Share the Road - On the road - Day #10

DAY 10 68 miles - 3500 foot climb Socarro to Mountainair, NM A shorter trip today as we had some repairs on the RV in the morning. I ran out ahead of the guys who really wanted a little extra time and to take it slow. I wasn’t against taking it slow, but Gary told me to go on ahead. It was actually very enjoyable -- nothing against the guys at all.I had an adventure unto myself -- reminding me a bit of my training. The only question was whether or not I’d be able to find water along the way. I rationed myself to where I was prepared to make it into Mountainair -- though three bottles would be a bit low for the whole trip. I had heard from Charlie the night before that Mountainair was a small, one-stop town that looks for people like us...if you know what he means...My mind begins to do what it does... I made it to the Abo Ruins (9 miles outside of Mountainair) and turned in. A very cool little site for the old Pueblo Indians. Also, the Ranger had a big cooler of water that he told me to help myself to -- score! Mountainair was just down the road. I got into town several hours before the other guys and tried to eat at the Firehouse Restaurant but they wouldn’t help me out by letting me bring my bike somewhere secure. “The manager says you’re just going to have to leave it outside and take your chances”, the waitress said. I’ll take my chances all right -- at another restaurant, thank you very little. I ate at the “Chuck House” unrelated to the “Chuck House” in Oquemado (I think). Two HUGE bean burritos smothered with Green Chiles. Oh man...so good...until I noticed (halfway through the 2nd one) that there were big hunks of bacon in the beans. I’m a vegetarian. Sigh. What am I going to do? I had my fill. I’m not going to die. I’m not going to eat anymore either (regardless of the taste). Had a great conversation with a husband, wife and the wife’s mother about health and exercise. Hopefully it came out well enough to use it in the video. We’ll see. The guys finally rolled in and we got to our RV site. Everyone’s in great spirits -- it’s good to see and feel. We stretched and got some resistance work in with Gary’s rubber bands. I did a little Yoga and Tai Chi and I feel very good. We’re hooked up for the best restaurant in town tonight (neither the Firehouse nor the Chuck House, as it turns out) and we’ve got a big day in front of us tomorrow (105 miles to Santa Rosa). It appears to be downhill for the most part (woo hoo) -- just as long as the wind and whatever other elements that may be cooperate. There does look to be a storm rolling in tonight...