Over the past few days we have gotten to go up and over several passes. I don't think I had really climbed a pass until I did it with BOB (ie the trailors on the back of our bikes).
Two days ago we went up and over a pass with no name, which we have just decided to call Jadley (the best combo of all our names). It was our gateway between Arizona and New Mexico. It is best described as hot and steep. I required many a water and pop tart break to make it up. About a mile and a half from the top sweet Caley (who had already made it to the top and disconnected her bob) came back down the pass from the top to bike the rest of the way up with me. Talk about a good friend :)
At the bottom of Jadley pass we found ourselves in new Mexico, a state we have grown quite fond of over the past few days. We peddled into Buckhorn, NM where we found pizza an beer. We got to consume these goodies on a porch swing behind the liquor store, listening to wind chimes and soft breeze, lovely :)
We had a few adventures in silver city the next day. Most notably the amazing bob breaking and good Samaritans to the rescue that Caley wrote about yesterday. After that event, we found ourselves at the manhattan bar in Hanover,nm. As far as I could tell, it is the only business in Hanover that was open. There were about 7 of us in the bar- us 3 spandex clad folks and 4 regulars. These guys turned out to be fantastic- we had some sing a longs with 80 year old men in cowboy hats and spurs. The bar owned kindly offered to let us camp behind the bar, which was later upgraded to a trailor. Another kind man we met was concerned about us being eaten by mountain lions, and insisted we stay In his trailor instead. So we did, and it was quite comfy.
After waking up in the, downing some cold oatmeal, we hoped on our bikes to head up Emory pass, the highest point on our ride at 8228 ft. It was a truly beautiful ride- pine trees, a creek, cute cows and lots and lots of climbing. We made it to the top, took in some amazing views, and then flew down the hill into a valley, and the town of hillsborough. We continued on the trend of meeting great people. We met this man Jim who takes care of the museum there and raises amazing cacti. He gave us a tour, and some string cheese and many stories about his interesting life.
We are currently camped out next to a reservoir, sleeping dirty in he sand, and ready to do it all again tomorrow.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I'm not too surprised that many people along your route would be intrigued and interested in what you are doing! No wonder: you have such a great spirit of adventure and optimism, they get to feel it through you all for a while... It is wonderful that you can take the passes, enjoy the ride down, and be ready for what the next day has in store. Ride on!
ReplyDeleteCaley, Tad, and Jess, you guys are effing awesome!! It was great getting to know you guys a bit. We all appreciate your stories that allow those of us with less courage to live vicariously through your adventure. Im seriously looking forward to following your progress. Im also planning on being able to sit down again and pick each of your brains again about Costa Rica over a drink. Safe travels, friends! -Matt
ReplyDelete