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Day 16: Kingston, NM to Las Cruces, NM
Entry 18 of 55 | show all | print this entry |
Day 16: Kingston, NM to Las Cruces, NM (88 miles; 5:27)
This morning dawned sunny and warm, and is the first day I have ridden in shorts and a short-sleeve jersey. The lodge provided a generous breakfast of cereal, sourdough pancakes, waffles, potatoes, eggs, fruit, fresh bread, juice, and coffee.
We left the lodge about 7:45 a.m. and enjoyed a nice, easy, picturesque nine-mile downhill through the canyon, followed by three miles of climbing. For the next 21 miles we enjoyed an amazing decent into the Rio Grand Valley. We coasted along effortlessly, and even though we were riding downhill, the feeling was exhilarating. The rest of the 88-mile ride to Las Cruces was mostly flat with a few occasional dips and hills thrown in just to keep things interesting.
As we descended, the forests of the mountains gave way to a dramatically different landscape of farmlands irrigated by the Rio Grande. We passed cotton fields, fields of red and green chili peppers, groves of pecan trees, and dairy farms. Many of the chili pepper farms also had large dehydration warehouses. Judy amused all of us by asking if the pecan trees were chili pepper trees.
We turned right at Caballo Lake, where Di and I met a father and son from Portland, Oregon who were following the southern tier route going east to west. They had stayed at the campground overnight and were headed for Emory Pass.
We met Joanna at the 20-mile SAG and were told several riders had left quite early and were ahead of us. Over the next 23 miles, we passed everyone ahead of us, and were greeted at mile 43 by Joanna who refilled our water bottles and then headed back to set up a 40-mile SAG for the rest of the riders. While we were doing so, Sherri, Suze, Margaret, and Judy rode up. After filling their water bottles, we all headed into Hatch at mile 51, where we stopped for lunch at a small Mexican café. I had two tacos, and it cost me $3.00! The food was excellent,
The morning's weather was perfect, but when we left the café and resumed riding, we were faced with a strong, 30 mph headwind which frustrated our efforts and became a constant adversary.
As we were leaving town, Barb joined the group. Di and I soon outdistanced the others, but had to stop about ten miles down the road at a Border Patrol Station to use their restroom. While we were there, Sherri, Judy, and Barb rode by. I decided we needed to catch them so we could all share in the work of battling the headwind. We took off, and I caught the group about six miles down the road. However, when I turned around, Di was nowhere to be seen.
I stayed with the new group, wondering what happened to Di, and hoping she would soon catch up. Barb had not stopped for lunch, was running out of water, and we were not hopeful of seeing Joanna and another SAG stop. As we were passing a house on the hill, a man came out on his porch and yelled down to us, asking if we wanted a ham sandwich. We all declined, but Barb said she would like some water. He invited her up, and as Barb approached, a woman came out on the porch and told the man "If you fill up her water bottles, I'll kill you." She then told Barb to get lost, and repeated her threat to the man while shaking her fist at him. Wierd!
Fortunately, we were only a mile from Radium Springs and the Blue Moon Saloon where Barb was able to get some water. As we were waiting for Barb, Di rode by. We continued our ride, with the group fracturing due to the difficult riding conditions. First we lost Barb, then Sherri. Judy was taking a turn pulling and was doing her best trying to catch Di. She was unable to catch her, so I took off, telling her to follow me. I took off so fast, she was unable to hold my wheel, and got left behind. I managed to catch up with Di, and we finished the ride together.
Once again, I was the center of conversation regarding my riding ability. I enjoy the accolades, but also find it somewhat embarrassing.
Delores and Larraine had both gotten flat tires about a half-mile from the hotel. I helped both of them change their tires while waiting for dinner.
Dinner tonight was salmon, a rice and bean salad, carrots, macaroni and cheese, bread, salad, and watermelon. Joanna's husband is here for a few days, and they celebrated by buying wine for everyone to enjoy.
I am exhausted and heading off to bed.
Latest Comments (2)
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Ham? (reply)
Mar 26, 2006 22:04 EST by dwignall
Obviously, beware of the ham sandwiches offered by a nice man with a possessive wife. It's usually the other way around. I wonder what was in the ham? Or the water? What a great adventure! Terrific job! I'm totally jealous!
Dennis
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What Fun! (reply)
Mar 26, 2006 19:43 EST by clucygo
Sounds like you are having a blast! Still wearing the yellow jersey? polka dot? green? and white for rookey touring cyclist? You go, Girl! Lucy
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