Wild Hog Report

Mom's Run 2010 Edition
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You know how to eat an elephant right? One bite at a time.

This one was a bit of a challenge. Last Saturday, I got up at 4 am, had breakfast, like I do before work. Only this day I was not going to work, I was going to take my 2nd annual "Mom's Run." This time to Winslow, AZ. I wanted to have my picture taken in front of a sign that really says, "Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ". Just like in the Eagles' song.

I left out at 5 am, heading west toward Lawton and by the time the sun came up I was looking over at the beauty of the Wichita Mountains. Shortly after that I smelled the heavy, sweet perfume of the almost endless wheat fields of western Oklahoma. Nice start, purple mountains majesty and the amber waves of grain. I know why I live here and can't understand why others don't.
Out on this two-lane, you cross over into the craggy, rugged landscape that is northern Texas. Soon though you discover the huge expanse that is the Salt Creek Ranch. Forget the Ponderosa, and Southfork, this thing is something to behold. A pair of the biggest houses I've ever seen, anchoring a compound that would likely make J.R. feel envious.
Moving on north toward Amarillo, once again, the massive ranches and farms and more cattle than I've ever seen before. One of the few big towns seen on this trip was Amarillo, TX. It has what you'd expect for a city including the National Quarter Horse Museum. It's in Texas, so it has to be huge and I made a mental note that I'd like to return some day and visit. Somewhere west of Amarillo, I caught another familiar smell, stockyard. That's all I will say about that.
I had bought gas in Memphis.........Texas and I was wanting to stretch it out a bit, because of the time, so I went through Amarillo and ended up nervously hoping Tucumcari wasn't all that far. I do carry a one gallon gas can with me, full, in case, but.......
Anyway, I found out that it takes about 4.7 gallons of gas in my motorcycle to go from Memphis, TX. to Tucumcari, AZ. In a 5 gallon tank. That is part of the reason for these trips, pushing.
Once in New Mexico, the terrain changes dramatically. It reminded me much of Montana, but the colors are very different. I've never seen so much color. How can the earth, have so much color. It was difficult at times to keep my eyes on the road for stretching my neck to follow the lines of the surrounding hills. So tall and magnificent. I was spellbound by the fact that these mountains had been here, much like they are now, long before humans had been created. And they will be here long after. Beautiful little towns spring up and go by. Through Santa Rosa and into Moriarty, where the Memorial Of Perpetual Tears is right there on the side of the interstate. It is a memorial to those killed in the U.S. each year by drunk drivers. Check out their website, and if possible, I would encourage you to make a donation. Then onto the other "big" town, Albuquerque. Just before entering into Albuquerque, I noticed a woman, placing flowers around a small white cross on the side of the road. Not sure why I mention it, thought it was pertinent. Albuquerque blew me away, it is so pretty and clean for a city of it's size. All along this trip I was mesmerized by the beauty that is New Mexico. As I looked around, I felt like a hillbilly on his first trip to the big city. I spent most of my time looking up, buttes, mesas, mountains, whatever, I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. Not a movie or a picture, real! Sound like that hillbilly, huh?
After going through Albuquerque, it got tedious. I was starting to feel that wall coming up. The fatigue, soreness starting to settle in on me. My enthusiasm was waning, it seemed that Gallup would never appear and I had to get by there and on into Arizona. By the time I crossed the divide, which is not as dramatic as it is to the north, I was becoming anxious and maybe a bit depressed. My timing was off and I couldn't understand why. I was behind schedule. All that was adding up to a ride that was becoming a beating. Questions, will I make it, when can I rest, and others popped up causing the inside of my head to spin. Once I did get into Arizona, I stopped for fuel and called my Cat to talk a bit while I rested and finally ate a sandwich. I was in Sanders, AZ, still had about 100 miles to go and I was over my planned time schedule. I made the decision to stop and make Holbrook my turn around point. It's in the rules, if decision making becomes difficult, it's time to chill. I hated the fact that I was going to turn around before I made my goal. I did have the time and the mileage to qualify the run, but man, so close, but so far away. Once I decided to turn around, all of a sudden, I felt better. I began to feel excited again and the anxiety and depression lifted. Wise choice. I ran into the Dollar General in Holbrook and bought a $1 bandanna so I'd have a receipt with a date and time stamp and headed for home. On the way back, I found myself wondering about the power of those mountains. Was that what caused my anquish, leaving an area so full of magic? To me, those hills I imagined to be there to launch angels into Heaven. And I rode on and on. I did stop for a bit and took a couple of pictures of the sun setting on Laguna. Since my enthusiasm had returned, I discovered that not only was Albuquerque pretty during the day, but downright gorgeous at night. The way they use pottery to decorate the side of the interstate during the day, they use lights inside the pottery to show the way at night. Breathtaking, I have to go back for a vacation someday. I did finally check into the ironbutt motel after some 20 hours in the saddle and with 1138 miles behind me. After about 2 hours, some truck driver who didn't think I should be in the overnight parking for trucks helped me decide to move on toward home. Don't need all that. That was in Santa Rosa. Down the road a bit more, to the west of Amarillo, I rested again. As I have stated before, the sun rising has a narcotic effect almost. It fills you with spirit and strength, so when it came up about 1 1/2 hours after I checked back in to the motel, I was on the road, glad that I was obviously going to make it. I had talked all along to mom, she didn't answer the questions I asked about if she had been to New Mexico and seen all this, but I'm thinking she enjoyed the ride anyway. I was still 5 to 6 hours from home, not that the time went by so quickly, but I was on the back side and once again, I was to return home safely and none the worse for wear. It was an experience and I'm glad I did it and even though it was a bit rough at times, it was worth it. Next year, hmmm, a hint, maybe hog mecca. Thanks for riding with me. And thanks for the company ma.
As a postscript, I should add. A friend of mine passed away during my trip. He was a friend to me longer than anyone else I ever called a friend. He was a stand up guy and I'm sure a very good Marine. Ride on brother, yes I called you brother even though you never liked that and rest easy Marine, your service in Hell is over.