We had a shorter ride day today, only 330 miles, but it
was packed with amazing scenery and experiences. Our day started by luxuriously
sleeping in until 7am, lounging in our purple room of the Bottger Mansion of Old Town until breakfast.
The inn
keepers served orange french toast, sausages and fruit with a dollop of
homemade sorbet. We watched the hummingbirds in the garden as we ate. We
learned that the innkeeper's brother lives in South Boston, Va (bordering NC)
and raises goats. Small world, as we were just there for the Motorcycle Grand
Tour a few weeks ago.
On the road leaving Albuquerque (which is a great city,
we will need to visit again) we took a western route. For hours we rode through
northern New Mexico with little or no traffic for long stretches. The scenery was full of low desert vegetation.
We were soon surrounded
by rock formations and more wide expanses.
We stopped for lunch at an upscale gas
station/convenience store/Subway/casino. We were not sure when the next town
with food and facilities would be.
Back on the road, the scenery started to change as we
entered forest areas with more evergreens at higher elevations.
Once in Colorado, the scenery was markedly greener and
more lush.
On highway 160, we rode up the Wolf Creek Pass, at 10,800 in
elevation.
We also passed the Continental Divide, and got a bit
chilly at 55 degrees at the top ridge. Michele said she had her heated jacket
"cranked" and appreciated it.
We had a few animal surprises today. A coyote sprinted
across the road in front of us. It was close enough to see its bushy tail and
thick fur. Rob spotted an eagle with a radio tracker on its back as it flew
above our heads to a tree. A pika or two also ran near us on the side of the
road. We saw buffalo ranches, tons of cows and horses, some donkey's, and a llama. The horses were buddying
up standing nose to tail swishing the flies away for each other.
We saw signs for elk crossings but this sign was the closest we got to see an actual elk.
The road to the Great Sand Dunes was straight as an
arrow, and about 50 miles long. We were able to see the sand dunes at the base of the mountain range while we were nearly 40 miles away.
We passed a solar energy farm that looked a bit
space age among the agriculture. We stared at the looming mountains ahead of
us for nearly an hour before we reached them. We arrived at our lodge around 5
pm in time to have dinner and get amazing shots of the dunes and the sunset.
Tomorrow we explore the dunes.
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