Day 15 - Santa Fe, NM to Las Vegas, NM - 73 miles - 3,885 feet of climbing - 4:26 hours in the saddle

Today’s ride featured a couple of momentous milestones….top of the Cross Country Ride at 7,555 feet elevation and surpassed 1,000 miles.

After a rest day and with Friday’s miserable ride in the rear view mirror, the riders were more jovial this morning as we rolled out of Santa Fe.  But everyone also learned a lesson and had rain jackets and other extra gear with them.  I thought I had overcompensated until mile 63 (more on that later).  I was hoping we might cross paths with the Santa Fe Century ride this morning, but only saw signs.  And I am not doing a u-turn…there is no turning back!  Go East Young Man!

The road laid out in front of us with one major climb to get the the highest elevation of the trip.  But mostly it was undulating hills all day.

Unfortunately we had to jump on I-25 for about 5 miles today, but shoulders were generally clean and we topped out our trip’s elevation at 7,555 feet.  Fortunately, I have not been feeling the effects of the altitude.  Maybe it has been the gradual acclimation.

We were following the Santa Fee Trail, which was a trade route connecting Missouri to Santa Fe primarily between 1821 and 1846.

SAG 1 was at Pecos National Historical Park that featured some ruins.

There was a fun long downhill in SAG 2, where we celebrated having pedaled 1,000 miles, which is quite an accomplishment for two weeks.  Celebrating with Christine.

After SAG 2 and crossing the Pecos River, the series of uphills and downhills continued for the rest of the day.  At mile 63 we were caught by a thunderstorm that included pea sized hail.  I stopped with Jean and we put on our rain jackets.  I continued riding until I found a single lane underpass to take shelter from the storm.

The last 10 miles was wet, cold and windy (at one point I almost got blown off the pavement).  But it was nothing compacted to the ride into Santa Fe.  Getting into Las Vegas, NM, the pavement was still dry!  We are staying at the historic Plaza Hotel that opened in 1882.  The downstairs is old and cool, but the rooms are a little creepy (lore has it that Room 310 is haunted or so Tom says).

The ride today with the hills and sweeping descents suited me well, until the rain and hail!  But that is all a part of the journey.

Tomorrow is a long day of 110 miles to Tucumcari, NM, generally descending and hoping for favorable winds.

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal