Day 1 Route 66 Tour - Highlands Ranch, CO to Albuquerque, NM - Monday, October 19th, 2020

Monday, October 19th, 2020 

"I think you all ought to get back on your bikes and go out and ride the highway until you remember what riding’s all about" – Damien Blade – Wild Hogs

Thinking about “Ride hard or stay home!”

I was recently in Michigan on a ride with almost 100 bikes and it made me think about sound, feel, and experience.  A Harley ride is a hard thing to describe and if you never been on one then it may not make any sense…..

As way to try and explain – I realized Harley tried to trademark their sound. In 1994, Harley Davidson filed a sound trademark for its distinctive rumble. (withdrawn at a later date).  For the geeks and motor heads, normally on a two-cylinder engine the spark plugs are positioned 180 degrees from each other which produces an exhaust noise that is even and smooth.  Harley designed to save money and simplify with a 45-degree arc so there is first a 315-degree rotation followed by 405-degree rotation – producing an asymmetrical sound that is very unique and somehow gets better the more Harley’s you put together.

Thinking about the first quote, last week I set out on an adventure to clear my head and have a unique experience.

Leaving early on a Monday morning – a general direction and plan – I wanted to go see Route 66.

Taos, NM: In the hunt for Route 66 – first stop would be Taos, NM once getting out of Colorado.  A few pictures from Taos - a few signs that NM might be a bit weird.  It's a beautiful town, but this has been a hard year on NM.

The Taos Pueblo, which borders the north boundary of the town of Taos, has been occupied for nearly a millennium. It is estimated that the pueblo was built between 1000 and 1450 A.D., with some later expansion, and the pueblo is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. Long one of America's foremost, bona fide Art Colonies, Taos is also home to a world-class ski resort (Taos Ski Valley), a World Heritage Site (Taos Pueblo), one of the most photographed and iconic churches.

Madrid, NM: The second stop, located just south of Santa Fe New Mexico, in the mineral rich Ortiz

Mountains, Madrid is in the oldest coal mining region in New Mexico. There is evidence of primitive mining in the Madrid area as early as the mid-1850's.  I made my wife watch Wild Hogs the night before leaving just so she could have so more context on the ride.

There is a history as a ghost town that once went up for sale for $250K in the Wall Street Journal, but for me – it’s the show down location for Wild Hog’s and Maggie’s diner.  A few pictures from Madrid 

Moriarty, NM: Whiting Bros Petrol, Moriarty, NM: After Route 66 began to barrel through the eight states, gas stations started offering repairs and other services and the structures were enlarged again as service bays were added to the buildings. These structures continued to evolve over the years to the place that they are today, sometimes no bigger than those first early structures.

Today, with the exception of one remaining Whiting Brothers Station in Moriarty, New Mexico, and a few buildings that have been utilized for other businesses purposes, all that’s left of the Whiting empire are its fading yellow and orange signs and crumbling buildings. Soon, these too will most likely disappear, ending another chapter of Route 66 history. Pictures from Moriarty, NM

Albuquerque, NM:  El Vado Hotel and the sights of Central Ave, Albuquerque which was once Route 66.

I stayed in El Vado - When it opened in 1937, El Vado was one of New Mexico’s first motels to greet Route 66 travelers. Generations of families have forged lasting memories and adventures starting here. Today, El Vado is a unique blend of historic character and charm, combined with modern comforts and amenities.

 Photos from Albuquerque 

An incredible first day on the road with 470 miles – a basic route via google maps. 

It’s hard to describe the experience of letting a Harley loose on the open road, the wind, the roar, the ride – let the good times roll!  I was exhausted and turns out most restaurants in NM close at 7 PM.  I feel bad for states that have ridiculous rules - only thing I can do is plan to get out of this state as fast as possible.