Day 9 - Santa Fe, New Mexico - Gallup, New Mexico - 200 miles

As breakfast isn't served in the hotel, and we had been told by Gary not to eat as we were going for coffee and cake within an hour of leaving we rose early, got packed up and John sussed out the exit from the hotel. It was underground car park with a ramp and sharp right hand bend in. This had all come as a shock to him last night, tired after the long arduous drive up into the mountains and he wasn't going to be shocked on the way out. Julie, another member of the group who was a very inexperienced driver was also concerned about the ramp and getting out. Tim, however had spoken to them both about how to deal with it. John managed no problem, Julie stalled. Wendy was just pleased she was in the support vehicle and didn't see it as her heart goes into her mouth every time there is a problem. We left Santa Fe, not on the old Route 66/Postal Route but on Route 14 to go down to Madrid. A town which until the making of the film Wild Hogs with John Travolta in 2006 we suspect was dying. We make a visit to Maggie's Diner used in the film. It isn't a diner, but a gift shop, and was built specifically for the film. The town seems to have been a stopping place for those hippies making their way out on Route 66 in the 60's. It is full of hippy types, with no main line sewage system (porta loos throughout) and very run down. Breakfast finally comes a couple of hours after leaving and we have coffee and carrot cake at Java Rock Cafe. The cake was amazing and certainly met Andy (the diabetic in the groups) requirement for a quick sugar fix. The toilet however was not amazing. The other Wendy declined the use of and bothh Wendy's went in search of something slightly less gross. The town seemed to be purely set up for tourists, and those original townsfolk are living in another world. Quite sadly Wendy took notice of a once beautiful house which was now very run down. The notice on the front gate indicated that the owners had died. Benefits were being held to raise funds to pay for their funerals and the house was to be sold. So sad, another part of the the route which made us wonder what the state governments were thinking when they put the interstates through avoiding towns.

 Back on the road we rejoined I40 and headed for Albuquerque. The temperature had now risen considerably and were close to 40. Albuquerque is a typical Mexican town, with many native American artists, a beautiful church, allegedly the oldest Church in America. We ate in a very nice restaurant in the Old Town outside under grapevines with a fountain and birds close by. The food was typically Mexican and good, although Wendy's option for a vegetarian sandwich with avocado had raw green chillies complete with seeds. Even John struggled with them.

We left Albuquerque. Not stopping at the Rio Grande river, which Tim advised was normally a stop off point walking across a bridge. However we were racing another set of storm clouds and raced West, catching only a few drops We continued along I40. As we pass through Moriaty Wendy notices the old Whiting Brothers garage. They were evidently significant in Route 66 history http://route66.atwebpages.com/wbros/gasoline.html Gary is on a mission and we hurtle along I40 travelling through Native American reservations. You are advised not to take pictures in these areas. We stop at Continental Divide which has a gift shop. East rainfall and rivers ran into the Atlantic and West ran into the Pacific. The view is amazing. For once Wendy is tempted by the local Navajo art work, but decides that it is impossible to bring home safely.

 Back on the road we head into Gallup. Here we are not staying in a chain but an independently owned hotel, El Rancho. A charming hotel dating back to the 1920's. Each of the rooms is named after a film star who had stayed at the hotel whilst filming. We are in the Mae West Room. We have to say that other than one hotel all the hotels have been fantastic. Big rooms and very comfortable with the management making an effort with such a big group.

We are advised not to leave anything on the bikes overnights and to ensure that they are well locked, also not to go out into the town alone, and definitely not to give money to anyone who approaches us as there is a huge drug and alcohol problem in the town. Again another symptom of the I40 missing a town and leaving it to die. Dinner is in the hotel and once more is typically Mexican, an early night again which we are very pleased to take as we are both suffering with nose bleeds and headaches from the heat and altitude.