Scott Junker Rides the Great Divide
Journal #11
Albuquerque, New Mexico
'alo from Albuquerque,
Since I left Salida I have crossed the last state line and the 10,000 foot elevation mark for the last time. Out of Salida I climbed over a high pass and reaped the reward of a beautiful 12 mile fire road descent to a highway which was itself a descent for the next ten miles or so.
After discovering that I had left my trashed and treasured Rainbow saddles in Salida I poured a 40 on the sidewalk for them and slept beside the road. I rose early and crossed a section of dirt road which led to another highway. As I rode along towards the next turn-off there was yet another storm blocking my planed route, rather than take a day longer to ride this section I just re-routed and soon found myself back on Highway 285 around 40 miles South of Salida.
My odometer had logged a little over a hundred miles to get there, I guess I took the scenic route. I spun on down the highway to Monte Vista, Colorado, which is a small farming town on the Southern end of the Colorado plateau. It was here that I heard my first Spanish conversation since leaving LAX.
After a big dinner of strawberry chicken, that paled in comparison to anything from Dan's wok at the Imperial Garden in Agoura Hills near Sundance, I slept in the park in front of the Chamber of Commerce. I slept soundly until around 2:00 am when I got sprinkled. I just zipped up and went back to sleep.
In the morning I fell in with the power table at the local diner. I had coffee with the County Water Commissioner, Local Department of Wildlife Officer, the Justice of the Peace, the Insurance Salesman, the Town Matriarch Businesswoman, a potato farmer and another gentleman of some distinction. They were nearly all named John. They wished me well and I set off for New Mexico. After a long spin through farmland and a couple of snotty climbs back over some beautiful high passes divided by alpine riparian pastures I descended into New Mexico and the town of Chama.
After a cursory tour of the village I came across the High Country Lounge which I decided upon based on the number of motorcycles and rock crawlers in front. Inside I found a perfect little bar with a honky tonk band going hard, peanut shells and sawdust all over the place all topped off by some killer mexican food. Big dinner with New Belgium 1554 and I met the local hoi poloi, including the oil baroness, a venerated old cowboy who was introduced as "the major domo of Northern New Mexico", and a man who had been struck by lightning. It was a great crowd telling old stories and goofing around as only long time neighbors and friends can. Truly an 'I love this bar' place. I was persuaded to camp in the RV park that night and they treated me very well. I also got a shower and washed off some of my tan.
In the morning I rode on only to be stuck on a road that was supposed to be paved but hadn't been graded in the last decade. After that I got ambushed from behind by a big lightning storm in Regina it was right on top of me before I ever knew it was there. I disobeyed a 'no trespassing' sign and sheltered under the eaves of an abandoned house. From there I leapfrogged a couple more storms into Cuba, a nowhere highway town.
On the advice of my Chama friends I got a motel room ($28) rather than risk getting rolled during the night. Cuba still holds the reputation of the dangerous old-west town and travelers were advised not to get stuck there overnight well into the 20th Century. The town doesn't seem keen on dispelling this reputation.
In the clear skies of morning I set off only to be blocked by storms again so I re-routed again, this time to Albuquerque and got another motel room. Wendy took first place in her category in the Bob Cook Mt. Evans Hill Climb. I have no idea where I'm going as these storms are forecast beyond the end of the week and I have no envy of Captain Lightning of Chama. It looks like "Go South" is the standing order again, but I should only be another week or so.
My mother is coming out on Tuesday to join me for the remainder of the route and to drive my bike bum self back to California. I'm looking forward to taking her to the Buffet in Tucson on the way home.
Almost there if it weren't for the storms,
-Scott
Overview of Scott Junker's Adventure
Scott Junker's Ride Photo Album
Other Events from Sundance Cycles
Serotta Demo Bikes Visited Sundance
The two Serotta Demo rides this past weekend were excellent. Many pictures from these rides will be displayed soon. Read the great review and see more images from the Serotta Demo day and Sundance Cycles, LLC Saturday Ride.
The 2006 Serotta demo fleet represented a wide cross-section of Serotta's product offerings. From the new, all-carbon MeiVici to the updated and refreshed Fierte line. Serotta
Shimano 06 Dura Ace 7801-SL Wheel Set - Shimano recently invited a select few “vip” retailers to Solvang for a three-day focus group to test their new 2006 Dura Ace SL wheels. More about Aj's adventure
AMGEN Tour of California Photos
Classic Climbs of the Giro - Article by Steve Dozier appeared in Roadie International
Trek Travel Party
Sorry you missed it. Check out the photos and information about Trek Travel.
