Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

Apr 8, 2005

The current “plan”

Looking at the weather forecast, in every direction there is a forecast for strong winds tomorrow. I am going to either stay here or move to the motel next door, or one down the street, depending on its weekend rate. It’s comfortable, but not terribly friendly, and it lies about its facilities (no laundry here).

I’m not going to make it to Fort Worth on the motorcycle, but there’s a pretty good chance I will make it to Texas, and that will satisfy my need to not give up. I can look at the forecast and either take a southern route, stopping in El Paso (just on the border with Texas and Mexico, but a large city); or I can continue east towards Albuquerque and Roswell, and pop into Texas somewhere there. It is about 250 miles back to Phoenix, and another 400 or so to El Paso - easily do-able in three or four days if I don’t get stuck again. I can then either take a friend up on her offer to pick me up anywhere within a two day drive’s range; or I can catch a Greyhound bus for the last few hundred miles.

I’m not sure how far it is to Odessa, probably quite a bit less, but there are mountains and more likelihood of obnoxious weather.

Or the weather report could change, and I’ll head out tomorrow. I will decide tomorrow morning.

My friend in Albuquerque has given me some alternate, non-freeway routes that are a) scenic and b) more sheltered. I also have a free place to stay with her if it comes to be that Albuquerque is as far as I get on the bike. If I don’t see her this time, I hope to swing by that way on the way home.

It makes me feel happier to look into the alternatives and do something other than feel miserable and disappointed.