After leaving my terrible motel, the first few miles were uphill and into a really strong headwind. Thanks to Epic Ride Weather, I knew the wind would be mostly at my back once I reached Cedar Crest, about 10 miles in, but those first 10 miles were grueling. Most of the rest of the day I had a tailwind, with the occasional crosswind. There were a couple of nice descents too, but unfortunately it was too windy to really cut loose on them.
There was also steady traffic all day, and stretches with no shoulder at all. The scary drivers didn’t start until I got close to Santa Fe. The ones in luxury cars especially seemed like they were in a big hurry, and I was just an obstacle in their way.
I didn’t stop at all in Santa Fe. I caught a glimpse of the plaza, but having grown up in New Mexico, I have ZERO interest in the wall-to-wall tourist stuff, least of all the stuff aimed at the kind of jet-setting rich people Santa Fe attracts these days. When I was a kid, we used to come to Santa Fe and go to the Woolworth’s 5 & 10 right on the plaza, and sometimes get Chinese-American food (think chop suey and egg foo young) at a little restaurant just off it. That’s the Santa Fe I remember.
The absolute highlight of the day was a tarantula! Actually, I saw two. The first one, of whom I took MANY pictures, was out on the gravelly, grassy shoulder. The second was crossing the road. I thought about trying to shoo him to safety, but there was a car coming, and I decided not to risk my life for his. I didn’t look in my mirror to see if he made it. I’d rather not know.
Shortly after, I realized that the brownish splotches on the pavement were squished tarantulas. It reminded me of the Mormon crickets that carpeted the road in Idaho when I rode through in 2019 (https://shaunrideshis.bike/transam-2019/day-95-council-id-to-woodhead-park-campground-id/). There were far fewer of these tarantula remains, but for some reason they made me sadder. I think it’s because tarantulas are so much less common.
Major thunderstorms are predicted this evening and for the next couple of days. I have to keep moving, because there are no vacancies here tomorrow and the next motels are far down the road. I’m not looking forward to it, but you just have to keep turning the pedals.
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