Weather…

Well, I’ve only been gone for a short time and already changed directions multiple times. The weather has driven me this whole trip. The weekend before I left it snowed and rained. I then started looking for a couple clear days so I could leave. I raced down to Virginia before I had a rain day. Watching the weather, going down to Georgia and then across Alabama and Mississippi we’re out. They were getting heavy rain with tornadoes (47 in two days). So I changed direction and headed across the mountains through Tennessee. I rushed through Tennessee because of heavy rains and an area of tornado chances. After I was through that temps started to drop. When I got into Amarillo, Texas they were predicting freezing rain with high temps only 34. I stayed an extra day there and then changed direction again. I wanted to go across to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then into Flagstaff, Arizona and work my way down through Sedona, Cottonwood, and Prescott. A major cold front is coming down from Canada. Most areas are 30 degrees colder than normal for this time of year. I decided to head south and then cut across New Mexico over to Arizona.

When I left Amarillo, Texas it was 42 degrees at 10:30 am. I took US-70 down to Roswell, New Mexico. About 50 miles out I had a hawk fly in front of me. I had been in a daze, just riding. I know that the hawk is a messenger, so I really started to pay attention. Wow, I’m in the middle of nowhere. No population, or anything out here. I started seeing more hawks sitting on the utility poles. About every 3-4 pole there was a hawk sitting watching as I passed. I would say I was at least 30 – so cool! I also saw a group of Antelope, an eagle and a turkey buzzard. It definitely made up for the colder ride.

When I left Roswell, New Mexico the temp was 45. Finally starting to get to warmer weather. I took US-70 up over the mountains to Las Cruces, New Mexico. So glad things changed, this Route was absolutely beautiful. It got cloudy and a lot cooler up the mountain, the sun adds about 10 degrees while riding. Again hardly any traffic and the views were wonderful. If I can’t go back through the upper states when I head home, I will definitely go this way.

From Las Cruces, New Mexico my GPS had me take route 10 for a little bit, then hook onto US-70 again. It was warmer, starting the day at 45! When it’s warmer, and dryer I want and feel like stopping. Here are a few pictures along the way.