Days 22-28: Wind, Heat, Texas, TV, and a Very Welcome Rest Day
Leaving Santa Fe, we thought Day 22 would be another manageable 60-mile day. Of course, “manageable” has become a pretty flexible word out here. Getting out of Santa Fe was more confusing than expected, with part of the route on a trail and the support vehicle needing to navigate surface streets. After a few calls and some backtracking, we reconnected just outside town and got rolling.
What I had not expected was how much climbing came early. Most of the day’s 3,400 feet of elevation gain came in the first 20 miles, taking us back up over 7,500 feet. The good news was that once the climbing was done, the bike mostly pointed downhill, and we had a fairly uneventful ride into Romeroville before driving into Santa Rosa for the night.
Day 23 was a smoother day. Karen got what we called “the day off,” which really meant she got to handle laundry at the only laundromat we could find in Santa Rosa. In true Karen fashion, when there was no taxi or Uber to be found, she made friends and found a nice guy from Austin working at the local hospital who gave her a ride back to the hotel.
The ride itself was mostly downhill rollers back into Santa Rosa. I did stop to have a brief conversation with a herd of cattle gathered at the corner of their fence. They looked at me, I looked at them, we exchanged pleasantries, and I kept riding. The real highlight of Santa Rosa was the Big Blue Hole - a beautiful artesian well about 60 feet wide and 80 feet deep, with water around 61 degrees. I jumped in, floated around, and cooled off. Scott gave it a try too, but he is apparently more of a warm-water guy.
Then came Day 24 and the wind. We thought we were being smart by starting early out of Santa Rosa toward Tucumcari. Within about four pedal strokes on I-40, I realized the wind was directly in my face, gusting somewhere between 15 and 30 miles per hour. After five miles in about 35 minutes, with trucks flying by on my left, I decided survival was the better strategy. The Outlaw came back, picked me up, and we regrouped in Tucumcari over coffee.
That forced a little re-amortization of the route. If you can’t adjust the wind, you adjust the sails.
Days 25 and 26 became makeup days. We drove back toward Santa Rosa, picked up where we had left off, and I was able to get in roughly 80 miles under much calmer conditions. It was not the most scenic riding. The most exciting thing that happen was the discovery of a dead bull snake on the side of the road, poor guy didn’t quite make it across. I stopped and took a picture and peddled on. The day gave me time to listen to a pretty eclectic mix of podcasts - politics, technology, markets, hunger, and innovation - everything from All-In and Prof G Markets to Add Passion and Stir with Billy and Debbie Shore of Share Our Strength, and Moonshots with Peter Diamandis and his mates. Out there on the road, with not much changing in the landscape, those conversations gave me plenty to think about.
We also revisited Carlson’s Diner and Bakery in Tucumcari, where we had stopped the day before after the wind shut us down. That stop turned out to be one of those unexpected Route 66 moments. We met a group of motorcyclists, including one rider from Arkansas who had gone out to California and was heading back, and another group of guys from Fort Lauderdale who had ridden to San Diego and were making their way home. We swapped road stories, took a few pictures, and one of them even made a contribution to the ride. We also met a couple from England who were traveling across the country on their way to Albuquerque, then heading to Las Vegas to see No Doubt at the Sphere. It was one more reminder that the road brings all kinds of people together. Should also mention that Route 66 thru Tucumcari had a nostalgic collection of iconic motels with matching signage – The Sandpiper, The Blue Swallow, The Safari and the Palomino all still housing travelers and serving such things as Moon Pies and RC Cola.
On Day 26, we said goodbye to New Mexico and entered Texas. The road surface immediately improved, the landscape began to change, and so did the smells. More agriculture, more cattle, and the familiar aromatics that come with them. Just outside Amarillo, we passed a huge group of wind turbines spinning across the open plains - a reminder that even in oil and gas country, the wind is an asset.
That night we stayed at the Big Texan, home of the famous 72-ounce steak challenge. Needless to say, Scott, Karen, and I did not participate. But the place was full of Route 66 travelers, including motorcycle groups from Quebec and later Scotland, all enjoying the centennial energy of old Americana along the highway.
Day 27 started differently. We went to Channel 10 in Amarillo for a morning segment on Second Cup. The hosts gave us about nine minutes to talk about the ride, No Kid Hungry, and why this journey matters. It was our first real television exposure, and I hope it helps move the fundraising needle.
Although Day 27 was supposed to be a rest day, the forecast for Day 28 looked windy, and I was not going to be fooled twice. So I rode. It felt a little like riding through a convection oven - about 95 degrees with wind blowing either in my face or across me. We got just under 50 miles done, then celebrated with dinner from Buc-ee’s in the RV. If you have never been to Buc-ee’s, it is hard to explain. One hundred gas pumps, barbecue, turkey, sausage, a wall of jerky, and enough food to feed a small army.
By Day 28, I was very happy to take the rest day. We watched the motorcycle groups roll out from the Big Texan, handled a few errands, had a traditional Texas breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and then drove south to Palo Duro Canyon. It is a beautiful place - not as vast as the Grand Canyon, but deeply impressive. The museum and landscape also made me think about the history of this part of the country: Native peoples displaced, buffalo nearly wiped out, and the complicated story behind “manifest destiny.” Riding across the country gives you a lot of time to think about what we celebrate, what we overlook, and what we take for granted.
As of now, we are about 1,360 miles into the journey and getting closer to halfway. The next stretch will be hot, windy, and long, but we keep moving east.
The adventure continues somewhere down the road.
Please support the No Kid Hungry Ride.
I am riding across the country to raise $1 million for No Kid Hungry and help end childhood hunger in America. Every donation helps provide meals, resources, and support for kids and families who need it most.
Please visit nokidhungryride.com to follow the ride and make a contribution.
