Finally underway, I am making good time on Hwy 380 West towards AZ. This road goes through the White Sand Missile base. About 25 miles down the road, I am stopped at a roadblock and told that the highway is shut down for a missile test. The choices are to wait 2-3 hours or turn around and find another route. I opt for the turnaround and ride about 150 miles out of the way to continue on my journey. (Bill, I end up on the same road we took two years ago from Red River to Ruidoso).
I've discovered that NM and AZ have a lot of long straight roads. The scenery in western NM is beautiful and the elevation changes have me changing from warm clothes to short sleeves constantly. I've also discovered that most of the highways are under construction, which caused several delays. As I said, my patience is being tested. Trying to just enjoy the day and not worry about the time.
When I set out on this trip, I planned to keep plans to a minimum, so that delays like this would not cause stress. I keep telling myself this as I wait at another construction delay. Two other goals were in my planning: avoid Interstate highways as much as possible, and no chain hotels. I wanted to stay at local, unique, or unusual places.
As I wandered about AZ on non-interstate highways, I came upon the Petrified Forest National Park. At the south entrance I found this (see picture). Two "museums" at the entrance, each with parking lots filled with cars, and each offering "free" petrified wood, maps, and cold beer. After stopping in the parking lot of one, I noticed that most of the cars were old, abandoned, and on blocks. The same tourist trap trick I remember from a vacation with my parents when I was about 8 years old. We had been seeing signs for miles about a reptile farm. I kept bugging my dad to stop. When we got closer, he saw that the parking lot was full of cars, and said " Must be good, look at all those cars" After a closer look, he saw all the cars were junkers. By then, it was too late, he had to take me in. Guess that old trick still works, b/c several cars stopped and people went in to the "museum" while I was there.
The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park was awesome and worth the time, even if the museum was bogus. Met two Italians on sport bikes. They were traveling from NYC to SF, via, Chicago on Route 66. They had been in the states for a couple of months and were having the time of their life.
While riding a short stretch of I-40 toward Flagstaff, the day was rapidly getting away from me. After riding about 500 miles today, Flagstaff was another 80 miles away, and seemed like 200. So, recalling the Eagles song, I pulled off into Winslow, on Route 66. And saw the historic La Posada Hotel. www.laposada.org. This is one of the old Harvey Hotels, built on the Santa Fe railroad. Back in the day, before Flagstaff and Sedona were popular, this place served thousands of people weekly, arriving by train and Route 66. The main entrance was built facing the tracks, since it was built before Route 66 was there. If you are ever traveling I-40, stop in Winslow and at least tour the place. The current owners live on the property and it is clearly a labor of love for them. Oh yeah, cheaper than the Holiday 
Inn Express on the Interstate.
Met two New Zealanders at dinner in the hotel. They had been to Sturgis (in a car) and were traveling the US for a month. Asked what the biggest difference was from home and they said the hugeness of the Western US. New Zealand is about the size of Wyoming with only four million people, and close to water all around. They couldn't get over the vastness and dryness of the West. As we were talking outside after dinner, Amtrak stopped in front of the hotel and several people boarded to points west.
Meredith said I must be like Nicky.. I am thinking of riding my Bicycle into DC on on Sunday (40 miles or so)...downhill though. Difference is I am going to take the Metro back. haha
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