City of Rocks

Just wanted to make a note on a state park down in southern New Mexico called the City of Rocks. It was like finding the city of Atlantis, except it was in the middle of the desert and it really does look like a big city of rocks. If you're ever down in this area check it out, but be sure to bring many friends, cause it's a hide-n-seek fantasy world. I tried playing by myself but was never real good at hiding from myself. A perfect place to end the USA part of this trip. Peaceful, no bugs, only rocks and desert and mountains as far as you can see.

JJ

Southern New Mexico

so where were we? Came out of Alburquerque off a nice 2-day rest, lots of energy and some tail wind. Unfortunately, hit a near-hail storm along the way. Not fun, especially since they had baseball-sized ones drop down a week ago, so this was going thru my mind while riding in it. Luckily, it cleared up but then it really came down again later. Was forced to get a hotel in Socorro since camping in 47 degrees and rain is not fun. While in Socorro, heard some splashing next to me as I was drifting through 4 feet of water in the flooded streets. Seems a couple of dogs were able to sneak up on me. Usually, they have terrible angle of pursuit and I'm able to out-run the little bastards. But these guys must have been first-round draft picks cause they snuck up on me. And they just wouldn't quit. After 10 blocks down a busy blvd., thru endless puddles and jammed intersections they finally ceased. I've never seen such dedicated beasts. Beer was in hand 30 sec after that one.
Came across Elephant Butte (prononunced bu-TAY, not BUT as I was delicately informed) State Park, like an oasis of water in the middle of the desert. But then it was into the mountains where the desert receded and the forest came into being. Now, after spending two days climbing UP, Jeremy was dead. I just lumped over on the bike and let the Rooster do all the work. I don't want to say I cried, but I cried for mercy. Although, once up there, the views were incredible and did enjoy a 15-mile stretch coming down at 35mph. But the legs were no more. The only highlight was camping up there with a guy leftover from the hippy days of the 60's/70's. His stories of opium dens in Vietnam, living on Malibu Beach, the problems of free enterprise, and his solar powered house were all I needed to soothe my aching legs. I suppose the bottle of rum and hamburgers he cooked up didn't hurt as well. Very interesting guy. The kind you only meet in the middle of a forest while riding your bike up a mountain in New Mexico on your way to Panama.
This part of New Mexico, in the mountains, is full of hillbilly's too. Couldn't tell if I was in Kentucky or New Mexico. I'm not sure, but I think because they are constantly living on a slope that the blood in their brains rushes to only one side of the head. What else can explain why, when I ask a guy how far it is to the next town, he tells me he wishes he could still be in the navy but his disability doesn't allow it, and he's looking to fix his truck which has had two flat tires for the last two weeks; and he loves scuba diving. Strange.
So, in Silver City now. My travels have taken me more south than I intended because I refuse to go through any more mountains, so won't even make it to Phoenix by bike. So will end up taking the Greyhound from Deming, about 25 miles short of the Mexico border, into Phoenix then on to San Diego a couple days later. Will be resting up for the next few days to get ready for Mexico, so this concludes the USA portion of the trip. Overall, some good parts, some bad. New Mexico has been amazing, probably why I'm in no hurry to get out of it. They can blow up Kansas for all I care. Anyway- see you in Mexico. * Adios *

Land of Enchantment

alrighty...somehow have made it to Albuqurque, NM , the Land of Enchanment so they claim. After a few uneventful nights in Texas I was eager to get back on the road. The last few days have been nothing but sunshine and no wind! Crossed into New Mexico last Thursday and got on the interstate for the first, and hopefully last time. After making about 250 miles I was finally stopped yesterday by a state trooper. Let's just say there was a semi-truck, some construction, and very little space at one point. But, hell, it was worth the 15-mile stretches of coming downhill at 30mph while watching the sun go down, the clouds changing from white to deep purples, and a red glow forming across the desert. New Mexico really is enchanting. except for all the little thorns that keep sticking into my tires, which is really disenchanting. But have picked up some xtra special resistant tubes so will hopefully get me into Phoenix. Have been going on and off the famous route 66 which follows I-40 but seems to disappear all the time. At every stop along the way there seems to be someone who wants to tell me how they had seen me 30 miles ago. You run into all sorts of people who just try to understand why the hell I'm riding a bicycle to Panama. They either a) think it's just wonderful and wish they were doing it ; b) think I'm a lunatic and try to rush their kids past me so as not to get any ideas in their head; or c) wonder if I'm too poor to buy a car and offer me a ride. One black trucker dude was completely amazed and said he was gonna tell his wife he 'met somebody'. So I guess I'm somebody. Finally. Anyways, that NM state trooper was nice enough to tell me of a different route into Albuquerque other than the interstate, which I was more than happy to take after the semi incident. I even saw an ostrich farm. Funny little things runnin around. Went to the supposedly best scuba diving in SW America at Santa Rosa called the "Blue Hole", which is about 65 feet deep. But there wasn't much there except for a blue hole and some water. But, so far, the last few days have been the most enjoyable riding days, especially after the windy hells of Kansas. So have found a nice hostel in Albuquerque, getting some rest, talking japanese to the Japanese tourists, and sharing travel stories with old man Donald from England. Myself and Chris, a BMX'r from Mississippi, have come across the U of New Mexico campus library to finally find some internet access. A great city, kinda like a big college town, so may stay here a little longer than expected. The nights have been cold, the days have been hot, and the Rooster rolls on....see ya in Phoenix.

Flash Floods

Haven't got too far since my last post. Mother Nature has not been kind. Down here in Dalhart, Texas and it seems there is a flash flood warning for the next few days. And its cold. Needless to say, I'll be staying in Texas for a few days here. Body needs a break and need to find some puncture-resistant tires as I've had 3 flats in the last 2 days from these little thorns all over the place. Coming out of Kansas one night, could not find a camping spot so had to ride into the night. And, of course, got a flat along the way. So was pumping and biking, pumping and biking to get into the next town where I finally found a spot to lay my head. Still nothing to be seen going through Oklahoma. Some guy did stop his truck in the middle of the road and gave me a beer. His glossy eyes told me he was probably responsible for the millions of beer cans lying in the ditches. And this was on a sunday morning. Must have been on his way to church. Speaking of churches, convenient stores are not allowed to sell liquor when they are within a certain distance of one in Texas. But its perfectly OK another 4 blocks away. I guess Satan lives in a beer can. So, anyway, nothing but trucks and cowboy hats. Probably won't make it to San Diego by Oct 20th, so may just get to Phoenix and bus it over as not to eat into mine and Chad's time below the border. We'll see how the weather is later, but right now it's kicking my ass....
see ya - J

Wyatt Earp Blvd.

Down here in Dodge City, Kansas where the wild west really does meet Texmex. What's happened over the last few days? Did I mention how much I hate the wind? It's been only two weeks but feels like two months. I'd like to dedicate this portion of my trip to Darrel and Marianne Heeren of Hastings, Nebraska who saved me when I broke a spoke on the bike and realized I had brought a wrench that was too small to take the wheel off. Luckily, it was just in front of these fine folks farmhouse, and Darrel had all the tools I needed. Even invited me in for some grilled cheese sandwiches and soup for lunch. gotta luv it. Crossed into Kansas and found out quickly why nobody lives there. There is nothing there. Except for cows and wind. And more wind. If it was summer I'd be scared to be down here. One second there's 40mph wind coming from the south, the next second its coming from the north. Kansas is quite an eerie place. Wind howling, cows mooing, people asking me if I may be a 'crop duster'. I pretended to know what a crop duster was when the guy asked me but I don't think I fooled him. Spent a couple nights at a state park with over 1,000 spots...and I was the only one there. It's strange being at a park all alone with only 1,000 picnic tables and a six-pack of Bud. Spent a night at the EXACT center of the USofA. I didn't feel any safer though. Especially from the wind. Almost hitched a ride one day cause I was going a whole 3mph into a head-on southerly wind for 9 hours. But decided to just camp it and wait it out. Wouldn't ya know it, the next day it was coming from the north so it was smooth sailing into Dodge City. Kansas is living up to its image of....nothing. It's freaky down here. I had a guy the other day tell me he's been seeing me all over western Kansas.?? So my question is...why is this guy driving all over western Kansas? Or is he following me? And the cows. They just don't stop staring. They act as if they've never seen a guy riding his bike to Panama before. But, anyway, it's just been a lot of wind and fields and fields of nothing for the last few days. It is cool though riding before sunrise down long stretches of nothing into longer stretches of nothing. But I'm ready to get out of this state before the Wicked Witch of the East finds me. Legs are very sore but gotta push on if I'm to meet Chad by the 20th. Later....