You mountains, you mountains, you see it all and still you have not fallen on top of us."
Elias Canetti Silver City, New Mexico to Las Cruces, New Mexico. 139 miles. 5330 feet of climbing. After the familiar sunrise breakfast, we head east out of town. The sun is in our eyes as it crests the Mimbres Mountains. Their significance is not immediately apparent to me. The road consists of long rollers and once again we accumulate climbing statistics quickly. There's one last longer drop to a valley at 6000 feet elevation and then the road heads back up. Suddenly the significance of the mountains I'd previously seen in the distance has become obvious. They're right in our face, and we have to go over them. There's a 16 mile 2200 feet climb to be done. The good news is that once we head up the vegetation starts to change again. Dry scrub gives way to isolated small evergreens and wildflowers, which soon gives way to dense tall evergreens. The stream beds have water once again. The road winds up through a narrow canyon, and then up a narrow stream course. It twists and turns as it ascends at a consistent 5%. The air becomes cool, humid and fragrant. I could be in the Canadian Rockies, and only minutes ago I was in hot, dry desert Silver City. We look back near the top and get pictures of the forested mountains. Then it's over the summit at 8200 feet. Dick and I stop to take pictures of the eastern view while the others rocket down the twisting descent. I think it's the best view of the whole trip. We can see Caballo Lake, the source of the Rio Grande, nestled at the foot of mountains 40 miles away. In between, the mountain ridge we're on the precipice of drops quickly to scattered foothills, then a dry plain. We lose 3000 feet in 17 miles. The descent is fun and should go on forever. I make a note to come back and ride this road again. Unfortunately along with the loss of altitude we also lose the trees, and the water in the streams, and the cool air etc. Lunch is set up in the middle of nowhere in the hot plain. But as usual the food is great. The usual four of the "love train" have been joined today by George, who's on the crew. Crew members work half time, and ride half time. Lately he's been joining us on his riding days and we're glad to have him along. If the riding gets a little tedious George adds flavour. We have ten more miles to go east to get to the Rio Grande (which isn't really so "grand"), and then we turn south along the river toward Las Cruces, 64 miles away. Unfortunately turning south also turns us right into a hot, dry headwind. It threatens to be a death march similar to yesterday. But we have a little more time to play with and a little more relaxed approach. Then a pleasant surprise; as we near Las Cruces irrigation of the desert has us passing fields of cotton and red chilies, and then groves of pecan trees. The sun is low in the afternoon and the trees offer shade and coolness. It's just the tonic needed to increase the pace a bit and sail in the last 15 miles. It also helps to remember that when I last passed through Las Cruces on the PAC Elite Tour in '98, it was 120 degrees. Today it was only 90 something. We arrive before 6 PM, and I have time for a massage before dinner. Boy, life's tough. It's the last day tomorrow; I've had a great time but I'm ready to return home. 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 ==^================================================================
