GDMBR Day 02
Start: Columbus,NM
Finish: Hachita Bike Ranch
Miles: 45.8 miles
Odometer: 49.1 miles
Location: https://share.garmin.com/Judice
Highlights:
I love that people welcome long-distance cyclists into their home. These “trail angels” (a term taken from the folks that help thruhikers on the long trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and Appalachian Trail) assist adventurers with lodging, food and beverages, or shuttle rides. My trail angel Jeff welcomed me into his home which he affectionately calls “Biker Ranch”. He hosts and shuttles casual cyclists like me riding the GDMBR and competitive cyclists racing the Great Divide Ride. He gave me a room, use of his kitchen, a cold beer, and a string in case his cat Cheddar comes around. It’s experiences like these that inspire confidence in humanity.
I ran out of my two bottles of water on the road to Biker Ranch. When I arrived at the small convenience store in Hachita, NM my mouth was parched. The taste of ice cold Electrolit (Mexican Gatorade) hitting the back of my throat…well, I call that a highlight. Hashtag: TheLittleThings
I’ve always loved the rascally long-eared jackrabbits with the way they take off like a…what’s the word I’m looking for…hare! I saw quite a few hares bouncing away from the road as I passed on my bike.
Lowlights:
I forgot how much I adore a strong desert headwind. I got in the handlebar drop aerodynamic position, put my head down, and just focused on pedaling. And that’s when one of those dust devils nearly knocked me off the road.
I listened to 5 hours of “Being Mortal” by surgeon Dr. Atul Gawande about aging, dying, families, and the healthcare system. I particularly enjoyed his exhaustive list of the effects of aging on the body. I’m wondering why I didn’t pack my big honking super blender on my bike so that I could make green smoothies every morning to try and slow down the decline. I could use a hit of sulforaphane right about now.
Observations:
A team of buzzards carving up a rattlesnake in the middle of the road. It reminded me of one of my favorite The Far Side cartoons, “Just think…here we are, the afternoon sun beating down on us, a dead, bloated rhino underfoot, and good friends flying in from all over. I tell you, this is the best…”
A small blimp flying overhead. From Wikipedia: “The blimp, known as The Tethered Aerostat Radar System, or TARS, is one of six devices operated by Customs and Border Protection to monitor low-flying aircraft activity suspect of smuggling narcotics, along the Southwest Border, three are located in Texas, two are in Arizona, and one is in New Mexico.”
Border Patrol Agents racing to and fro with lights and sirens. I’d love a ride along to experience a day in the life. Can’t be easy seeing so much human suffering and desperation while doing a job that enforces our laws.