Day 19 Aug 18

Grants to Gallup

Mileage 100


Summary for today is chilly with lots of luck.  Chilly because it was cold while riding and lucky as we could see the rain around us but it sprinkles on us and not enough to really get us damp.  Now sitting in a Quality Inn room listening to thunder and lighting. 

The route left Grants on St Hwy 53 and then turned onto St Road 602.

Towns passed through

  • Grants 
  • San Rafael (we could see it but the road bypasses it)
  • Ramah (has 1 working gas station, 1 old motel , and 1 closed old motel)
  • Vanderwagen (does have a post office)
  • Gallup

There was a 8 mile section of road work that was difficult but we stayed out of the way and worked our way though the area without problems.  Aside from that there were no issues at all we flew along and completed the miles in less than 5 hours riding time.  Giving us enough time to do laundry and relax for a few minutes.

I more certain it is Dianne that is with me as she has had ice-cream 5 times in the last 4 days.  I am not sure it is me as I have not had a beer in 5 days and no whiskey in over 3 weeks.  

We did cross the continental Divide today at 7864 feet I guess is why it was cool.  The scenery was terrific again today.  Passing by El Morro National Monument which has inscriptions of people who passed through for thousands of year with pictographs and hundreds dating back to Spanish in 1600s.  Also pasted through El Malpais National Monument and national forest.  This area is had a volcano erupt 10000 years ago and is known for lava tube and lava caves as well huge limestone bluffs.  But what I liked were the trees!  I guess it is high to have a climate like tNorthen Ontario.

 



                                                                                The sign is self explanatory


                                                                    Morro National Monument





                                                                                    General scenery 



                                                                    One of the Corrals seen today




                                                                            Steam engine seen in Grants Late last night


Stuff seen today

  • 27 gravel trucks (we passed a huge gravel pit at Ramah).  We watch for these guys because they are flying
  • 2 cement trucking running and 2 parked
  • 2 motocycles
  • 2 bicycles (one loaded doing the continental divide mountain bike trail)
  • 1 empty motel 
  • 2 empty gas stations
  • More pickup trucks than cars
  • 3 elk crossing signs only 1 deer crossing sign
  • 1 elk head mounted on a fence
  • 2 storage locker sites
  • 4 trains (going east carrying containers, going east carrying mixed loads)
  • 3 corrals to load cattle

Comments

  1. Teresa BeamAugust 19, 2021 at 4:55 AM

    Dianne is a woman after my own heart with the ice cream! :)
    Continue safe travels and the daily posts--enjoying them immensely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Allan and DianneAugust 19, 2021 at 7:27 PM

      Yep Dianne claims Ice is her favorite Food group though she passed up a DQ today must have been the hotel she could see.

      Delete
  2. UnknownAugust 19, 2021 at 11:23 AM

    Enjoying living vicariously through you both! Enjoy reading these.

    ReplyDelete

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