My Great Trek to the Midwest
Day 11, Thursday, May 18, 2006
El Paso, Texas to Phoenix, Arizona

Day's Route Overview: El Paso Texas to Phoenix, Arizona. A planned total of 430 miles.
Starting out: Trip / Odometer / Time: 0.4 / 34,590 / 8:25 PDT

Lola had a cozy alcove for the night.
New Mexico has a nice information center just
across the border from Texas.  There was a nice
lady handing out brochures and advice.
Barnett`s Las Cruces New Mexico HD
2600 Lakeside Dr, Las Cruces New Mexico 88005

Barnett's HD also has a location in El Paso.  I didn't get
there since I arrived too late.  Then, when I was leaving
El Paso, it would have meant doubling back about
twenty miles each way.

Barnett's advertises widely.  Touts itself as the biggest
in the world with over 700 bikes.  I don't know if that
is true or not.  I saw many billboards on the highway.
They advertised t-shirts 1/2 off so I checked them out
in Las Cruces.  Bogus!  Old stock only, limited sizes.

Dona Ana county seat is in Las Cruces
Hidalgo county seat is in Lordsburg.  It is getting hot.

The glare in the windows of the courthouse is some
sort of spray-on silver to try to keep the strong sun
out.  It has long since worn off to the extent that I
doubt if it is doing all that good a job now.

When was the last time you saw a store giving out
S&H Green Stamps?  I guess there are still pockets
of stamp lickers left here and there.


Speaking of nostalgic old sights, I stopped in the little
town of Willcox, AZ at a Safeway.  Out in front, there were
pay phones.  Earlier in the day at a McDonald's,
there was a bank of three pay phones inside the restaurant.
Evidently, there are still areas where cell phones have
not yet prevailed.

 
I have a bug rag to wash the bugs off the windshield.
Whenever I stop for gas, I wet the windshield and then
remove the bugs with the rag and water.  If I used the
gas station squeegee, it would scratch the plastic.
Afterward, I hang it on the back of the bike.  It dries and
flaps in the wind actually knocking some of the bug
stuff off.  Then it's ready for use at the next gas-up.  It also
makes Lola a little bit more visible due to the contrast.

That, of course, leads to the old riddle:
What is the last thing that goes through a bug's mind
as he hits your windshield?  His butt!

Pima county seat is in Tucson.  I wandered about
town a while trying to locate a good photo spot.  I
had to settle on shooting across the street at a ground
level sign.  While wandering I shot this building.  I think
it is attractive and makes a nice vacation photo.
It also took a while to find the Harley-Davidson of Tucson.
I let the Magellan GPS guide me.  It did pretty good
although at one point it instructed me to make a turn
that could only be achieved via a u-turn.

The dealer is not my favorite.  They are not all that
helpful nor talkative.

Done for the day:
105.6 / 35,033 / 6:45 PDT La Quinta motel in Phoenix

I broke 4,000 miles for the trip today and also broke 35,000 on the bike.
During the last week, I've ridden in 45 degree weather in the rain
and today at 105 degrees in the shade.  A 60 degree range.

ABC Letters: Counties: D, H, P

Total: 443 miles, 10 hours 20 minutes
Trip Total: 4,814 miles, 106 hours 19 minutes

Updated: Monday, May 12, 2014 09:50:55 PM