Day 8: Raton, NM to La Junta, CO

Summary:
    Miles:   261
    Average: 51
    Maximum: 87

Roads:
    I-25, 12, 96, 50

Saturday, the start of the second week of the trip. The ride into Colorado on I-25 was better than I expected: short and sweet. The roads through the mountains were very nice and I enjoyed every minute of them. The only real excitement came a bit southwest of Pueblo, on highway 96, where a wildfire was burning. There were air tankers dropping retardent, helicopters carrying water, fire trucks, police and news crews. I saw later on the news that they had to evacuate the houses in the area as a thunderstorm pushed the fire toward the developed areas.

Leaving Pueblo, heading east on highway 50, was hot, dull, and pretty boring. I made it to La Junta before being too tired and ill to go any further. I had hoped to get to Kansas, but just couldn't get there. The heat in the afternoons is really getting to me. I found a really cheap, but really nice, motel in La Junta. If you ever go there, head for the "Mid-Town Motel". It's a very good place to stay.