Day 13 & 14 – March 27 & 29, 2018

Total accumulated mileage: 463.07  – Total accumulated time: 35 hours 24 min

Day 13 – 41.58 miles; 2 hours 32 min – March 27, 2018

Today was a super day of riding. The roads are getting better. I stopped in Duncan, AZ to call Eric. There was a beautiful little park there that was perfect for Eric to hang out and play with Jasper. A man approached me while I was on the phone with Eric and wanted to chat. He goes by the name of Denny O, and everyone in Duncan, AZ knows who he is. He is an avid cyclist, who for his 75th birthday rode 75 miles. THIS is one of the main reasons for this ride across America! I was ready to get back on the road, make good time, get in early to my stop point…but THIS is what it is about. Spending the next 45 minutes talking with this man was the most wonderful thing. He was curious as to the set up of my bicycle and my equipment. We exchanged tips, product ideas and implements that make a ride easier…complained about the roads, and the people who drive vehicles. He told me about the terrain and other personal stories. I have run into other people on this trip who are intrigued by me and who intrigue me. Yesterday, we were getting gas at a station, and the woman across from us at the fuel pump was the sweetest woman who was wondering who we were, where we were going, and was so excited to hear about my journey. She wanted to follow this blog, so I gave her the information. The people we are meeting on the way are just amazing. The couple we met at the Monte Vista resort, on the corner, were fabulous. I hope we meet again one day.

I realized that I am definitely in coyote country! I saw a few on the side of the road that had been hit. I also saw several roadrunners. They are interesting birds to see scurrying across the road.

The park in Duncan, AZ

I made it to New Mexico!

Day 14 – 47.15 miles – 3 hours 23 minutes – March 29, 2918

Pecans, quaint towns, and politicians! Today was one of the best days I have had riding so far. Highway 28 is a fun road to ride from Las Cruces to El Paso. There are many small towns along the highway with some beautiful houses, wineries, and pecan orchards. Also, there is quite a Mexican influence in the housing styles. Along the way for about 20 miles I played hopscotch with a politician who was putting campaign signs up along the highway. We bantered with each other every time they would pass me in the truck, or I would pass them on the side of the road. The pecan orchards were one after the next on the highway. The orchards were filled with about a foot of water for the spring time flooding. There were farms of other things that were freshly plowed, fertilized (because I could smell the putrid decay and manure), and irrigated. We found out that New Mexico schools take “Holy Week”, followed by spring break, so the kids get 2 weeks off. There were a lot of kids out helping with the farms, and just playing in their yards as I rode by.

Pecan orchards Hyw 28 south of Las Cruces

Crossing the Rio Grand River – Hwy 28 south of Las Cruces

Mural on the side of a high school – Hwy 28 just north of El Paso, TX

The road I was riding was a small road, and there was no sign that said I was entering Texas. However, I figured when I saw a sign that said “End of State Maintenance”, I was leaving New Mexico and entering Texas. Once I got into El Paso, TX, I got on the bike path that runs right along the mighty Rio Grand River. It is a gorgeous path, and it was awesome to be riding right next to the river. I stopped at a roadside market to buy some pecans from a man who roasts and cracks the pecans on a crudely made rack. He was also selling honey from his local bees. I bought a jar of that also. We had a good conversation about cracked corn soup (he was selling cracked corn), and he told me about a local tradition of a hike that takes place on Good Friday up to a cross located on top of a nearby mountain. He was taking down his American flag from the top of his market building when I arrived. He takes the flag with him on the hike to the cross, and will fly the flag when he reaches the top.

Rio Grand Bike Path – El Paso, TX

Rio Grand River on Bike Path – El Paso, TX

On Bike Path

Pecan Cracking table at roadside market

Mexico on the other side of the road, driving in El Paso, TX