(New) Mexico Blows.... No Really, It Does

Last night after setting up our tents after it didn't rain, we made
quick friends with our neighbors Justin and Marissa. Recent graduates
from Denver in chemical and mining engineering, the couple was in
Santa Rosa on a scuba diving escape at Blue Hole. We shared stories
about our trips and made smores as the sun set over the nearby New
Mexico mountain range. It was really nice to finally meet some people
our age and hang out like back home for a while. They had one more day
of diving then back to work. Hope it was fun guys, it was great to
meet you!

The next morning, we woke to a very brisk 15 to 20 mph headwind and
realized that this would be one of our longest days. Packing and
leaving the most uninviting campground in Santa Rosa, we started east
again but a much slower pace than yesterday. Averaging 11.8 mph for
62.13 miles, we were in the saddle for 5 hours and 15 minutes.

I have never rode in a headwind that strong in my life. You start to
hope for a semi to pass to give you a little nudge ahead and block the
wind for a second. We would get a little rest from the wind on the
uphill climbs when the hill blocked the wind but you still had to
climb. 62 miles was suppose to be our off day but the wind really
turned things around. Resting every two or more hours, we powered
through the wind gust into Tucumcari, the last large town on highway
40 in New Mexico.

It's apparent that we're heading back to The South. The people are
becoming more friendly, everyone speaks a little slower and they all
have their own way to give directions. Every place exist around a bend
and directions are as a crow flys. The best ones are the guys that
give you directions with their whole body and hands moving everywhere,
like their calling for a hit and run.

New Mexico was a great transition from Arizona. The air is still dry
so we can sleep without our rain fly but our tents are pitched on
grass instead of red rock. The country is beautiful with green plains
and towering ranges but as the plains widen, the winds increase. We
haven't quite had our fill of New Mexico but the northern region of
Texas will remind us of her. Tomorrow we are shooting for Vega, a
small town just within Texas but may fall short if the forecast is
correct and the winds continue.

Tonight we'll sleep like babies after we plan our route in Texas. We
hear that bikes aren't allowed on highway 40 in certain places so
alternate routes are being persued.

Hope y'all have a good night. Goodnight all!