GDMBR Day 11

• Start: High Country Alpaca Ranch, Techada, NM

• Finish: Sands Motel, Grants, NM

• Miles: 67.9 miles

• Odometer: 431.3 miles

• Ascent: 1,880 ft

• Descent: 2,900 ft

• Location: https://share.garmin.com/Judice

Highlights:

Today was all about the scenery, easy riding, and rolling terrain with an overall descending profile into Grants, NM. My spirits love an occasional easy day of riding. I passed loads of deer and chipmunks and a beautiful natural arch called La Ventana Arch. 

In Grants I found a Chinese massage parlor and a steakhouse across the street from each other. The non-English-speaking massage therapist climbed up on the table to drive her elbow into my aching neck and shoulders, and I left with so much more neck mobility and less pain. My first few weeks of long-distance cycling always results in a breaking in period for my neck and shoulders. The steak dinner was better than Ruth’s Chris for half the price. Hard to beat. 

Grants is on Route 66. I checked into one of those old motor lodge motels called The Sands, partly for an historical perspective but mostly because it was cheap. A young couple owns the place now and values customer experience. I like the idea of young entrepreneurs taking something old and freshening it up.