountains from Twain Harte to the Sonora pass area. Did alot of fishing and backpacking there.

Enjoying your report - keep it coming

Yes it's a beautiful area. And Sonora Pass just re-opened a couple of days before my ride, that was most fortunate.

Originally Posted by PacificPT

Enjoying the RR, keep it coming. Thanks for taking the time to share!

Thanks for coming along!

[Saulo]

Great pics and narrative! I am also checking your other reports to get some ideas on rides for this summer (Foothills, Norcal, etc...) Thanks for sharing.

[bk brkr baker]

You're getting some really good on the fly shots.
What camera do you have?

[kfcz400]

vintage american west,,,love the ride report