AM in California

That's awesome!! I'll be here until Sunday morning.

 

Yes please!!

 

They look so amazing together!! <3

 

Give us a yell if you make it through the Central Coast.

 

Mine is becoming motocurious

 

Oooh, have fun!! Hope she finds something she loves there!!

 

Day 2

Tuesday morning I woke up to that beautiful NM sunrise in Santa Rosa. I didn't mention how spectacular that night sky was there! The air was so crisp and the sky was just piano black. The starts really looked like diamonds. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was! That night sky topped any I saw in Canada, which surprised me. All it needed was some Northern Lights.





I packed up the camp, loaded up the moto, visited with some campers curious as to why a moto girl was out camping in freezing weather, hooked up heated gear and took off on a 32°F morning. Destination: easy day of riding to Phoenix and Marrib.



Not so fast...

Shortly down I-40 the heated gear all of a sudden stopped warming. I pulled over and quickly checked all plugs. Looked good. Turned gear off and on...well, tried on. No go. So I got back on the road with the intent to pull off in a safer area because I knew I had to have a look under the seat, which means unloading the moto. I'm thinking blown fuse...which I have plenty of extras. Quick replace and I'll be good to go.

I found a turn off at a halfway abandoned gas station...parked by old pumps and began the moto strip down.



Ahhhh...Canada...the memories were coming back and made me smile thinking of that trip. Well, no blown fuse to my surprise. But I did find this:



Hmmmm....what to do. I'm an hour put from Albuquerque. I could fix it or just hit a Honda dealer there and buy a new lead that has a larger amperage inline fuse...running all this heated gear and phone charging and all. So I loaded up moto and braced for a freezing ride to Albuquerque and R&S Honda.

The freezing ride was soooo worth it!! I'm soooo happy I took I-40!! There was snow in the mountains and know the sides of the road. The scenery made me forget about the windchill riding in freezing temps like that! <3

I made it to R&S.



Bought new leads (2) just in case I have an issue again...never know with my luck. I unloaded moto again in their parking lot and proceeded with the lead exchange and then to lube and tighten chain. While I was up close and personal with the rear of moto, I noticed the tires...



I have NEVER underestimated tire life left before. I thought for sure I could give these Bridgestones one last romp before new ones in the spring. I even got a local opinion on the tire gash as well as tread life and they agreed it would be fine. But they were no match for the AZ roads.

I stared at those tires knowing I could make it to Phoenix. But that's it. R&S wasn't terribly busy, so moto went on the lift for new shoes.



Went back to my brand...Michelins. Got PP3/PR4 combo. Next time I try a new brand, imma see about Metzler 880s.





While the new shoes were being put on, I struck up conversation with the owner and employees. Had a great time! Humble and genuinely kind people. I met a new friend who worked with and knows the couple I take my moto to in Wichita for work. Small world! He goes to Kansas City often as well. Just made another friend for life!

So...after that delay which turned longer than expected, I was finally on my way to Arizona and Marrib. Good bye Albuquerque...until next time!!



I made it to the AZ border, parked like a badass and took a photo.



The rock formations at the state line were amazing!!!! But I was on the side of the highway where I shouldn't be so I didn't stay there long.



I mentally prepared for the dark and chilly ride ahead of me...

Made it to Holbrook, AZ, where I snapped some photos of this neat inn...like in the movie Cars...to send to my friend in NC. He just loves that place!





Then I turned south towards Phoenix. I was expecting temps in the 30s and dark of course.

BUT NOT...

Rocks, snow, ice, and animals.
For an hour. 25°F.

So that was fun! I stopped on Payson and danced on my feet for 10 minutes. My toesies were sooo incredibly painful. It felt like my toes had fallen asleep and we're waking up, but 100 times more pain.

Once they didn't hurt so bad, I hopped back on moto with the determination to make it to Marrib by 10. I was pleasantly surprised to find that between Payson and Phoenix the temps climbed by 30 degrees!!!! And riding down that mountain area through the curves at very high speeds was amazingly fun!! <3
I forgot all about my toes!!

Like I say, nothing lasts forever...just power through and the feeling of accomplishment and the better things that await is all worth it!!

In this case, it was:

Marrib!!!! <3
Bailey's and Hot Chocolate
Shower...he let me use all the cold water I wanted!!
More Bailey's
Lots more of it
Movies
Warming our feets
Intriguing conversation...I never knew how diverse his work experiences have been!
And sleeping in his yard...he even turned off the sprinklers!!



After we drank ourselves silly, we turned in.

What a long day, but soooo amazing!!

 

Darn the darns...how did you ever find out? Such a wet spot Bailey's whore I am!