The volcano and the whale.

I'm sitting at the at the foot of snow-capped mountains eating my salad. I have some bad news for those volcaphiliacs out there. I had to give the volcano a miss after attempting the access road. It was deep loose gravel, the natural enemy of Guzzis everywhere, and I was not going up a 9000 ft high road on that stuff. The Guzzi doesn't feel stable on that stuff and, though I tried it for half a mile, caution won out. No rescue crew here. Just vulnerable little me.
I'll ride south-west to Taos and then north-west from there to Dulce.

As you can see on the map, I have had a circuitous trip but I've wanted to include as much different terrain as possible and today's sights are a real highlight of the trip.

I don't want to take the bike too high, altitude-wise, it doesn't have any fancy ol' fuel injection so it could be mechanically risky to go over 7000 ft.

I have the usual trouble hear at McDonalds trying to get a coffee. They want to know whether I want caramel, creme brulee or deep-fried toblerone bars in it. It's worth it in the end but...

I don't know what happens from here or where I am definitively staying. I like 'winging it and there is always the roughing-it alternative. That could involve snow-skiing the way I'm thinking at the moment. But only if it falls in my lap.

Left: a tiny part of a huge feed-lot. Horrible






I better get on. There are miles to do and lattes to drink. I might add to this later. I think I'm short of sleep and a little bit grumpy and teary. But don't worry about me. No, no. resist that urge to care... aaahhhh.... coffee....:)

Left: Unconquered volcano









Left: the oil/gas wells from my flight to Florida, I thought they were nasty little hobby farms








Left: Crop circles around Clayton, taken from my satellite.






Left: Popeye and I.










Left: Chief Caricature and his bitch





Below: Guess