Day #43, 44 & 45 - New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment

Friday Kevin said GOODBYE TEXAS!  It was a long, hard two weeks in the Lone Star State but as they entered "The Land of Enchantment" that magical feeling of fairy tale stories took over and they knew everything was going to be smooth sailing (or pedaling) from there on out...

That first day in New Mexico was, in fact, enchanting.  Landscapes were breathtaking.

Some of the pictures Kevin sent to me made me think of Route 66 with vintage buildings, classic cars and old tractors.

They crossed over the Rio Grande?  Looks like the Rio Sand!  

They ended the day in Radium Springs, NM with 83 miles under their belts.

Like a Grimms' Fairy Tale, enter the "darkness" on Saturday...  Darkness took the form of evil character #1 - WIND.  We thought we had battled wind before but that was but a puff compared to the 55 MPH blasts on Saturday.  No joke here - the wind shut the ride down after 44 miles in Caballo, NM.  

During the day, however, they did pass through Hatch which evidently is the Chili Pepper capital of New Mexico.  (I made that up based on all the chili pepper pictures Kevin sent me)

 Chilis, Chilis EVERY WHERE!  Where's my heartburn medication???

For crying out loud - even Uncle Sam had a chili!

So, did things get better on Sunday?  Um, no.  Enter evil characters #2 and #3 - COLD and CLIMBS.  The day started at a brisk 35 degrees and it really didn't ever warm up.

Over the course of the day they traveled through the Black Range (aka Devil's Mountains) and Gila National Forest.

Finally after climbing up to 8,828 feet they reached the summit of Emory Pass.

Interesting sites along the way included this dark little creature - a tarantula!

They also passed the Santa Rita Copper Mine on the way to their final destination for the day - Santa Clara, NM.  On Sunday a total of 71 more miles were traveled over the course of 7 long, cold hours.  Way to hang in there!!

Maybe this sign says it all...

Jeff had a little palaver with the local law!  No worries - his pitiful look was all an act!

To sum up the last 3 days, Friday was a nice, pleasant day but the weekend was rough. Despite all obstacles Kevin, Emi, Jim and Jeff moved another 198 miles toward their goal. This puts new meaning to the phrase, "Nothing worth having comes easy."  We endure these trials knowing this journey will end in San Diego but the journey for our wounded warriors will last a lifetime...

Day #42 - Old El Paso

Leaving Sierra Blanca in the morning and arriving just East of El Paso, Kevin and crew traveled about 85 miles on Thursday.  Friday morning they will pass through El Paso and cross over into New Mexico!  Just a hair over 14 days in Texas is a long, LONG time!

Yesterday the riders got a reprieve from Mother Nature with light winds working with them rather than against them for the first time in days.  A very cold start gradually evened out to a comfortable 65 degrees.  Probably the greatest challenge came from the roads. 

At one point the maps directed them to get off their bikes and walk across a 4-lane highway. They actually had to jockey for position on I-10 when there were no service roads paralleling the highway.

During the day they passed cotton fields getting ready for harvest and many Pecan orchards.

Trains, a constant throughout their time in Texas, kept them company.

Another constant is the support of Jim and Jeff.  Thanks guys!

Looking forward to Friday and New Mexico!  Kevin and Emi have now pedaled over 3,000 miles.  Three states left - New Mexico, Arizona and California - for the final 1,000 miles.  

Can you imagine?  Amazing...

Day #41 - Prada Marfa

A short distance outside of Valentine, TX is an unusual "sculpture" that our riders stopped to admire. This little structure out in the middle of nowhere is actually designed to resemble a Prada store by artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset.  Inside the store are authentic Prada shoes and bags but there will be no shopping - the door is not functional! This exhibit is never supposed to be repaired or maintained and is intended to eventually erode back into the landscape. Erected in 2005, the "store" doesn't look any worse for the wear yet!

Infused with their daily dose of culture, Kevin and Emi continued on, once again, into the winds.  Check out the flag on Kevin's bike - that says it all...

Passing into the Mountain Time Zone, the route took them onto a major road in the afternoon and then onto this half-paved, half-dirt road for 4 miles of rough ridin'.  Again, off-roading on road bikes.  

This doesn't even look like a real road but I guess it got them where they needed to go because after 71.5 miles they stopped in Sierra Blanca for the night.

Sierra Blanca is the light colored mountain range to the left.

The forecast for Day #42 includes light 5-10 MPH winds from the East and Southeast.  A nice wind pushing them toward El Paso, TX for the planned 88 mile day would be sincerely appreciated!

Day #40 - Rocky Road (And I Don't Mean Ice Cream)!

For the first time I definitely get the sense that our riders are road weary.  I mean, who wouldn't be?  I watched Kevin participate in two Ironman Triathlons in Lake Placid (he actually swam/biked/ran in 4 or 5!).  Finishing that grueling race, to me, is a matter of sheer determination along with a good dose of stubbornness (aside from the obvious need for physical fitness).  Well, I can see determination and stubbornness in this situation also - for both Kevin and Emi.  This trip is a HUGE undertaking logistically, physically and mentally. Never once have I doubted Kevin's ability to finish.  Just like the Ironman races, when Kevin sets a goal for himself he WILL finish it.  Though I don't know Emi as well, I get a sense that she is very similar in this regard.

Yesterday was a battle of mind over matter - matter being the ever present winds, very rough roads, physical pain and fatigue.  They persevered and adapted.  Emi wrote in her blog that they figured out if they rode on the 6" painted white line on the side of the road it was smoother. I picture a gymnast riding a bicycle on the balance beam - luckily there isn't a 4' drop on either side of that white line! The "mind" smoothed out the "matter".  Eventually with a change of direction of the road, the winds were no longer such an obstacle either.

I think yesterday may have been one of those days Kevin referred to in his letter when he said "I'm sure I'd feel pain, frustration and doubt, wondering about my ability to go on and make it."  Well, I guess it wouldn't be a journey without challenges.  Yesterday was definitely a challenge that they both met head on and won!

Tuesday morning Kevin and Emi left Marathon and pedaled for 92 miles where they stopped for the night in Valentine, TX.  Congratulations on a job WELL done!!

Day #39 - Trick or Treat

Jim the Creepy Clown and Jeff the Headless Well Driller met up with Kevin and Emi mid-day yesterday for a trick-or-treat Halloween pit stop.

During yesterday's ride from Dryden to Marathon, TX, there were long, long distances between areas with services (like food, water, restrooms, etc.).  Endless miles of nothin' but nature's glory.  These are the times when the support vehicle is truly a life-line!

From back home, Wizard Chip the Ferryman sends his greetings, and good juju, to our Westward bound crew! Good to know Chip is on our side!

The campsite the previous night (Sunday) was behind a grocery store in Dryden.  The perks of this site included an open air gym!

Jim took full advantage of the state-of-the-art equipment for his morning work-out.

Pressing onward the landscapes were, once again, AMAZING, and the sky was, once again, cloudless and BLUE!

The 2nd half of the day yesterday covered more miles without services.

In total, from Dryden to Marathon, 75 more miles rolled by.

Marathon, Texas - population 450, elevation 4040', founded in 1882.

They made camp last night at the Marathon RV Park.  Another beautiful day is in the forecast for Tuesday, 11/1/11, with sunny skies and temperatures starting the the 40's and climbing into the low 80's.  Enjoy your day Kevin, Emi, Jim & Jeff!  As always, we are thinking of you!