Seven days crossing New Mexico into Texas
What a week! We climbed to the highest point of the trip, 8,200 feet at Emory pass, made it through a dust storm, peddled against a stiff head wind past acres of farms growing chili peppers, pima cotton, and miles of pecan groves, and yesterday completed a near century with almost half of it a climb (culminating in a 10 mile mind-numbing cold and steep down-hill)!
This wisdom comes from (where else) a restroom in a small cafe in Hillsboro, NM. It sums up this week of cycling!
The HIGHS: Two days of climbing through Ponderosa Pine forests (TREES!! After lots of desert flat this was a great change).
Notice the bullet holes in this helpful sign…
Icing is the best remedy for long days (along with my staple of chocolate milk!)
HOT stuff…
HARD stuff: As I cycled into Hatch, New Mexico, the “chili capital” of the USA, the nice lady at the small town museum told me of dust storm warnings with gusts up to 40 miles/hour. At the post office (where I was mailing a care package of hot chili peppers to Jim) the post master rushed out to take down the whipping flag. By the time I was cycling into camp, the gusts were blowing my bike and me nearly across the center line!
Molly survived the dust storm..
Sue digging into an entire pie to dull the pain…
Others took advantage of other ways to dull the pain…
annedoylebiking 
oh boy! This looks totally tough and really cool all at the same time. It is an interesting counter point to the blog a college buddy maintains sharing her adventures exploring Paris and other exciting European and Middle Eastern travels. There is nothing quite like the good old U.S. of A….esp. when you get off the high way.
Take care sweetie…and try to enjoy TEXAS. It can be tough (offered the native Oklahoman!)
xoxo,
Alison
Anne – Love, love, love your updates! This trip is much more arduous than I imagined, but I can’t think of anyone better prepared to meet such a wide array of challenges. I hope this blog can be preserved after you are back (maybe turned into a memory book?)–you’ve captured so many interesting and ironic observations. Looking forward to hearing more when you’re back! Kerry
THanks, Kerry. Mile by mile this country offers a lot to laugh at:) I love hearing from you – thank you!!
Anne, I am finally on your blog and loving all of your great photos, and your smiles! Thanks for keeping us posted on guns, no peeking, obama care, and more. I hope you are having a complete blast.
Thanks! I’m having a ball – new experiences every day. Miss you!