Icy winds

Sunday March 26. Day 22. Lordsburg to Tyrone 40.6 miles or 66 km. 3447 ft of climbing 

Only 66 km today so what's the rush. Looking out the window I saw that the sun was shining, there was a perfect blue sky, and a calm wind. So we took our time and were on the road shortly after 9 am. Just as I was leaving I received an email with these route specifics:

From mile 2 to mile 18 you have a 2070 ft climb with the steepest grade (6.3%) at mile 17.  After mile 18, you mostly plateau off till Tyrone.

OK then, not as easy a day as I thought. And I felt it. Barely warmed up the climbing started. My legs weren't happy with me. Looking in front of me the only thing I saw was some distant mountains hugging an almost perfect straight road. Just don't look ahead, just concentrate on the pedaling.

It didn't take long before the wind picked up. At first only a moderate one and at our tails. However, that only lasted for a few hours. When we stopped for lunch we needed to find a place away from the wind. She was howling and trying to push Annie and me off the road. Nowhere was any protection from the wind so we ate our lunch quickly. The temperature also had dropped considerably and by the time I got back on my bike I was shivering. 

 Our route brought us up to 6355 ft. Quite the accomplishment. And while my e-bike gives me some assist it still was hard peddling. However, not as intense as the poor fellows from Iowa and Texas. Barely able to talk, they huffed and puffed trying to get to Silver City. They were telling me that they had used Google Maps and biked 17 miles following Google's directions. Unfortunately, it was a dead-end. So they returned to the same hotel to be faced with climbing Emory Pass over the next 2 days.

About 40 km into our ride, we crossed the Continental Divide. Here is some background information on the Divide as well as the crossing of Emory Pass tomorrow:

"The American Continental Divide is a naturally occurring boundary or ridge separating North America’s river systems into those flowing eastward (either to Hudson Bay in Canada or, chiefly, to the Mississippi and Rio Grande rivers in the United States) and those flowing westward (into the Pacific Ocean).The first Americans to cross the Continental Divide were members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. They crossed the Continental Divide of the Americas near the Lemhi Pass in 1805. Lemhi Pass is located on the Montana - Idaho border on the continental divide, at an elevation of 7,373 feet (2,247 m) above sea level. Vicki and Hendrika will cross the Continental Divide at Emory Pass. Emory Pass is located in Sierra County, New Mexico. It reaches an altitude of nearly 9000 feet and its approximate elevation is 8,166 feet (2,489 meters) above sea level. Emory Pass is named after Lieutenant W. H. Emory who chronicled the U. S. Army of the West expedition through the pass in 1846. We may co-cristen Emory Pass as Spykerman and Moseley Pass after this Monday".(Cliff)

The climbing continued and intensified. We cycled through what felt like a forest. Big green trees lining both sides of the road giving us a bit of protection from the wind. 

But soon the trees made way for huge orange rock formations. The orange was indicative of an open copper mine. Hadn't it be so cold, we might have tried to visit the mine as it is quite the sight to see.

Just when we thought we had seen it all, a row of at least 20 toilets appeared on the side of a driveway.  We took some funny pictures just because.....

Cold with numb fingers and frozen toes we longed for a warm place. Fortunately we had found a Warm Shower Host in Tyrone. Laura and Alex (from Alaska) welcomed us into their home.We have a very comfortable room, a shower, laundry facilities, and a warm meal. Life is good.

Great pics- - Cliff has a town named after him- sorry you all were so cold while riding- hoping your warm now at the warm shower host!!!!! (Patsy)

Stay strong!!! Keep pedaling!! You are doing great!!! I’m inspired by the both of you! Cindy B