Issue:
Fall 2002

Text:
Christian Neuhauser

Photography:
Christian Neuhauser

Geographic Region:
NM, USA

Pages:
46 - 53

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A number of people have asked me recently to define a shamrock tour. Simply put, it's an exploration of the roads in an area that branch off in three or four directions – like the leaves of a shamrock or clover – from a central location (usually a small town). On this trip, we spent a few days cruising our shamrock in a different way, and chose a much larger site than normal – Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico – as our base of operations.

The Turquoise Bear
At two in the afternoon Mike Miller, an old friend, and I arrive in the sauna called Albuquerque. A friendly cab driver takes us to Eaglerider, one of the largest motorcycle rental stations in the U.S., where John, the owner welcomes us with cold refreshments and a lot of paperwork. He and his team oversee 25 Harleys, along with a few dirt bikes, and if you want to be a mud hopper, then Eaglerider is a good place to start. The team works fast and soon we're ready to go. I'm curious and a little anxious because this occasion marks a baptism of sorts – it's my first time touring upon a Harley. Before John signs off on our leave-taking however, he tutors us about the bikes and all their finer points. Eventually we're allowed to hit the road to Santa Fe astride two fine-running, well-maintained Road Kings.

An hour on, we enter the city limits of Santa Fe and I pull over, interrupting our smooth ride for a moment to consult the map. My companion Mike uses the opportunity to sing the praises of his Road King. I quickly find our way "home," to the Inn of the Turquoise Bear. Five minutes later we turn onto the driveway of this inviting adobe bed & breakfast. And when reporting on our safe arrival to my wife, I didn't forget to tell her what a great job she did finding our lodgings in this historic home on the old Santa Fe Trail.
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