The Great Divide (NOBO)

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #1 May 27, 2022 Antelope Wells, MM to Hachita, NM - 47 Miles Start 4:43 PM Finish 8:03 PM Total Duration 3:17 Moving Time 3:07 Stopped Time 9:59 Ascent 656 Feet  Descent 817 Feet Details at:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/91436975 After a long day, I finally arrived at the Antelope Wells border post between the Mexican state of Chihuahua and the US state of New Mexico. It was a quarter to five PM and I was at 4,665 feet elevation. Jeffery helped me to document the tour start, and even did some no-handed drive-by’s as I pedaled north. Soon he was gone and I was on my own. I was surrounded by desert and was in the middle of nowhere. Jeffery had mentioned that mountain lions and cougar roamed this area. The wind was strong out of the south west. My first heading towards the northwest had a strong cross wind, but the road eventually curved straight north. I had an amazing tail wind, which gave me a strong boost. I was wearing my Merino wool t-shirt, ...

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #2 May 28, 2022 Hachita, NM to Silver City, NM- 84 Miles Start 6:08 AM Finish 3:30 PM Total Duration 9:21 Moving Time 7:27 Stopped Time 1:52 Ascent 4015 Feet Descent 2617 Feet Tour Total 131 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/91540419 I slept well in an actual bed last night at the Hachita Bike Ranch. I was exhausted last night. I showered and was too tired to edit yesterday‘s report. I got the basics up. I had weird dreams during the night and woke up several times. It was still dark out when my alarm went off at 5:30 AM. I stuffed strawberries and donuts into my face and was on the road by 6AM. I bid farewell to Jeffery and we took a few more photos. The sun was just coming up over the hills to the east. I rode back towards the route on State Highway 9 and then I took a left on State Highway 146 heading north. I passed two pairs of northbound cyclists, whom had all stayed at the Hachita Community Center last night. Patrick and Rachel hailed from...

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #3 May 29, 2022 Silver City, NM to Willow Creek Campground, NM - 92 Miles Start 6:19 AM Finish 8:38 PM Total Duration 14:18 Moving Time 9:35 Stopped Time 4:44 Ascent 8,026 Feet Descent 6,139 Feet Tour Total 223 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/91759932   I had a snafu last night when I left the brewery and went to the RV park. It was after hours and I had to call a phone number posted in front of the office. The woman who answered told me that the campground was full. It was Memorial Day Weekend and there was a blues concert and various festivities in town. I went to a gas station and filled all my water bottles. I turned on all my lights and peddled out of town on Highway 180. Keeping my eyes peeled for stealth camping options, I passed an RV mobile home park advertising 'RV’s welcome!  A very peaceful place to live'. I turned off my headlight and rode down into the park. I saw two abandoned trailers and found a nice even pitch of gras...

Great Divide (NOBO) - Day #4 May 30, 2022 Willow Creek Campground, NM, to Valle Tio Vinces Campground - 62 Miles Start 8:23 AM Finish 5:50 PM Total Duration 9:27 Moving Time 7:17 Stopped Time 2:11 Ascent 3916 Feet Descent 3705 Feet Tour Total 289 Miles Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/91758305 Last night was this tour's best night’s sleep yet. I was blessed with perfect timing to find a gorgeous campground in the nick of time. The stars were just starting to sparkle as I set up my tent and hung a bear bag. It was dusty in the campground, and the black dust found its way into everything. I slept in this morning. My tent flap zipper got stuck as I was desperately trying to exit to water a bush. I wasn’t unable to unstick it, and eventually had to cut it out and stitch up the hole. I was out of water and had to filter from nearby Willow Creek. Everything was covered with dust. It was cold this morning in the campground. I momentarily lost my parachute cord, but meanwhile foun...