Day 55

Belen to Socorro was about 50 miles. Between the three of us, two flats along the way. Those pesky thorns are everywhere!

By late afternoon checked into a nice best Western after trying to find more tube replacements, but 29 inch wheels are still not very common, will have to make do with patching the existing tubes.

The Socorro Springs Brewery is right there next to the motel, can you guess where I spent a good portion of my late afternoon and evening? Their IPA was really really good!

There, a very enthusiastic late 20s man came in and sat a couple chairs away. He instantly starting rapping continuously statistics and opinions about current college football players and coaches and stats and records and expectations and every other thing, a true aficionado of football! Reminded me of someone else I know…

He was a real nice guy though, the wildland firefighter and once he found out I was a retired fireguy, we talked about the fire service quite a bit. As usual, I tried to drop a little bit of wisdom and perspective on a guy on the front end of his career that might help him later on. Against my request, he ended up buying my lunch and beer, so that was pretty damn cool! Ended up back at the same place that night for a wood fired pizza and salad. 

Day 56

Today was all day on the interstate, uneventful and noisy, but we arrived in Truth or Consequences earlier than expected by taking the interstate. But we never exceeded the speed limit!!

TC is hard to describe. Much of the downtown which is on or near the banks of the Rio Grande, makes its fame from the natural hot springs in the area. So there are many old-school motels and such near the downtown that boast spas and hot springs. However they were out of our budget, we ended up staying closer up near the highway where all the chain hotels are.

No more complaints from me about cold-weather, 88° yesterday at 5 PM seems like plenty hot!

Day 57

Truth or Consequences in the rear view mirror as clear warm skies greet our departure. Heading to Hatch today, about 40 miles. 

Riding out of town, I stopped briefly at the veterans memorial on the outskirts, it was actually a very nice replica of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, but with just New Mexico names on the wall. But very well kept and obviously much revered memorial in this small American town. 

About halfway through the cycling day, I crested a hill near Caballo Reservoir and saw another cyclist heading north! That’s always a surprise, we stopped and talked and when the Kiwis caught up, turns out he was the guy that had left them the note some weeks ago that I had read and mentioned in the blog. A real nice guy, Sanjay was heading back to Albuquerque where he has a small Vespa type scooter that he will attach his bike to and then ride all the way back to LA. He also went to Columbus, crossed the border into Mexico and had lunch and a beer, so at least I got confirmation that can be done!

What a beautiful day day of cycling through red and green chile fields, cotton fields, corn stalks and walnut farms. With a nice tailwind all day! One of the most pleasant days of cycling in memory for this trip. 

This area is known for red chili production, I think and I hope that the closer we get to Mexico, the spicier the food will get! 

On arrival, we stopped at a cafe for lunch, and I had the best-ever bowl of green chile beef stew with fresh limes. So very yummy! The Best Mexican food of the trip by far, so far!

In fact, Hatch looks like a Mexican town, kind of dusty streets, lots of pottery and trinkets for sale on both sides of the street, quite a few very simple restaurants. 

The only place to stay in Hatch is the Kings Pillow Inn. Well, when it’s the ONLY place, you try not to notice the 40 flies in the window, I mean; they were included in the $45 rate, no extra charge!

Not much to do here, but definitely will be looking for another bowl of green chile stew or some other spicy wonderfulness later! Well that didn’t work out, the few restaurants in downtown zone all close at six, we got there about 615. So I got some much less interesting to-go food from a small local grocery store, but that will do for me!

It is expected to be hotter tomorrow, approaching 90 by the afternoon for sure, it’s a bit of a longer day, and I’m more than happy to get out of this funky sleazy motel, so I anticipate an 8:30 AM start tomorrow.

Only two more days of cycling! It’s been very nice to be cycling with Kiwi friends Danell and Haley toward the end, they are great cyclists and very kind. But for me, the mixed emotions are already setting in, to know that I will be off the bicycle until who knows when very soon, makes me both happy and nostalgic of the past two months, and… inevitably thinking about where the next one will take me…

To Deming tomorrow, about 50 miles…

PS: Texted with Chris and Dave this morning! They seem to be doing well and are faithfully following the great divide trail, something I let go of once I hit New Mexico, I’m very proud of their tenacity and determination to stay on the official trail this long!