Saturday 17th May

Left 9.15, J and M went via interstate 25 to Albuquerque and we travelled the Turquoise Trail, as in the Wild Hogs movie. The road was fantastic, gentle curves and rises, scrubby vegetation and red rocks. Stopped in Madrid, quite hippified but cute in a kitschy way. Main problem was only loos available were elsan toilets (YUK!), worse than France, but needs must! The road continued in the same way until we met up with the highway and then rode right through Albuquerque, no problem as we had an unofficial police escort! Met up with J and M at Route 66 Casino, where we had lunch. Couldn't take any piccs unfortunately as not allowed. Shame as the decor was totally OTT Route66 stuff!
J and M's ride via Intrstate was uneventful but they still had good views from both sides.
Stopped at Continental Dive for a mid afternoon break, much needed as it was now very hot with no wind - for a change. Although we did have a few spots of rain just for a few minutes. Stunning scenery, red rocky outcrops and bluffs, gulches and wide open flatlands. Not much of a population between Albuquerque and Gallup, we kept company with the Santa Fe Railway much of the time. Longest train we saw was 127 freight trucks with 2 containers on each. About a mile long. Stopped in Gallup overnight at the El Rancho Hotel. Several Hollywood filmstars stayed there while filming (yonks back), we had the Spencer Tracy room and John and Maxine had Errol Flynn's.
There was a graduation celebration going on so we had live country music in the bar that night.