Gallup, NM to Grants, NM
65.8 mi, 1,275ft gain, 48-74F /sunny to cloudy to large storm with rain & hail
What a difference today! Wow. We rode out of Gallup on bike lanes to connect to old Route 66. We rode along through rush hour with minimal issues. Once we got on the highway I was back in flat tire avoidance.. and it worked!!
I rode through a large field of busted truck tire about ¼ a mile worth. It was bad. So I decided to be proactive and stop to look at my tires. I found THREE wires!! I pulled each one out and squirted water on each to see if air was leaking.. nothing! So the trick is to find them before they migrate into the tire far enough to puncture. While I was there a fellow rider stopped to ask if I was ok.. I asked if I could check his tires for him real quick. We found one on his and tested for air leak, saved! Ha! Take that highway flats!
After the highway we exited for the SAG stop at a nice shop which happens to be on the continential divide! We took pictures and I found myself in awe we got this far yet again.
From this point it was a slight downhill the rest of the way, honestly one of the most fun sections of road we’ve done yet. I averaged 20.3 mph for over an hour. Ha! Now, I did pedal as I was eyeing the storm building to our right. I could tell it was building and moving in our end direction, Grants.
This road was made for riding in my opinion. I could ride along at 20+ and still could take in the views. To my left I watched trains roll by the red sandstone cliffs. Straight ahead of me I could imagine hiking to the top of Mount Taylor at 11,316ft. To my right just past the horses running and abandoned Route 66 houses were the storm clouds dropping rain in the hills. Juniper and sage brush along the edges made me feel at home. Yes, I would ride here again.
When we reached the edge of town the storm had grown quite a bit. I decided to try to beat it to the hotel and get food after it passed. When we got ahead of it we stopped for a few pictures then high tailed it to the hotel. Once at the hotel it downpoured. Riders behind said it hailed on them. Eek! Most took shelter in town and grabbed food. The rain brought cooler temps and the smell of desert rain. I walked to Taco Bell for lunch about an hour later.
We’re preparing for rain tomorrow going into Albuquerque. We will be again on Route 66 and some I40. I’ve prepped my rain gear, covered my garmin with the ice bucket liner, and packed a ziplock for my phone. All this done, maybe it won’t rain. Here’s to hoping!
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