Soggy in Santa Fe...

Morning all.

Sorry for the lack of posts but it has been surpisingly hard to find an intwerweb cafe here. The last 3 days have taken us to Amarillo (Yes, we did sing the song and the Americans looked confused!), Clinton, Texas, and finally here, Santa Fe, New Mexico 7000 feet above sea level. The frog is confined to barracks as his ego is getting to large. He has become popular with the 4 Hungarians and 4 Swedes on our tour to the extent that they requested that when they posed for a photograph on the origial Route 66 Kermit sat in front hold a Route 66 sign. Gary, the support truck driver is making a photo documentary of Kerm's travels and the frog's head is beginning to swell.

Had a bit of a disaster in Texas as the 60 spf sun-block (it was 34C there) leeched into my skin and caused a reaction with my eyes. Stuart, one of the tour guides rode my 'bike and Trish and I relaxed in the air-conditioned truck for a couple of hours. All is okay now. 200 yards into Texas we claimed our first rattle-snake but it was his fault for sun-bathing across Route 66. Don on the front 'bike hit it first followed by me and about 6 other Harleys. We hit another about 10 miles further on and have had close shaves with 2 deer and a moggy. We had a meal at 'The Grand Texan', a steakhouse where the speciality is a challenge to eat a 72 os (5 lb) steak plus veggies and a jacket spud in 1 hour. Participants are placed on a central stage with a ticking clock behind them. They first woman was almost heaving with every mouthful and failed then a little Korean guy got up there and demolished the lot in 35mins - Then had a dessert! We chickened out.

This is our bunch onthe Texas Plains.

Of interest to our neighbours, the Grooms, we passed through a Route 66 town called Groom. You have heard of one-horse towns, I presume. Well, this one did not even have a person: plenty of garages, houses and shops but no bodies. We stopped at another almost deserted town called Adrian which is exactly halfway between Chicago and L.A. being 1139 miles from either. We met a strange chap who has the entire 2248 mile Route tattooed on his body and has his shirts cut in various places to show off the artwork. Everywhere down the road are 1950s car just rusting away. You know the sort, lots of chrome grill and bumpers with big tail-fins. Most of Texas as just flat and barren, a bit like Elmley without oilwells.

Yesterday we had to seek shelter from a violent thunder storm and today is a rest day in Santa Fe. The city is a mixture of Mexican/American and Indian culture and is ful of designer shops. The guide told us a lot of 'celebs' hang out here so Kermit feels at home...

Tomorrow we head to Gallup, still in New Mexico and the Harley continues to run well. We are unable to download pictures from these interweb cafe's so will add them on our return.

Adios amigos

We go spend plenty dollar. Si?

Paul, Trish, HRH Kermit and Kermeeta.
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