El Paso>>Austin>>Seattle!

So Texas was not so bad.  After Carlsbad Caverns, Dean and I headed to Ft. Davis, past the storm and wind, for good riding in the hills there, as well as a tour of the McDonald Observatory.  Neat stuff.  After Ft. Davis, we headed to the Hill Country of west-central Texas.  Due to a wet April, the land was lush with greenery and wildflowers, and the rivers were running high.  The hills were fun; definitely hills though, and not the mountains I had been battling the past couple weeks.  Quick ups and downs, with little traffic.  All of this made for a great last few days into Austin.  

My friends Brendan and JoJo met me just south of Austin, in Buda, on my way into town.  These guys are old friends of mine, who moved to Austin from Seattle a couple of years ago, and visiting them was the reason I chose Austin as my destination.  After high-fives, hugs, and a little snacking, we headed up to their house, and the end of my journey.  

I ended up with around 1,300 or so miles (had some trouble with my cyclometer), only two flat tires, no crashes, a sweet farmer-tan, and a big smile on my face. 

Now it was time to live it up in Austin for a few days before heading home.  First order of things-shower.  It had been a few days.  After I was smelling better, we headed out to dinner at Wink, for easily the best meal I have eaten in years.  Mac 'n' cheese with truffles, seared flounder, venison, and fine wine.  Many thanks to JoJo for treating us.  The next couple days were filled with more eating, sleeping in, swimming, and a couple bike rides.  My last night in town, Brendan and I saw Mono play, then rode home in a warm, heavy rain.  A perfect ending to a great vacation.

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Eastern Washington from the plane, Brendan, Texas Capitol Building, JoJo's dog Bodie, space telescope, Brendan and JoJo in Buda, Bodie again, and a dead armadillo.

Thanks for reading.

Nels Reese

Texas! Storms! Caves!

Las Cruces, NM to El Paso, TX brought me into the eye of the storm.  A big, WINDY, cold, rainy storm.  Also with hail and blowing sand.  I had met a fellow cyclist who was riding sections of the route I was on a few nights back, this guy Dean.  He was travelling in his truck with his bike, and was in El Paso the day I rolled in.  Due to the weather, we decided to meet up, wait out the storm and see some sights until biking was possible again. 

We camped out in Guadalupe Mountains National Park that night.  Still had 30- to 40- mph winds, so I had to put big rocks inside of my tent to keep it on the ground. Even then, it was folded over on top of me for most of the night.  Very relaxing.  We then toured Carlsbad Caverns the next day.  It was not windy in the caves.

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Sunrise and storms on the Guadalupes and cave features.

New Mexico... Also Hilly

Emory Pass didn't kill me.  I ate a huge breakfast of huevos rancheros, followed up by yogurt and nuts before leaving Silver City kind of late.  It was about 20 miles or so before the steeps hit, then another 15 to the top.  The preparation (eating a bunch of food) worked great, and the climb up to 8,200 was no problem.  From the viewpoint at the top of the pass, I could see the Rio Grande valley stretching out to the north and south, as well as the 25-mile downhill I was about to ride.  A beautiful sight.

After a night camping next to a little river, I pedaled on to Las Cruces, a downhill ride of around 80 miles.  Unluckily for me, and strong wind was blowing out of the south, and for much of that ride my max speed was only 10 to 12 mph. 

Camping at an RV park in Las Cruces, I met Jan and Irene, an amazing pair of ladies from Michigan.  Jan was riding to San Diego from Florida, and Irene was driving a minivan in support.  We shared stories and breakfast snacks before I took off for TX.  Jan has a great blog here, with many stories from her three months on the road so far.

Photos- Santa Rita Mine, a couple from the top of Emory Pass, one from late in the day during my descent, the mighty Rio Grande, pecan groves, and Jan and Irene.

AZ >>> NM

Mormons watched me, the sky amazed me, hills daunted me, and storms chased me.  But I made it across the state line into New Mexico, and over the continental divide.  Silver City, NM offered a shower-the first in five days- and great people.  Big ups to Gila Hike and Bike and Silver City Co-Op!!  Both places were helpfull, friendly, and smart.  I now have rosemary oil to put on sore muscles, and a properly adjusted headset. 

Gotta run though.  Emory Pass awaits.

Southward! And Kind of Downhill

Rolled out of Flafstaff, full of pancakes and coffee.  Pedaled across the Mogollon Plateau, then dropped into the Tonto Basin.  Camped near Lake Roosevelt after a nice swim last night.  Was in the range land, so had to scare off some cows from my campsite.  Probably wanted my cheesey rice, broccoli and tuna.

Was a ten mile climb away from the lake, then south to Globe for a late breakfast, coffee, and some internetting.  Another lake in store today.  Wooot!

Around 650 miles for the trip, got my first flat yesterday.  There were two staples stuck in my tire.

Photos-

Little pond next to the road near Strawberry, Lake Roosevelt, heavy bike, saguaro near my campsite, and cacti-filled hills near Globe.

Rollin' Dirty to Flagstaff

Arizona is rugged.  The views are beauty, people are friendly, and the food is tasty- had probably the most cheese-filled omelet of my life on Congress, and homemade salsa at a little bar in Aguila, but this basin and range shit is brutal.  Long, gradual up-hills, grinding at 7 mph, grading into steep, 2,000-foot climbs.  The descents have to be some of the most fun I have ever done though.  Dropping 3,500 feet over five miles, with switch-backs, narrow lanes, and big drops over the edge makes for excitement!

I did slow my pace, and am enjoying the ride despite whining about the climbs.  The steep ones are actually fun, I have been shifting up a couple gears and getting out of the saddle.  It seems like it uses my muscles a little differently, and I go a couple mph faster.  Like 7 instead of 5. 

Made it to Flagstaff in three days from Quartzite, camping out in the bush north of Aguila, and in the Granite Dells outside of Prescott along the way.  Last day was 85 miles, with two climbs over 2,000 feet each.  Was a bit of a push to get up from Sedona to Flagstaff.  Made it though.

Have been resting at my friend Katie's, with her rad roommates Ray, Nicole, Danielle, and lil Dylan.  Thanks dudes!!  Katie cooked up some amazing lasagna for my arrival.  So good.

Back on the road soon; planning to head southeast, along some back-roads for a bit.  Map shows some lakes.  May have to do some swimmin.  Wooo!

Photos-

Arizona farmland, sunset from my tent, stars, morning sun on the rocks, sky, crows circling, Hwy 71, 6,100 feet- almost to the top, about to descend into Jerome and Cottonwood, rocks near Sedona, and a volcano north of Flagstaff.

The Desert is HOT!!

In stark contrast to the cold, wet weather of northern California, SoCal was warm and arid.  Temps were in the 80's and 90's, but didn't actually seem too hot.  I hear it's the humidity, not the heat, or something. 

It took three days to cross California,  sleeping near Lake Cuyamaca my first night, Brawley the second night, and Quartzite, AZ my third night.  252 total miles at that point.  Maybe going a little too fast.  My knees kind of hurt.  Was happy to get out of California, though.

Photos-

Crosses on the top the mountain, just south of Julian, CA.  Then looking east from the same location, down at the valley I was about to descend into.  The Salton Sea is barely visible, around 35 miles away.  (I hear there are all kinds of birds there, but I only saw one duck.) Palm trees in Brawley, dunes outside of Glamis, and stolen water from the Colorado River, used to grow crops near Palo Verde.