Route 66 Gallup to Amarillio: May 24. 2019 Day 3 - Acomita to Albuquerque, New Mexico

Day 3: Acomita Village/Sky City to (almost) Albuquerque, New Mexico

Mark posted this Shelley Brothers Cycling Adventures Facebook page entry for today's ride:

Although we had to wait until mid-morning for the temps to warm up, it turned out to be a great day for cycling adventures.

The wind decreased considerably, and we were able to find and ride on a lot of the older sections of Route 66.

Instead off cutting through the mountains and mesas, much of Route 66 hugged the base of these landscapes, which made for more curves, fewer cars and some really breathtaking scenic moments (which fail to be captured adequately in photos).

We rode 7 miles on an old section not even marked as Historic Route 66, though earlier maps and other sources assured us it was indeed 66.

Much (but not all) the asphalt was still there.  At one point, our path was blocked by a fence declaring it as "Indian land--No Trespassing"!

The last 14 miles (22 km) were on Interstate 40, going up and down long and relative steep inclines.

A total of 45 miles (73 km) brought us to the Route 66 Casino Hotel--our home for this evening.

All in all, a great day for bicycle touring!

Photos from today's ride:

Winds calmed down considerably. Temperatures rose to a more pleasant level.

Our Casino Hotel is located next to the Interstate Highway. But a short 2 km (1 mi) ride east reunited us with Route 66.

I could feel the magic at the very moment. We were now on a non-commercialized segment of 66.

Almost like a Time Machine, we travel back to at least the 1950's and find ourselves in a different world, a different time.





The Interstate Highway CUTS through the land. Hills and rocks and valleys are obstacles in the way requiring removal.

In contrast, Old Route 66 FLOWS with the land, welcoming it and embracing it with respect, providing enchanting views and moments, especially when experienced on the slower, more-at-one-and-in-the-moment-with-the-environment of cycling.

This first segment of today's ride ranks as one of my two most favourite sections of Route 66. Some of the best bike touring and visuals between Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles, California.



Welcome to Elephant Rock.

It looks very much like an elephant when you see the whole thing when approached from the east heading west.

Unfortunately, since we are travelling west to east (so as to be pushed along occasionally by the prevailing winds), I failed to get a picture of it.



Purposeful and personal graffiti speaks from this rock as travelers from the 1920's to present day record their names upon it.

Elephant Rock served as a welcome landmark to over 200,000 climate refugees fleeing the uninhabitable American Mid West Dust Bowl on their way to California via Route 66 in the 1930s.

American folksinger Woody Guthrie captured that reality when he sang,

We loaded up our jalopies and piled our families in,
We rattled down that highway [Route 66] to never come back again.
("Dust Bowl Disaster")

Which part of the Elephant might this be?



Nature and history felt so close today.



Flat mesa top reminds us that we now ride along the bottom of  what was once a vast ocean covering the American southwest.

The flat top of the Mesa was beach front property back then.



The bigness and openness of this country defies words. (That's me pedalling along.)



Brother Mark has a knack for discovering these old old sections of Route 66 that were left to die when the route was realigned for one reason or another.

This bumpy old pavement wasn't the most comfortable ride, but well worth it. These old sections seem to be maintained just enough to adequately service the sparse population utilizing them.

We see the sights and hear the sound of the wind much like the pilgrims in Woody Guthrie's song.

I say very literally that our bums truly felt history on this road!



Old house of rocks long abandoned. Soot still blackens the rocks above the fireplace.

Who might have lived here? Where did they come from? How did they thrive, or perhaps just survive? Where did they go? When?

I ask myself this question many times as we ride Route 66.



Someone still lives on these lands. No houses or buildings in view. But somewhere the West stills lives on.

I googled "Highland Meadows Estates" to discover somewhere down this lane-way are 29 one acre lots that can be purchased for $45,000 each. Build your home here. Average well is 100-300 ft deep.

I didn't see any homes for a long ways away (?)



Our old segment of Route 66 gets older, or perhaps just less used.



Now we're talking really old Route 66. I take this photo from the shoulder of Interstate 40.

Mark isn't with me at the moment.

When the bumpy pavement turned to soft sandy dirt road, I opted out, preferring the pavement of
over the Interstate.

Our map showed the sandy road cutting cross country a few kilometers (miles) and intersecting about where I stand as I take this photo. Mark decided he would try navigating it and meet up with me here.

He didn't show up.

I waited.

Finally he came.

But not on this dirt road.

Riding up from behind on the Interstate shoulder, he explained what happened.

Shortly after taking the road less traveled he encountered clearly posted signs informing him he was on Native American land, and requested he respect their property by not trespassing. He respected.

Because he can read.



Interstate 40 isn't kind to snakes.



For the last part of today's ride we cycle on the hot, loud, and ups and downs of the Interstate.



Ain't that the biggest gasoline pump you ever seen?



We reach our motel for the night.



Fascinating to observe the seriousness and intensity of concentration manifested in this place.

I think they're having fun (?)

One of my kids and I stayed here about three years ago.

At that time a scaled down carpeted Route 66 highway weaved through the building.

Someone remodeled.

I like the old design better.

Time to rest up for tomorrow's ride.