Kingston to Las Cruces - 88 miles

Our day at a glance:

• 28 degrees as we start out at 8:00 a.m. The sun is shining.
• 10 miles of gorgeous downhill (still coming down from Emory Pass).
• We are so cold - we would prefer uphill to warm up our core!
• Next 10 miles are up and down - strong head winds - freezing.
• At 20 miles into ride about 10 riders are too cold to continue.
• Next 20 miles winds die down and we warm up a bit
• Remainder 48 miles relatively flat, good shoulder, low traffic and no head winds.

One of the beautiful views on the 10 mile downhill. We went through a couple of these cute bridges.

Mountains are rocky with vegetation growing...I am wearing 4 layers on my core, skull cap with face mask, thermo tights, compression knee highs and smart wool ski socks!

Just another lovely view between Kingston and Las Cruces. It did eventually warm up to 55.

One of my favorite views....reminds me of "A river runs through it". The river babbled like a brook.

Kingston is actually a mining town. In the 1800's it was one of the largest towns in New Mexico. The population is now 25!

We had lunch at Hatch, NM, which is the Chile capital of the world. The fields were ready for planting and the locals are worried that the ground won't be warm enough to begin to plant in two weeks. Just about all food on the menu at the diner was "hot".

Pecan trees....yes, groves and groves of pecan trees in New Mexico. The 30 miles prior to Las Cruces we saw a fair amount of horse farms. If we had to get off our bikes once today, we had to do it ten times to go over cattle guards in the road.....but we have yet see any cattle!

A week or so ago I mentioned that the group of 3 or 4 I bike in called ourselves the "low riders", but we have changed our name. We are now the "sweepers"....yes we consistently bring up the rear and are the last line of defense - against what we are not sure. We really are not all that slow, but we tend to somehow leave last in the a.m., take too many pictures, talk to the locals, and basically just have a wonderful time. I often say..."I shall never pass this way again (on bike), so I have to enjoy it all.

Note of interest:

Our two guides tell us that by far this is the coldest Southern Tier trip that they know of. So much for getting away from Wisconsin weather!