Sunset

Too Grande Gorge just West of Taos.

Blinded by the light!!!! Heading due west while the sun

 is going down is never a good time.

 The helmet shield usually disperses the 

light making it even worse. Its a tough ride. 

Well I should've eaten here. 

I ate at the only sit down restaurant in Kayenta,

 what a let down. Tuba City is 75 mls further down

 the road but it would've been worth the starving

 and growling tummy wait. 

Now that's a sight to behold!

Around Kayenta AZ. Not much grows out here.

 Good chance to twist the throttle and make some miles.

 500 miles today. 

Blue sky and the wide open road. About time!

Greg and I stopped here for mexican food lunch (a blip in the road in NM)

 a year and a half ago but its now closed.

 I'm standing at the only gas station (2 pumps) for 75 miles 

each way and the old boy comes out and says cash only,

 credit card machine broke. Yes sir. Cash still rules. 

Beware of the animals roaming. Never a dull moment out here.

 His mate with the big horns took off the other way thank goodness. 

Rich hippies earthen homes.

 There's a settlement of these folks

 out here just West of Taos. Beam me up Scotty

All decked out in my Olympia riding gear. Very comfy and durable. 

A group of noisy Harley riders at the nice and

 usually quiet Pueblo Inn in Taos NM. Duno what

 it is with these clowns. They just gota talk loud

 and big and crank up their shitty music for the rest

 if us not to enjoy. Down under we call them "wankers".

 And they gota ride with a back up vehicle

 and trailer while I NEVER do. I thought they

 made em Harley's reliable and big enough to 

carry all their own crap??? 

Hwy 64 in NM. For the last 50 mls coming into Taos is amazing.

 The pass is 9100 ft. Most of it is 35-45 mph and just beautiful.

 Somewhat dangerous late in the day due to the sun setting 

and at times the sun breaks thru the trees right into my eyes

 and immediately blinding me. I've got to quickly figure out

 where I'm at on the road or worse still in a curve and still 

stay on the road. 

Making up for lost time in New Mexico.

 I'm on hwy 64 heading West. Storms to my North side (Colo)

 and South side and I'm splitting though a clear path. Lucky

WET!

A gas stop break after the rain storm near Pueblo Colo. thanks Shell.

 A few car drivers fueling up were surprised I had gone through it. 

It was nasty bad heavy rain. 

That's what I've got to look forward too.

 It was nasty, extremely heavy down pour.

 Max speed in it was 30 mph and worried about hydro planing.

 Gota keep on rolling though.

 Rain gear did great and did not leak 1 drop.

 New gloves that were promised not to leak, leaked bad. 

Clouds hitting the side of the mountain at about the 13,000' level

America the Beautiful was written after her visit to Pikes Peak

On the top of Pikes Peak 14,110'.

 That's the only bit if blue Ive seen for days.

 It was short lived by the way.

Looking down on the clouds

On the way home

Filming of upcoming Fast and Furious movie on Pikes Peak

Still climbing up Wolf Creek Pass in Colo. Later on in the day I was through Colorado Springs and saw the flooding and raging river. Wow. These folks got it real bad.

Made it to the top!

About the only break I have from the rain is at gas stops.

 This time thanks to Shell in Trinadad Colo

Colorado floods. Another detour today. 

Attacking Wolf Creek Pass. Elevation is 11-12,000 ft I believe.

 Its step and quite treacherous.

 Plenty of rocks and debris to dodge

 from last nights storm on the road

Just getting her warmed up and rolling down the highway.

 She just starts hummin at 70.Ah a dry spell in the day today.

 Seen enough rain on this trip.

1230 miles all up. 400 mls fwy, 

the rest on secondary roads. 

I made it 1230 trouble free miles. 1st decent meal in 3 days

and fine dining establishment Outback Steakhouse lol,

 Oh and plus my 1st beer. Remember don't drink and ride. 

Eddy Jr's museum of his dad and his goodies. Outstanding! 

Rolling into the parking lot of the church.  

Left is Ken, president of 13 Rebels mc club.

13 Rebels was back in the day made up of 13 top racers which Sr was.

They were the best of the best. 

Today it is a good guys brotherhood mc club. 

One of the most famous of Indian race bikes, Ed Kretz Sr #38.

 I recovered his original racing seat many years ago and in 

appreciation Jr gave me his old leather cover for my display case.  

Eddy Jr's famous Indian.

Red #38 is Ed Jr's Indian when you saw pics way back when

of Sr and Jr when he was a youngster. 
Blue and white #38 is one of the most

famous of racing Indians, Ed Kretz Sr's race bike. 

The far #2 Indian is a replica of one of Jr's early race bikes.

This is the bike he passed away on. 

Kretz family. Daughter Donna on Ed's Triumph 

and his grand daughters upon his 3 Indians and my 48.

Quite a moment.I felt so honored to make his funeral 

and bring SoCal messages

of everyone's sympathy where he spent so much of his life. 

Ed Kretz Jr sister who was a better racer than Jr.

 No matter how much lobbying Ed Sr did to include

 women in AMA racing,it was met with resistance and unsuccessful.

 This is an original who in this era had to kickstart her bike. 

Ed Kretz Jr military Army portion of the service send off. 

Ed would appreciate a little personal reaching out. 
He always was full of jokes. Sr was known as Ironman Ed Kretz.

Ed Jr referred to himself as the Tin man. 

Its a beautiful day this am

Its a beautiful day this am. The ride to the funeral service

was just so nice and the 1st day I've ridden in just my light jacket.

I couldn't resist stopping in the roadway and getting this picture.