Suzi Goes West: Day 12 - Sunday, September 28: Hobart, OK to Cimarron, NM

START - Hobart, OK

END - Cimarron, NM

MILES - 402

Made up some lost ground today, and about 40 miles out on a desolate stop, pulled in for a break. Took a look at the markers and set my sights on Cimarron, NM. Specifically the St. James Hotel. The hotel was closed that evening for an employee party. As I was trying to regroup and get back on the bike, I dropped the helmet, Plexiglas visor first, smack into the gravel and scarred it into a permanent haze. The whole stop felt like my first true disappointment on the trip. I was wrong. Connectivity for other resources was scarce, but my campground app activated a couple of locations without a map. I simply rode towards one of the dots. If they hadn't closed the hotel, and postponed the party, for that particular night, I would've missed out on the best thing that could've happened to me in Cimarron.

At the campground I met David. He has logged over 2,000,000 miles, and was the only person other than Looney who didn't question what I was on and what I was doing. He told me once I got settled in, to bring him my Maps. We spent the next two hours going over riding highlights in five states. I had to bring out two more regional Maps in order to cover the bases. he wasn't just knowledgeable about the roads, he appreciates the history of it all. It was obvious it was just a fraction of what was underneath that helmet. You could tell he had all the stuff in his head, and then would work to find it on the map. He was nonstop. He covered all of upper NM, plus a little of where I've been and more of where I'm going to. I have material for years to come.

Here's a couple "and further more's. "The campground was underwater two weeks ago from all the flooding. A lot of the ground is still soggy, and the wind was fairly strong. The host, Kathy, did offer up that "the pavilion" was closed for the season, but could offer me a little shelter and TV until I was ready to bunk. She told me to be careful with the food, as the Bears hadn't fully hibernated for the season. They coming to the campground in the rummage the trash cans, so make sure to put everything in the dumpster. "No one has been attacked, but A bear did walk over the tent of a couple a while back. They didn't stay for the second night." David told me nobody was using the pavilion, so it was the natural place to spread out. No bother with the tent and no dealing with the dew in the morning. It's the first time I've turned on the TV my whole trip!

AND!! When I turned on my phone to try to send a message home, a secure wireless connection came up, for this place! David gave me the password. AND!! David operates a garage in town. He keeps it mostly for his bikes, but can do all kinds of work. He's going to open up a bike tire shop, as there is nothing else than 200 miles. I'm going there in the morning for an oil change. He insists on doing it at no charge.