The easiest PAC Tour day I've ever ridden. The desolation that is northern New Mexico limits the possibilities (i.e. towns with motels and restaurants sufficient to accommodate a 60 person travelling group) when organizing appropriate stages for this border to border ride. Farmington is the only qualifying town between Durango and Gallup. Consideration was given to going from Durango right through to Gallup, but it's 190 miles between the two. So Farmington it is, even though it's only 55 miles south of Durango. In addition to the unusually low mileage, Lon's got something mixed up with the climbing figures. His route sheet for the day lists 3600 feet. But my altimeter only measures 1270 feet once we're done, and there's been lots of long gentle downhill. And finally, we've had a tailwind for most of the ride. The main climbing occurs early, through the remaining miles of Colorado. The scenery remains nice, with rolling countryside and prosperous ranches. Then like passing through a door, we enter New Mexico and the whole environment seems to change. It's drier, poorer, uglier. The road's shoulder is full of glass. It even seems hotter. But we had a great time ambling along downhill with the wind. It's the perfect follow-up to yesterday's tough ride. We're almost the last group to arrive in Farmington, and because the ride is so short the lunch sag is set up in the hotel parking lot. Dick had a massage and a nap while I went to do the laundry. Fortunately there's a DQ on the way back to the hotel. Back to reality tomorrow. Don Friedlander ------ To unsubscribe, send a blank message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Club Office: [EMAIL PROTECTED], (613) 230-1064 Web/mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb Newsletter: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.cyberus.ca/~obcweb/Newsletter ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiDo.a2i8p1 Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
