Thursday 21 November 2013

"one of those days"

Revisited a blog from 2007 as a result of picture posted on facebook, decided to post two days as they go together if you follow, 16th July "one of those days" So what have I done today? I went to White Sands and boy was that something else. On the way about 5 miles out of town I see something moving fast out of the corner of my eye and as it passes in front of me I see it's a stealth fighter, http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f-117.htm now I suppose they're common place around these here parts but I've never had the pleasure and to watch them flying is special. Anyway I turn into the visitors centre car park, go in and have a look around the store, bought a 2 pint of water for my camelback paid and returned to the bike I then realised I had left my neck cooler in the fridge back at the motel so return to motel to collect it, I could see it was going to be one of those days. On my way back to the sands I check my fuel and decide even though I'd only done 60 or so miles I'd fill up, I wasn't going to let "one of those days" get the better of me. So fuelled up I return to sands and let me tell you they are fantastic http://www.nps.gov/whsa/ I wish I'd have visited last night after checking into the motel, as it's the evening when they have guided walks and stuff, so if you get out that way by all means visit during the day and enjoy the scenery, but make sure your going to be around for the evening events, I was told they were well worth the price of another night in a local motel, and you know I believe them, they were something else and that was daytime. I will post pictures as soon as. So I left there having spent a little more time than I thought I might, and headed off on the next part of the trip. I'd punched Safford into the GPS and was merrily making my way there on my way to………..? You'll have to wait. When I saw a UPS store and being a sucker for a good UPS store I stopped. No really I had a parcel to send home, (dirty washing), there was a story when the parcel arrived in the UK, but you’ll have to wait for that. While that was being sorted I got chatting, like you do, and it was suggested that as I was so close to the border I might pop over, and I agreed. So given directions I head off in the direction of Mexico. I first stopped off to eat, I considered not doing and eating over the border but thought better of it, and am I glad I did. Crossing the border that way is no problem they take your money (for the toll) and away you go surprisingly very little traffic. So I'm now in Mexico! I head of in a direction and notice no GPS, now why do you think I thought I'd have GPS? Well you see in Europe they overlap the maps for a few miles, just in case, so you see I was shocked to find I was in the middle of nowhere so decided to return back to the security of the USA. I had a ride around town and found a road back over and joined the queue, and what a queue. http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=El+Paso,+TX,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image Finally arrived at the toll gate and paid $5 I protested that 20 mex whatever didn't equate to $5 US he threatened me with security and mentioned the now irate queue behind me so I paid up and moved on. An hour later I was at the top of the bridge, I'd been stopping the engine to hopefully avoid it over heating, so was quite relieved at the top and decided to free wheel down the other side. About half way down and half an hour into the descent I heard a pop followed by a hissing sound and remember thinking that sounded like somebody getting a flat, I reached the bottom of the hill and I was the 4th in line for customs so as the car in front moved I pressed the starter and got nothing. Pushed the bike throgh a gap and tried again, still nothing. It was trying but battery seemed flat. Nothing to do but push through customs; I needed to be on the other side for my AMA MOTOW assistance. As I pushed I noticed it was very heavy and sure enough it was me that had the flat. Got to the officer and the games started. Where you from, is that plate legal, is this your first visit to the USA, is it your bike? I tried explaining I had the green card in my passport but I guess he'd never seen one before; he made several calls on his radio, searched a saddle bag and finally said ok go, and kept repeating "boy that's a big bike". I asked if I could push it to one side and he said "yes down there" so I pushed it to the end of the search tables and parked. Tried again to start but obviously flat battery (fully discharged) I walked over to the office and in, and asked the several officers if there was any chance of assistance, the reply I got was no we can't intervene, fair comment, I fully understand and respect that. I returned to the bike and found the number for the AMA and gave them a call, there were 3 officers stood at the table next to me and I heard them comment on the fact I had a "busted battery and a flat tire". When I got through to AMA they needed a location so I proceeded back to the office to ask for the address to give, still talking to the nice lady on the end of the quickly discharging phone, I got a part address then this big fella comes out, (at least he thought he was big) starts shouting about people walking around and somebody should take charge, he then shouts at me to hang up my call and snatches the phone from me tells me to sit down and shut up and what did I think I was doing walking around and where was my car. I said my bike was over there and he started raving about it shouldn't be and who the… gave me permission to put it there. I said several officers knew I was there but he wanted to be specific so, I repeated what the officer said about parking over there, now that officer was stood behind him, and when I told him this he threw my phone at him and said "it's your problem deal with it or I'll report it to THE SUPERVISOR" first officer comes back over, I apologise for any trouble caused he says don't worry he's a prick or words to that effect, (it's my reckoning that the big guy was bullied at school) anyway, he asks me to move the bike on further down so I do, just round the corner. I'm now safely out of sight of the bully victim so proceed to call back AMA and confirm location and apologise for cut off. The nice lady informed me that a recovery has been issued for Manchester Canada? Yes that's what I said, I again explained the situation, put on hold several times, told there was a dealer around the corner and somebody would be with me shortly. 1 hr. 15 mins. later I decided to phone Charles (VRCC member I met after inZane), as his was the only number I had, and he got onto 1-800-4-BIKERS and phoned me back with a number, I phoned them and spoke to James who said he would try and sort somebody local to me to assist, he will get back to me. I decided to plug the tire while I waited. I'd just done that when a guy pulled up and said "you got a flat tire?" and proceeded to get a compressor from the rear of his van and inflate tire. I explained I also had a dud battery but unfortunately he had no jump leads. I offered him dollars to go buy some but he refused and left. James phoned me back to say he had somebody on the line and we could do a conference call and tell him my location, so we do. He said he'd be 15 minutes, so I wait, then a police officer comes over and enquires, nice as you like why I'm stood there with my bike, so I explain, did I mention the taxi driver? Well when I pushed the bike down there was a taxi driver parked up just behind where I'd stopped and he stayed to keep me company, even after he went off duty he took his car back and walked back to stay with me for another ½ hr. then he had to go home, apologised and left. Nice fella. Anyway back to officer, I explain he says he's happy and leaves; now that's how you deal with a situation Mr Bully victim. Next thing the guy in the truck comes back around the corner and tells me to pull down the road, there's his van and he's got jump leads, he'd only been home and got them. So we connect them to the bike and wait for a charge to register on voltmeter. As we're waiting a couple on a Harley pull up and ask "do you need any help bro" I thank them and say it looks like it's sorted, they leave before I could give them a card so probably wont read this but I thank them anyway. We start it and just as we do the contact from 1-800-4-bikers turns up, again I thank him and well, what can I say it's sorted. Renewed faith in mankind? Never lost it. I've had my first experience of bad attitude from authority in the USA, but can honestly say I don't think that's the norm at least not in my experience. I reset GPS for Safford and ended up here Butterfield stage motel Deming NM. http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Deming,+NM,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image after having cruised down some fantastic desert roads, that I had to just keep stopping on an taking pictures. I got stopped at a random border control point, the office asked my nationality and where I was heading checked my passport, had a quick chat about my trip and said "enjoy your time in America" now Mr. Bully victim that's how you deal with it. So again I say "where to tomorrow"? You'll have to wait. Watch this space. 17th / 18th July Well the wheels fell off someone's wagon! I read somewhere that the way to judge a good motel or a way to avoid a dodgy motel was to check out the neon sign. If all neon's are working, fine then chances are it's an ok motel, however if maybe one or two neon's are out then this might tell you that if they can't take care of there neon's, what else may they not be taking care of? So last night I stopped at a motel in (I don't know but I'll find out when I can be bothered to look at a map) called the Butterfield motel, it also had a sign up saying American owned, I did notice that part of the neon wasn't lit but thought what was looked nice. So went in got room (under $40) and walked across car park to said room. As I approached the room I noticed all the night life scattering as I walked past. Now one thing I must point out here, I've not been looking for motels in the dark before preferring to be booked in by night fall but in the wake of the events of yesterday at the border I had no choice, so I had never noticed this night life. Anyway I proceed to open door and…………the night life didn't stop at the door but one of two had made it inside. O K me thinks, no problem I need a bed, I've paid I'm tired, so I turn on computer, sort some stuff then think I'll have a shower and bed, it's now about 11.30. I went in bathroom and decided not to bother with shower, due to night life on floor but just to have a wash and shower in the morning, so I did that and went back to turn off computer and go to bed. I pulled the sheets back on the bed and there were one or two critters wanting to share the bed and given that I had paid rent and I was dam sure they hadn't, I wasn't happy so I evicted them from bed, got ride of sheets and went out and got my sleeping bag liner off the bike, in which I slept, for about 4 hrs. I left the place at 5.30 am having managed to evict the unwanted from the bathroom while I showered. Last night I watched the sun set over New Mexico and this morning I saw it rise, a photo you couldn’t take, a picture you couldn’t paint, a memory that will live with me forever. Well worth getting up early for. I was on my way to the Petrified Forest http://www.nps.gov/pefo/ but like always wasn't taking the quickest route, more the most scenic, and it was that. I went via the White Mountains, http://www.go-arizona.com/White-Mountains the trip through salt river canyon was another jaw dropping experience, kept stopping to take pictures and soak it all in, absolutely fantastic. You know I'm not usually out and about at that hour of the day and seeing the mist through the trees in the woods and listening to the sounds that aren't there during the day, I think I'm going to have to alter my clock and start these early to bed early to rise coz there's a world out there in a morning that knocks spots off anything you see later, and the thing is at that time of the day you have it (mostly) to yourself. So anyway I eventually arrive at the Petrified Forest and again I ask, what's that all about, awesome! I mean how did that happen yes I listened as the guy explained in the auditorium but, swamp?..............you'll just have to go and see, it's like space man, you know? Infinity, I can't equate, it's beyond me. The landscape in places was similar to the badlands, obviously not on that scale but I reckon the rocks are of a similar constitution to the badlands. Again took loads of pictures but they wont do it justice. I'd been closely shadowed for the better part of the day by some pretty threatening black clouds, but managed to avoid getting wet, however I decided the best course of action after the badlands was to head for my next port of call, Williams A Z http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Williams,+AZ,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image Why? I hear you say, well those that know don't say but for those that don't know, my name is Williams. Unfortunately the clouds that had been shadowing me decided to dump on me about 30 miles away from Williams so I arrived very wet and looking like a right plonker, why? Because I'd put my wet gear on just after it started raining and by the time I got there it had stopped and the sun was out. People are looking at me like "it looks like he's expecting bad weather, I bet he's hot in that" and do you know something I was, and again I was wetter than if I hadn't put the thing on. It was always a destination, Williams A Z, the last officially used section of route 66 before the interstate was completed. I did hear that for that year 84/85 it would take anything up to 3 hrs to drive the short distance through Williams so the completion of I 40 came as somewhat of a relief. I stayed in the route 66 motel had a steak in Rod's steakhouse, http://rods-steakhouse.com/ and very nice it was, and a long chat with the guy that owns the "traditional garage" opposite the motel, he's living his dream. (Pictures posted) I intended to return in the morning and buy one or two souvenirs from him, and get his name, but was up and away before the rest of the town woke. That is apart from the couple on the other Dragon in the motel down the road. I'd seen them ride past last night as I was unloading, we acknowledged each other but that was it, anyway as I was leaving town this morning I noticed they where loading up there bike so stopped by for a chat, curse me if you like but I forgot your name's, (short term memory problem, they'll come back to me later if you remind me) anyhow it was great to talk. Now the Grand Canyon http://www.nps.gov/grca/ I'm saying nothing…………………does it get better than that. Absolutely bloody fantastic (pardon my French) I booked a helicopter flight for the afternoon so spent the morning actually in the park, what can I say? It's probably all been said before and far more eloquently than I can say so I'll shut up. It's a must come back with meJulie place, take the helicopter ride again, breathtaking, maybe do some white-water rafting, hiking, and just soak it up. I left and headed to my next destination which is? No wait till tomorrow. So where am I? Kingman A K http://www.google.co.uk/maps?q=Kingman,+AZ,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image Again on Route 66, (but we’ll say nothing of that)