Guest Blogger: Jim Bradbury
When Anurang told me that I would be his first guest blogger, my first thought, of course, was "I'm not worthy." He has been doing such a fabulous job blogging all through this trip that I really don't think he needs any help from me. I felt like Wilkie Collins when Charles Dickens asked him to whip up a new serialized novel for his magazine. But even as strong and resilient a rider (and PBP veteran) as Anurang "Ringtail" Revri deserves a break now and then, so I'll do my best.
The worst part of riding from Albuquerque to Santa Fe has always been getting out of downtown. This time around, we used a bike path that quickly and safely got us out of the 'querque. The path was on top of a levee that parallels the Rio Grande. I've been told that a coyote can often be spotted in the area, but I didn't see anything more exotic than a Canada goose.
To be perfectly honest, the bike path was about the only difference this day between our trip three years ago and our trip this year. You can read all about La Bajada and the trip three years ago at my blog from 2006. (Oh yes, we did have the amazing Susan Notorangelo this year, with her trademark knit helmet cover. This was her first-ever time on La Bajada! Of course she loved it.)
Also, this year, Anurang did not suddenly demand Wet Wipes from me and disappear behind this mound of dirt on I-25.
Other than that, though, it was another glorious day in New Mexico.
After dinner, we were treated to a fascinating lecture on the restoration of old neon signs along Route 66 -- some of which work has been funded by the National Park Service. I was shocked to learn that my own favorite sign, at my favorite motel in the whole world, the Blue Swallow, was destroyed by a hail storm shortly after I last saw it three years ago. But, it's been restored. I can't wait to see how it looks in a few days when we stay there again.
When Anurang told me that I would be his first guest blogger, my first thought, of course, was "I'm not worthy." He has been doing such a fabulous job blogging all through this trip that I really don't think he needs any help from me. I felt like Wilkie Collins when Charles Dickens asked him to whip up a new serialized novel for his magazine. But even as strong and resilient a rider (and PBP veteran) as Anurang "Ringtail" Revri deserves a break now and then, so I'll do my best.
The worst part of riding from Albuquerque to Santa Fe has always been getting out of downtown. This time around, we used a bike path that quickly and safely got us out of the 'querque. The path was on top of a levee that parallels the Rio Grande. I've been told that a coyote can often be spotted in the area, but I didn't see anything more exotic than a Canada goose.
To be perfectly honest, the bike path was about the only difference this day between our trip three years ago and our trip this year. You can read all about La Bajada and the trip three years ago at my blog from 2006. (Oh yes, we did have the amazing Susan Notorangelo this year, with her trademark knit helmet cover. This was her first-ever time on La Bajada! Of course she loved it.)
Also, this year, Anurang did not suddenly demand Wet Wipes from me and disappear behind this mound of dirt on I-25.
Other than that, though, it was another glorious day in New Mexico.
After dinner, we were treated to a fascinating lecture on the restoration of old neon signs along Route 66 -- some of which work has been funded by the National Park Service. I was shocked to learn that my own favorite sign, at my favorite motel in the whole world, the Blue Swallow, was destroyed by a hail storm shortly after I last saw it three years ago. But, it's been restored. I can't wait to see how it looks in a few days when we stay there again.
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