The forecast said the wind would be upwards of 25mph. I thought if I got out fairly early that I might beat the strongest of the days wind. I decided to go out to make coffee. My plan to beat the worst of the wind didn’t work. I took off to the south towards my destination into what was already a 20mph wind. Typical of me I chose what was probably the worst bike for the task but it’s one I hadn’t ridden in a while thus the reason for my choice.
A few miles into the wind I abandoned my original plan. I didn’t want to have to go the additional couple of miles against the wind to get to my spot and I wasn’t sure I’d even find any shelter from the wind there to operate my stove.
I turned west and rode for a couple miles with a crosswind which wasn’t bad. I stopped on a bridge to take a look at the old airway beacon arrow which is by it and while stopped I noticed there was very little wind due to some trees along the creek. I nestled my stove up against the concrete bridge railing support for even more wind protection and proceeded to make coffee. Not a single car passed while I was there. I consumed my coffee while taking a closer look at the arrow.
If I recall correctly this airway beacon arrow was on the Albuquerque to Kansas City air mail route. It’s in pretty bad shape. Sitting near the rear of the arrow would have been a tower with a light and behind it a generator. The landowner adjacent to the arrow tries to keep the area around it mowed. I notice he or someone had recently outlined the arrow in chalk or more likely gypsum as I found a couple small pieces of broken sheetrock near by. Once done with my coffee I rode a couple more more miles to the west before making my way back home.
Speaking of mail… after lunch Nova joined me for a short ride to the post office. Her 2nd one for the of the day.
