Day 15 (5/7/22) Let’s Dodge the Wildfire-Day 2

Start:                                Santa Fe, NM

End:                                  Santa Clara, NM

 Mileage:                          57 miles

Elevation Gain:                1,980 feet

 The plan was right, and it worked.

 If you look at the picture accompanying this post, you’ll see the plume of smoke from the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak wildfire I mentioned yesterday.  As expected, as we got closer to Rommeroville, the air quality became much worse.  We jumped ahead about 20 miles south on our route where the air quality cleared up and were mobile again.  We did the right thing.

 Today’s ride was easy for three reasons.  First, we’re in a general decline from ~8,000 feet to the Plains.  Second, I was on Smoke and can go at least 20% faster on the road bike that what’s possible with Miles with the panniers.  Third, and most important, the wind was pretty cooperative.  For the next week, it’s going to be all about the wind and, soon enough the weather.  Scott Kasper hooked me up with the app Windy—perhaps the coolest thing ever…at least for a cyclist traveling through the center of the country.  It provides current and forecast wind speed and direction (visually as all get-out) down to the specific location.  It’s incredibly helpful to know how much harder or easier the wind will make your day.  It will be indispensable over the next week or so.  Texas and Oklahoma can be killers.

 The ride was expansive and beautiful as has been the case for most of New Mexico.  I’ve included a picture from no particular point of my ride in gallery.  I know many (most?) people would find the openness boring.  I find it liberating and beautiful—especially when I’m the only one on the road as has been the case for much of this trip.

 The last portion of today’s ride (Route 54) was essentially an 18-mile coast that I was able to do at 25-30 mph.  I kept laughing about how easy it was.  On the steepest downhill great (Tish stop reading here), I managed to get Smoke up to just over 48 mph.  Not quite as fast as what I did on the back end of Lake Tahoe a few years ago, but pretty speedy.

 It was a faster ride than expected, so we were able to spend some time in Santa Rosa.  The major attraction here is the Blue Hole—a very unusual water hole.  It’s essentially a very small pond, but the water is crystal clear, because it’s fed by a series of underground rivers.  Visibility is 100 feet because the water completely renews itself every 4-6 hours.  It stays at a constant 61 degrees.  It appears to be a very nice hangout for the local kids, but we also saw divers, owing to the caves that are part of the hole.  Tish took a dip.  61 is a bit too frigid for me without a wet suit.

 An observation (and laugh if you will)

• My nails are taking a beating in this dry weather.  One seems to crack every few hours.  They’re now being kept very short.

What I’m Grateful for Today

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, but my Mom won’t read this until then.  Knowing this, I thought a lot about her today while I was pedaling.  My Mom’s always been a person of character.  Going back to when my Dad was courting her, she stuck to her guns when my Grandmother (her Mom) wasn’t too crazy about her dating a bus driver who was 6 years her senior and…wait for it…a Roman Catholic.  She had her man and nothing was going to stop her.  Like my father, service has always been a big part of her life.  (She set the bar just as high.)  She’s sung in her church choir for 50+ years, remains involved in the Presbyterian church governing process even in her 80s, and was involved in all of the school organizations growing up.  I’ve always admired her resiliency, no more so than over the past 6+ years since my Dad passed away.  She’s remained active and sees involvement and contribution as a way to stay positive. 

 My Mom has taught me some very special and core lessons.  She has always been a person who says, “why not” instead of “why?”.  I’m probably not pedaling if it’s not for her.  She gave me my love of music which is so incredibly important to me.  (She played cello in the Summit Symphony until she was 75!)  She taught me to be tough..in a good way…I think.  In our house, unless you could see the bone, you weren’t going to the doctor.  I could go on.

 Needless to say, I hit the jackpot with my parents.  On Mother’s Day, I’m especially grateful for my Mom’s influence on me the gifts she’s passed me.  I love you and wish I could be with you on Sunday.  Happy Mother’s Day.