The day started with an 8:00AM visit to the Tucson Harley Davidson service department for Big Red's 5,000 mile service. Boy, these come up quickly! All is well and on my way before noon.
Headed down I-10 again today and the thing to do is point the handlebars East, set the cruise control and sit. It began to rain when I left the dealership, The temp was around 90F, so not so bad compared to he previous few days, or so I thought. The raindrops were scarce, but felt cool against my clothes. The sky was overcast, but that wasn't probably going to last. Just hoping it's not another hail storm like they got the day before. Hal balls hurt at 75mph. So do raindrops!
Ed wanted to get moving so he headed East on his own around 10AM. I'll catch up with him in Van Horn, Texas later today.
The ride started out ok with the cloud cover providing a little relief form the scorching sun. Riding through the desert is interesting. Nothing for tens or hundreds of miles, then sometimes the weirdest things appear. One is a sign for a Picnic Area. Yeah, that's right. In the middle of nowhere there are 2 picnic tables. I've never seen anyone there. Not surprising in the 100+F heat. But they do have cover - that may entice someone to stop sometime?
Mountains constantly appear in the distance and before you know it, you're right in the middle of them. It was interesting to see another group of mountain made of randomly placed rounded boulders again, just like we saw in California.
The sun began to beat down and I came upon a welcomed rest stop where I got a cold drink and wet down the headgear, gloves and neck gear. Cooool ride for at least a 1/2 hour after that.
Crossed from Arizona into New Mexico and while riding through the mountains, the winds were fierce all day. Black and gray clouds appear on the horizon in front of me and as I get closer I can see lightning in the distance. The winds pick up, the temp drops at least 15-20 degrees and you can smell the ozone in the air. Something big is about to happen. As I approach, the raindrops start to fall and as I move forward at 80mph, the skies suddenly part as if the hand of God separated the sky and I could see a clearing in front of me with black and grey clouds to both sides.
The desert gives you a panoramic view of everything between you and the horizon, so you can see storm systems al around you and luckily have some warning about what may be in your path soon. Not that you can do anything about it, but you know what you're about to be in the middle of.
This went on for hours and hundreds of miles. Rain,, sun, heat, winds, cool, rain........repeat.
While riding through Texas near El Paso, you can actually see the Mexican border fence just a few hundred yards, if that, from the Interstate. I was tempted to cross and log a third country on this trip, but it was getting late and it would have to wait until next time. I couldn't even imagine the border wait coming into the US on the 4th of July. Besides, I'd much rather spend the 4th of July in the US than in Mexico or anywhere else.
Went through another Customs Checkpoint about 40 miles West of Van Horn and was just asked if I was a US citizen this time and given the wave through.
Got to Van Horn around 8:30PM - what? The clock on Big Red says 6:30, but a quick check of the iPhone confirmed that we had crossed 2 time zones while travelling from Tucson through New Mexico and Texas. Met up with Ed at the hotel. He was all cooled down ad relaxed. I was all hot sweaty and beaten up by the elements. Nothing a quick cool shower can't cure. After a few minutes, changes into fresh clothes and on to the next order of business.
Since, as I keep telling Ed, we're not in Kansas anymore, it's time to find some dinner before they roll the sidewalks up in this town. Van Horn is a small town with one main street - Main Street. Main street goes for about a mile and everything the town has to offer is on it. Ed picked out the Cattleman Steakhouse on - what else - Main Street We get there and not a car on the lot. I sensed something wrong right away. 4th of July? Closed for good? That's a mystery that will stay in Van Horn. Good thing I had a Plan B. There is this old Spanish architecture hotel in town called the El Capitan. I remembered reading that it also had the top rated restaurant in town (out of what - 2?). So, we went off. Now where could it be. I know, it must be on Main Street, so I ride to the end of Main and hat do you know? El Capitan Hotel. Built in the 1930's this place is a real sight to see. It looks great and has a restaurant still open too!
Had a delicious Wild Salmon dinner and called it a night.
Four states and 3 time zones in 2 days. California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Not bad.
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