Going against the wind...to Lordsburg, NM

This is the lovely view I had 75% of the day - for at least 50 miles. Do you recognize it? If not, read on. Or maybe I'll give you a clue....gusts of winds up to 30 mph made the palms of my hands sore as I tightly hung on to the handle bars and my neck and shoulders hurt from staying as low as I possibly could.

This was the first sign I took note of....but the way I was feeling, I would have picked up any hitchhiker if he/she had agree to pedal part of the way. A couple miles after the sign we saw a back pack that appeared "full". Do you suppose someone was planning a get-away?

Let me introduce you to two more of my friends. Frankie on left (71) and Barb on right (75). When not riding bike across country, they run a B & B in GA.

Guess what I'm doing? If you can't go behind a bush you are in BIG trouble...we don't run into "services" very often. Did you know in CA if you are caught behind a bush, it is a "sex offender" crime.....we were mighty careful!

When I was able to look up....I saw mountain sides covered with poppies....what a sight to behold. As we left AZ, we still seemed to be in desert, but it must be a part that does get rain and there were lots of flowers.

The Forever Flyer and I crossing into New Mexico....we expected a better sign than that! As we entered NM, the terrain seemed flat and dry...didn't spot mountains, but then we can't look up much. By the way, if you haven't figured out picture #1 it is the ugly blacktop that I looked at all day....it was so windy that I wanted to keep my head down and keep my body as low as possible to avoid the wind. It was difficult to get the Forever Flyer to go over 7-8 mph....and that's pedaling as fast as I can. Even downhill we had to pedal.

A few facts:

• Tonight we will have our "crossing a state line party" which is margaritas on the house!
• Only 4 of the 23 riders were able to overcome the wind and make the full ride today.
• I think 4 or 5 sagged the whole day, a couple were sick, couple not feeling mentally up to the winds for two days in a row, and one of the gals "woohaaa" is hurting way to much!
• The rest of us sagged in as our bodies wore out....for me I made it over the state line - which was my goal.....and a goal I'm proud of! Okay, I owe many of you a few pennies for each" mile I missed - I won't let it happen often, I promise.

Time to run to Margaritaville.....everyone is very proud of their accomplishments and we are now in state #3!