Santa Rosa to Tucumcari, NM 04-27-2026 Day 17

We were once again up in time for breakfast at 6 AM. The winds might be uncontrollable like yesterday, so we wanted to get on the road as soon as possible. It was sad how many businesses had gone under in Santa Rosa either because of I 40, COVID or both.

Shortly after leaving Santa Rosa, we went over I-40 and were on a nice frontage road that paralleled the interstate.

Most of our hill climbing was going to happen in the first 20 miles on the way to Cuervo. Ron was the better hill climber today, which why he was able to capture me.

After working the frontage road, we had to get on a county road to take us closer to I- 40. It turned out to be a gravel road. We do not have gravel bikes. We have road bikes. It was the wrong tool for the job. Between the climbs, the strong cross wind, and the added rolling resistance, we had a tough stretch. To make matters worse, I noticed that my rear tire was getting a little softer than my front. I pulled over and pumped it up some more to see if I could make it to Cuervo. I pedaled like mad, not knowing if it might be flat in a few milles. Because of that I got ahead of Ron on a hill for once.

There was nothing worth stopping for in Cuervo. There were a few abandoned buildings and a gas station that was questionably functional, so we just pedaled on another 4 miles to Newkirk. It had a landmark gas station and Post office. It was there where I decided that I couldn’t make the rest of the trip pumping the tire and pedaling only a limited number of miles. Ron helped me change the flat. The hardest part is finding the cause. We knew it was another wire fragment, but finding it and removing it was imperative before you put in another tube or you would just have another flat. I was able to feel a small prick on my finger as I ran my hand along the inside of the tire. I had to used a pen knife to push the tiny dot of metal far enough to expose something I could grab with my mini pliers. I put in a patched tube from my seat bag. I didn’t want to take a chance that I might have missed some other fragment and ruin a new tube. The repair lasted the rest of the trip.

Once back on the road with proper wheels, and most of the climbing behind us, we started making good time. With tail winds and smooth road, we were once again sustaining speeds above 18 MPH for long stretches. On the way to Tucumcari we jumped back and forth across I-40 a few times, but didn’t have to get on the interstate until we were within less than 8 miles of town.

Near the first exit for Business I-40 (Historic Route 66) there were signs of business that did not survive the years of changes. As we got closer to town and the main part of Route 66, we were filled with the history of the Mother Road. Lots of stores, restaurants, displays that showed the heritage of the town and its link to the highway.

We gave a call to our Warm Shower host, Mel Lolmaugh when we were still at the edge of town. We asked what time would be convenient to arrive and did he have any recommendations for lunch. He was very flexible about our arrival time, suggested Lacita’s for lunch and that he would even meet us there! While were waiting in line to be seated, he said there had been a change of plans. His wife, Erika along with other EMTs were eating down the street at Del’s and we could join them. So we did!

It was a wonderful time. Ron and I had a beer with our patty melts. We enjoyed all the intersections of our lives we discovered over lunch – time in Washington state, for example. Unfortunately before they could finish their lunch, Erika and a colleague were called to answer a call and had to leave their lunch. One final EMT gathered it up and would bring it to them later.

After lunch we met Mel at his home. He set us up with the materials necessary to help fix our flats, patch our tubes, pump the tires, and generally gave us the run of their home as he got ready for his shift as a local policeman (and EMT). Both of them are incredibly generous and supportive people.

What a day, what great hosts, good food. Probably the highlight of the trip so far! Ride Stats are here and the 3D video here.

The Not So Lone Rider