Tag Archives: Santa Rosa

Tuesday 9th July

After yesterday and thinking we didn’t want to pedal any more. We slept on it and decided that we are made of tougher stuff. Anyway one bad day doesn’t out way all the good. We knew it would not be easy.

So up at 4:30 am. Packed away and on the road for first light. We had 7 miles to do to the nearest supply’s for what would be another 50 miles to do after that with no shops or gas station in between.

7 miles climbing, climbing, climbing, not steep just slow going and yes we had that wind against us. We make it to the gas station only to find that it had very little supplies. We could be in trouble here. A breakfast bar and a drink of water for now. What about the rest of the day! We look around for inspiration there must be something to keep us going for 50 miles of a tough route.

We pay for our breakfast bar and water and go outside to mull over our options. A pickup truck pulled in for gas and we had one of those fuck it moments. Mike asked if he was going to Albuquerque by any chance. This is a town 100 miles from where we were but it is a big city and it was straight down the interstate. Yes he was and we could have a lift if we were quick and didn’t mind sitting in the back.

No time to think about it he was going, we looked at each other, Mike asked if it was legal, he shrugged and said don’t get caught. Just lay down and keep your head down.

We didn’t have time to load the bikes probably just frown them on either side of us, we lay in the middle of them in the pick up bed. And off he drove, he didn’t bother to ask our names and we don’t know he’s but 50 minutes later he stopped told us we were here dumped us and our still loaded bikes on the side of the road and drove off.

So here we are in Albuquerque stunned that we did that, it all happened to quick to think about it. Laying in the bed of a pickup truck of a stranger in a foreign country. Traveling on a interstate 100 miles a hour. Mmm not sure on that. But we are safe and as it was in a direct line we have saved ourselves at least 5 days because our cycle route would of took us further north and over 200 miles more.

It’s early we have all day. Can’t check into a motel until 3 so we do a online search for a campsite with a pool and call it a rest day. As luck has it he unwittingly dropped us off less than a mile from a KOA.

On the way we go to a Waffle House for breakfast. That nutra grain bar really wasn’t enough. Check in to the campsite at 10 am and spent the morning swimming/ relaxing and doing washing. In the afternoon we went to the cinema to see the new spider man film and had dinner at Taco Bell. We really can’t complain about today.

Monday 8th July

Today is the first day that I’m having serious doubts. What the heck am I doing. We got up our normal time of 5:30am. It was already day light and warm. Yep the time zone change, tomorrow if we go anywhere we will have to get up at 4 am. I say if we go anywhere because today was hard and I struggled and even after my shower and food I still feel totally warn out.

Cycling from Tucumcari to Santa Rosa about 60 miles just over. We knew that there was nothing in between so was carrying snacks and 6 litres of water each, heavy as.

So off we go into the heat. Great a head wind and it’s a furious one at that. When I say hills we are now in the start of mountains. All day slowly making our way up. Not a mountain with switchbacks, so I can’t be a hero and show a nice smiley selfie on the summit. Just a long climb against the 20 mile a hour wind.

We stopped in abandoned towns for our snacks. And rested anywhere we could find shade. Not much of that about

Nothing for it we will have to keep going. Both of us are running out of energy and water, it’s really slow going we can only manage 4-6 miles per hour and our starting to get knee pain pushing so hard against the wind. We look around for respite or inspiration, it’s dead out here small town America is more like ghost town America.

8 miles from the campsite we are stood on the side of the road seriously worried that we will never make it when a pick up truck pulled up not far away from us. Ok let’s be brave and ask for a lift. Dave what a star gave us a lift to the door of the campsite brill.