Day 10 Jun 9 Santa Fe to Gallup

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Leaving Santa Fe at 08:30, Mileage so far: 1619
Today we're riding 215 miles to Gallup, still in New Mexico (NM).

First up, we'll ride 6 miles across town and get gassed up (3 Gal, $11.63)

We ride a bit on Route 66 and then detour off down the Turquoise Trail National Scenic by-way, which allows us to stop at Madrid and avoid (a lot of traffic), (the interstate) and (loads of stop lights).
Madrid is a really cool place, 27 miles from Santa Fe and was the location that the movie 'Wild Hogs' was filmed. We visit what was (in the movie) "Maggie's Diner" (and buy more T-Shirts) and  Maggie's Diner" , Java Junction coffee shop. In another shop I bought a cute Salt n Pepper set made to look like a couple of conga players.

Moving on from Madrid along the trail, we take a rest break on our way to Albuquerque  for lunch where we take lunch at a restaurant in the old town. After lunch we have about 45 minutes to explore the old town of Albuquerque.

 We leave town via Central Avenue (which is Route 66),  pass through Grants,and make a fuel stop in Milan, NM (3.3 Gal $12.52, odo 1772 today's trip 153) 

Left: bikes parked up in side street in Old Town Albuquerque

Now fully fueled we make use of Interstate-40 and some Route 66, through fields of volcanic rocks (which are insignificant when compared to what (Mrs. K and I've) seen on Lanzarote and Tenerife)


Our last stop of the day is at the 'continental divide', where we stop briefly for photos.


Unusually, the gift shop is closed -so no T-shirts at this stop :(


Tonight we're staying our third night in New Mexico at the historic  El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, which dates back to the 1930's and where numerous Hollywood 'stars' are said to have stayed, as a lot of Hollywood movies were filmed in the area. As such, as well as room numbers, each room has the name of the film star that reputedly used to stay in that room, on the room's door. Graham, Mrs. K and I stayed in Burt Lancaster's room.


We arrive at the hotel at 18.20, which is a much better that the relatively late arrivals that we've been seeing of late. We get settled in, freshen up and meet up in the hotel restaurant for dinner with Andrew and Wendy at 8. I had the Humphrey Bogart burger - best I've had (maybe ever?)

Internet access here is only available in the lobby, not the rooms, so no blog updates today.
Outside, now it's dark, the hotel is lit up [ photos to add ]  and to add to the atmosphere there's a couple of classic American 1960's cars parked out front. Our bikes we park in our own special under-cover parking area.
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