Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

Joel Perlish; USA/MEXICO/CANADA DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY & THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY -- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008 by Joel Perlish

July 15, 2008 - Tuesday - Day 15
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 358 - Total Miles - 3963
Average Daily (Travel Day) Miles - 304
Santa Rosa,NM- to Holbrook,AZ
(-staying at a TraveLodge -)
(NM-AZ)
- A BASIC MOTORCYCLING DAY -

Writing up my experience visiting that Santa Rosa church went late into last night, and I about fell asleep at the keyboard. So this morning was a little draggy and I didn't start motoring out of town until about 11am!

I got an email from Derrick, who's with the company that sold me the Kawasaki. I had asked him a few questions and he replied. I consider him my Life Line in case of trouble with the machine. And I sure appreciate his help.

I just seem to be flying through these time zones. I just can't keep track of them.
It was another great morning for riding - and I'm wondering if it will EVER got hot… It was relatively cool again for most of the day. I probably missed some pretty good hours on the road with my late start, but these late morning hours were just fine, too - nothing but blue sky with a bunch of puffy clouds to show the way west.

I wasn't going to stop for lunch as early as I did, but the Subway in the Cline's Corner Store had veggie patties. Up until this stop, every place in this cattle country where I asked about a veggie patty I got only strange looks.

As I took my seat I chatted with a family in the next booth. I told them about the trip, and they were interested. They were from Lubbock and I wondered if they knew Koy. The slim mom had heard me ask for the veggie patty and told me they had just come from a vegetarian wedding in Seattle. We talked a bit and then the dad noted, “Well, I needed some meat!” The mom and I smiled, and I said in a mock serious way, with a semi-serious look on my face while I walked away, “Well, that ENDS this conversation!!!” We all laughed. As they left the place the dad shook my hand, said he wanted to do something like what I'm doing, and said they'd be keeping me in their thoughts. The gas here was the highest I've seen of the on the trip - $4.59 for regular. I was glad I didn't need any.

At the second gas stop of the day I chatted with a Texas fellow filling up his motor home. I did some complaining about the price of filling up the cycle by saying, “It never USED to cost close to $20 to fill this tank!” He then told me that he just put in $100 worth into his rig - and it was only half a tank! Unbelievable!

At the next gas fill-up I chatted with a fellow who puts in a lot of miles every year - he runs a carnival game. A dapper looking guy, he took one look at the Nomad and said, “That bike looks awfully clean to have gone so many miles.” I told him I've been waiting for someone to say that!

I had bunches of rain spitting at me late in the day and one good dousing, but basically it was a rain free day. The storm clouds were there but always off to the left side of the road. I'd keep yelling to the road unseen around the curve, “Go to the right, go to the right.” And it usually did.

Crossed the Rockies today. And zipped over the Continental Divide in the middle of the afternoon. The Nomad grabbed highway like a champ, and not one of the mountains seemed like a problem.

At 4:00pm a New Mexican State Trooper flew by me on the left. The speed limit was 75mph. I was going about 85mph, and I thought well, “This is it!” But he kept going on down the road. I have this theory that my yellow jacket is part of what keeps the police off me. I look like I know what I'm doing, I'm not scruffy, I use all signals, and I ride safely. At any rate today's average was probably between 87mph and 94mph!

I received a call from my photographer and motorcycling buddy, David Ickes. He was beginning a little mc trek of his own. He had had his BMW mc trucked out to Colorado and had flown out to get it and then do some riding in the west, and then up in to Canada. Regrettably, the back end of the bike had been bashed in during transport. Ouch! But he got it fixed, and was on his way. We may meet in Canada somewhere in a week or two.

It was another late night for me as I watched the 15-inning All Star game. I have great memories of tenting in past years, and watching that game on the campground TV with other campers.

I took over a hundred images from the motorcycle seat today. But the best shot of the evening came right after cleaning the bike - a purely gorgeous Arizona sunset….


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