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The Last Day Test
Blatherings From The Editor What a great ride Wanda and I had this past month - over to Sipapu, NM for the Land of Enchantment BMW Rally, then to Chinle, AZ via New Mexico Hwy 64, and down Arizona’s right coast to Silver City, NM. A great rally, excellent roads, and not a problem along the way. After 5 days of riding, the plan was to make the sixth, the last day, the easiest, spending the night only 200 some miles from home. Didn’t even need an early start, actually didn’t want one because the road we were taking is known for deer strikes. Keeping our speed down and keeping a sharp eye out for those hooved rats called deer, we rode along enjoying the morning air. Suddenly, around a left hander, here comes a small car going like gang busters and getting sideways trying to complete a pass s/he should never have started. I counter steered to the right, then see a second car coming at us head on. The shoulder here was good and wide, I start to move over the fog line. The on-coming car veered over the fog line and on to the shoulder; I counter steer hard to the left. For just a split second we were three wide – passed car on our left, passing car on the shoulder to our right. Was a real breath catcher. Whew! Coming on down out of the high country, hopefully leaving the deer and crazy drivers behind, the roads straighten out and you can see for miles. Unfortunately, the buzzard that was scanning the road for brunch wasn’t looking our way. Flying somewhat parallel to us, I didn’t see it until it was right next to us, and I mean right next to us. I was ducking and saying something into the intercom when this huge bird’s left wing hit our wind screen. I looked right into that bird’s eye, and at a couple of other parts that are not pretty! Wanda said she smelled it, gross. But wait, the birds weren’t finished with us yet. Just a few miles further down the road, a road runner decides it needs to make it to the other side of the road regardless of whom or what is coming down said road. It flew right across the road about five feet off the ground and brushed my helmet. I’ve hit a dove before, actually caught it against my chest, but this guy was way bigger and would have hurt. Visions of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” went through my mind. Man, it was time to take a break. We were just a few miles from the Geronimo Surrenders Monument. We needed a cup of coffee and a snack. Jackets and helmets come off and are stacked on the picnic table; the coffee thermos and a couple of snack bars are dug out of the tank bag and set on the table. Then it’s…SNAKE! Seems a rattle snake, close to four feet long, was enjoying the morning sun beside the table. A couple of pebbles thrown his way, from a safe distance of course, sent him slithering into the tall grass. Checking for snakes and critters at rest stops is now part of our rest stop check list. It was a really big snake! We were only 50 miles from home. What else could happen? I shouldn’t have asked. Just past Douglas going west to Bisbee the road was freshly oiled. When I say “freshly” I mean we could see the truck spewing the oil on the ground. For 12 miles we tip toed along, getting our tip toes and the bike covered in road tar. Bummer, this is going to take some serious cleaning. Coffee at the Bisbee Coffee Company was terrific, we needed it. The last few miles home were uneventful and appreciated. This was a “last day” we’ll remember for a long time. Deryle and Wanda, home safe and sound - we passed The Last Day Test!
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