two-day update:On Thursday we rode from Grants to Albuquerque (ABQ), NM (75 miles). Then on Friday we rode from ABQ to Santa Fe, NM (66 miles).
The New Mexicans are happy to be getting some rain. We are getting to use some of the rain gear we packed. The shower caps from the hotel really do make great helmet covers! (Many thanks to Paula for the advice about the lighter rain jacket, the clip-on rear fender, and the visor of a retro-style cycling cap under the helmet to keep some of the rain off the glasses)!!
Part of the interstate was closed to cyclists due to construction, so we had to take a 14-mile shuttle ride in the SAG wagon. This photo shows that Harry resisted getting into the van.
Since the musketeers have a motto of riding "every single inch" - we took some time when we got into ABQ to make-up the missed miles. This gave us a great chance to explore ABQ, including the university area, a nice bike trail, and even a street labeled "Bicycle Blvd"; ABQ is a bike-friendly town. Coming into ABQ we crossed over the Rio Grande.
The ride from ABQ to Santa Fe was described to us in detail by Rich, who just finished his portion of the tour. Since he lives in ABQ, he stopped by to give us a description of the ride, complete with a google-earth map! It was pretty neat to be going on to one of his normal training routes. And we saw him along the route ringing a cow-bell for us!!!
Luckily, it was only 66 miles. We started out against a significant head wind. Then we added in some climbing. And then rain was added in as well. Fantastic scenery as we climbed in the canyon. Went through a historic mining town of Madrid - now a small hippie-town. Al joined us for today's ride, and his wife Roddie was visiting (following in a car), so we saw her along the way and at our lunch stop for some warm soup at mile 54 in a little restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
I think we are now officially done with any Interstate riding for the rest of the trip!!!
Since Santa Fe is a rest day for us, a group of us went out to dinner "on our own". We went to the "Cowgirl Hall of Fame", since Peter from NYC is friends with the owner, Barry. Barry had started a restaurant of this same name in NYC a while back, along with Tortilla Flats. He came out here to "retire" but got back in the game. Fun time, and as the "sensible" group was heading back to the hotel, a few of us noticed a band was starting to set-up, so Nancy, Harry, and I figured we would stay. Great blues band called the HooDoos.
Good thing we have a rest day now!!
The New Mexicans are happy to be getting some rain. We are getting to use some of the rain gear we packed. The shower caps from the hotel really do make great helmet covers! (Many thanks to Paula for the advice about the lighter rain jacket, the clip-on rear fender, and the visor of a retro-style cycling cap under the helmet to keep some of the rain off the glasses)!!
Part of the interstate was closed to cyclists due to construction, so we had to take a 14-mile shuttle ride in the SAG wagon. This photo shows that Harry resisted getting into the van.
Since the musketeers have a motto of riding "every single inch" - we took some time when we got into ABQ to make-up the missed miles. This gave us a great chance to explore ABQ, including the university area, a nice bike trail, and even a street labeled "Bicycle Blvd"; ABQ is a bike-friendly town. Coming into ABQ we crossed over the Rio Grande.
The ride from ABQ to Santa Fe was described to us in detail by Rich, who just finished his portion of the tour. Since he lives in ABQ, he stopped by to give us a description of the ride, complete with a google-earth map! It was pretty neat to be going on to one of his normal training routes. And we saw him along the route ringing a cow-bell for us!!!
Luckily, it was only 66 miles. We started out against a significant head wind. Then we added in some climbing. And then rain was added in as well. Fantastic scenery as we climbed in the canyon. Went through a historic mining town of Madrid - now a small hippie-town. Al joined us for today's ride, and his wife Roddie was visiting (following in a car), so we saw her along the way and at our lunch stop for some warm soup at mile 54 in a little restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
I think we are now officially done with any Interstate riding for the rest of the trip!!!
Since Santa Fe is a rest day for us, a group of us went out to dinner "on our own". We went to the "Cowgirl Hall of Fame", since Peter from NYC is friends with the owner, Barry. Barry had started a restaurant of this same name in NYC a while back, along with Tortilla Flats. He came out here to "retire" but got back in the game. Fun time, and as the "sensible" group was heading back to the hotel, a few of us noticed a band was starting to set-up, so Nancy, Harry, and I figured we would stay. Great blues band called the HooDoos.
Good thing we have a rest day now!!
We commend you all on your honorobale dedication to ride every inch! You wouldn't want to have carry that guilt baggage of having missed 14 miles!!
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