From TXDOT:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1175960094.jpg


From NM DOT
“Guadalupe Co. and Quay Co. driving conditions are fair
Comment: I-40 from mile marker 300 to 339 in the Tucumcari area is reporting good driving conditions. Roads are wet with a light drizzle reporting at this hour. Crews have salted and sanded the bridges. Reduce your speed and use caution. UPDATED SAT APRIL 7TH AT 8:30 A.M. last updated today at 8:31 AM”


“Interstate 40: from after Exit 273 to before Exit 229
road closed to traffic due to black ice
Comment: I-40 westbound is closed to traffic at Exit 273 in Santa Rosa due to black ice and numerous accidents. Closure is in effect until further notice. POSTED AT APRIL 7TH AT 8:40 A.M. last updated today at 9:03 AM”

It looks like west of Amarillo is just snow. As it transitions to warmer in the west, you will encounter “black ice” and I-40 closure.

Drive carefully
Grady

HW,

Got your PM and cell number. Will call later.

Joe

I just got off the phone with the guys and they are cruising along in the snow west of Amarillo, getting close to NM.

Hopefully I-40 will reopen when they get to that stretch.

Are there some Pelicans around Santa Fe for lunch?

Best,
Grady

While I was on the phone with the guys, they re-opened I-40.

“Interstate 40: from after Exit 273 to before Exit 229
driving conditions are fair due to black ice
Comment: Traffic is moving slowly on I-40 westbound near Santa Rosa due to black ice and numerous accidents. Reduce your speed and use extreme caution. UPDATED AT APRIL 7TH AT 11:36 A.M. last updated today at 11:39 AM”

They are now at I-40 NM Exit 277, Santa Rosa.

The current plan is for them to take Exit 218 and US-285 north to Santa Fe for lunch.

Is anyone available to meet them on the Plaza (well… inside a restaurant) for lunch? I guess they will get there in about 2 hours.

Would you believe they have an inop washer motor and frozen over wipers.

The adventure continues.

Best,
Grady

Ok, directions in Santa FE:

From I-25 westbound, take Exit 282b. “Santa Fe”. Go North on US-84/285

Note the confusion of streets. These are still the old ox-wagon
roads. Santa Fe was here several hundred years before
Napoleonic rectilinear system.

I found you an Internet Café:
Blue Corn Café
133 W. Water St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501-2136
505-964-1800
info@bluecorncafe.com
http://www.bluecorncafe.com/

This is in Plaza Nercado on the NW corner of Water St. and
Gallisteo St. It is about ½ block off the Old Plaza.

With your map software, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding it.
Pay attention to all the one-way streets.

Mapquest instructions:
Exit #282b onto S ST FRANCIS DR/US-285 N/US-84 N, go 2.4 miles
Turn RIGHT onto CERRILLOS RD/NM-14 N. go 0.6 miles
Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto SANDOVAL ST. go 0.3 miles
Turn RIGHT onto W WATER ST.
End At Blue Corn Cafe & Brewery, 133 W Water St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 505-984-1800

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1175973665.jpg


Best,
Grady

Tell them to go to "The Shed", north east side of the plaza square. The enchilada's will warm them up!

113 1/2 E Palace Ave
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-9030

The Blue Corn is a great place as well, my son's favorite.

jtfreels,

My criteria was more to getting the guys high-speed internet connection. In the Blue Corn they can sit in the bar and be on-line while having lunch (no drinking). :D I can just see these two Yankees sampling some nice savory green chili.

Right now they are still parked on I-40 Exit 243 just having passed the remains of a PU that was crushed and run over by a semi. Not good looking up at those semis from a 911.

They are lamenting the lack of heat from not running at speed and one footwell fan inop.

They are only about 25 miles from their Exit 218 and US-285 to Santa Fe.

Best,
Grady

Grady,

The traffic is terrible around here as well. I was thinking of driving to Flag and meeting them for dinner but I-17 has been closed for hours due to an accident, and its the only road from Phoenix to Flag.

Lots of silly drivers out on a holiday weekend. Hope that they steer clear of them!

Joe

Edit, just did a "streets and trips" routing for them. If they are just getting to Santa Fe right now, they will not make Flag until very late tonight, if not Sunday.

Joe,

They just got back in cell range right now … iffy. They are “at speed” on US-285.

I suggested they possibly stay overnight In Santa Fe or Albuquerque.

I’m watching the Weather Channel and the ice & snow seems to be moving west along I-25 & I-40 Albuquerque and east.

Even I-20 in TX is getting serious snow.
I’m not surprised at I-17 & I-40. With Flagstaff’s high altitude it is normally snowed in – just not usually Easter. It is snowing in Atlanta and warmer in Fairbanks.

Here are the current NM DOT advisories:

“US 285: from Interstate 25 South to before County Road 56A
serious accident because of mixed rain and snow -- approach with care, detour in operation — for the next hour last updated today at 12:02 PM

Interstate 25: from Exit 299 to Exit 284
difficult driving conditions because of mixed rain and snow
last updated today at 11:59 AM

Interstate 40 in both directions: from Exit 176 to Exit 234
difficult driving conditions, wet and icy roads because of mixed rain and snow
last updated today at 11:56 AM”

Best,
Grady

They also eat breakfast.. I talked to them a few hours ago. and re-iterated the need to take thier time and be safe..
On a side note, ,I wasn't even going to hook up the heat!!! And Chris was worried about no AC !!! LOL

Grady, good thinking on the wireless! Breakfast recommendation then, Cafe Pasquale, have the bluecorn pancakes.

Grady,

Agree and its not looking good up North, so would not like to see them caught in a blizzard that closes the road and them stuck.

There is nothing West of Gallup until you get to Flag, unless you want to stay on the reservation. Its high plains all the way from ABQ West and weather hits hard and fast, so with their not having heat it could be interesting.

Rather have them be safe than stuck out in the open somewhere.

Joe,

I just looked at Albuquerque, Winslow and Flagstaff. High 70s and only some clouds and better tomorrow. The weather may just stay east of the divide. Now all we have to do is get the guys to Flagstaff tonight.

Is the distress at 17&40 not weather?

Best,
Grady

The guys are sitting in Blue Corn Cafe figuring out hte internet connection. (I just talked to their server)

Do we need to help? :D

Best,
Grady

Q
 

Grady,

The issue on 17 going from Phoenix to Flag is car accidents. One accident and it closes the entire freeway down. The may get to Flag tonight but it would be very late. This being a holiday weekend, the roads are full of "weekenders" and many are towing boats or RV's and either slowing things up everywhere or causing accidents.

Highway 40 is a bit better but not a whole lot. As well I-40 is restricted to one lane East and West around Gallup for around 15 miles, and its showing that its delaying everyone by an hour or so.

There is frontal activity going through the North country but may have settled down by now. We were forcasting rain and snow tonight and tomorrow for part of the state.

If they are still in Santa Fe right now I would really recommend their settling down in ABQ or Gallup at the futherest. Just ran a streets and trips profile on them, and if they left SF at 1600 local for Flag, they would not arrive until 2200 (10 PM) at the earliest. With their fighting bad weather and such already much of the day not sure that they want to push that hard.

Flag is calling for a 30% chance of snow/rain tonight or tomorrow and a low in the mid-30's. Up to them...

Guys,, just talked to Charles they are planning on overnighting in Gallup tonight,, so anyone who wants to do lunch in Flagstaff tomorrow they'd love to hook up.. If they are running slow they'd be open to Easter Dinner!! They will be online tonight.. Joe if you want to talk to them I'm PMing thier cell phone info

Glad that they made that decision. Just got a new radar picture and there is activity between Flag and Gallup.

There is one hotel that I can recommend there. Its called the El Rancho and its a 1950's movie star hangout. They used it when making movies in the area. Have stayed there twice and its a hoot. Food is good and atmosphere is... well dammit , its Gallup New Mexico! Worth a look for the guys.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g47042-d115238-Reviews-El_Rancho_Hotel_Motel-Gallup_New_Mexico.html

Good call Joe!! Just got off the phone with the boys, they are going to stay there tonight.. Looks like a very cool place!!!
T

Prescott Pelican Posse
 

If we want to meet the guys in Flagstaff, how do we get in touch? There is a great route from Flag through Sedona, over Mingus (Jerome ghost town), through Prescott (Whiskey Row) and out the famous "Spars" towards Wickenberg and West on 60 to I-10 to Blyth and Palm Springs... and on to Smell-A
We can meet them for lunch and lead them over the monrtains heading towards Calif. if they want to experience one of Arizona's finest twistie routes.

We're the Prescott Pelican Posse... (and Mid9er's too!)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1175996349.jpg

the boys will be checking in tonight with this thread... You can PM Chris or Charles.. they are psyched...