Dreux's Great Divide Adventure

Thanks to my riding mate Pete, I had the privilege of trying both Antelope Well and the Columbus trail terminus. Pete arranged to have a ride waiting for us at AW and return me to Hachita. As usual, we are up at 4:45 AM to beat the heat. For the past week we have been waking up to Christophe Cross, Ride Like The Wind as our alarm. Met a few angry rattlers the last ten miles. Mixed emotions rolling into AW. We jumped around, took photos, high five’d and then an F16 does a barrel roll about thousand feet right over us! Wow, was that for us? Turns out there is an air base that does training... good timing. I still want to believe it was for me.  The adventure  could not have ended better. Rolling into Hachita with the Jeff and Jeffery a vailable for assistance. 2 great guys that are helping both the racing / touring cyclists and their communities. Jeffery S. has so much experience that he gladly shares not to mention his hard work on the community Center. Jeff C with the Hach

Riding through a cow pasture, the long way, 5 plus miles to avoid the never ending peanut butter mud.  Rest day in Silver City. Tried some cultural activities on my day off and visited the University museum. Who knew those crafty Indians were into micro brews.  The crew enjoying Silver City Up and on the road before 5:00 AM to avoid the hot days, 98 degrees today.  Last gravel road to the finish.  Next to last town, Hachita, NM to the finish. 

Sunrise campsite.  New feature to the team. Steve, from the UK has joined the team to the finish. Great guy who fits in well with our sophomoric humor.  Not sure if the exact count for Continental Divide crossing but in the high twenties.  Our team searching out peanut butter mud.  From the first hours entering New Mexico, the state has been kicking my ass. New Mexico has a special beauty but most challenging. Today we wake up to the smell of recently extinguished forest fire. Safe but a fair amount of smoke. 1 hour later it’s another round of sticky “peanut butter” mud, fourth in NM. I been saying that I signed up for the deluxe adventure package. Yet somehow, as hard as it was today, it was a great day.  182. Miles to the finish. 

We continue to ride in some beautiful high plains desert.  Pie Town has 3 restaurants that make their own pies. I tried the spicy NM apple pie with chilies and pine nuts, excellent.  Off to the infamous Toaster House where the owner has been hosting hikers and bikers stay for years. The house is filled with all kinds of mementos from past guest. Met up with some cowboys who were getting ready for elk hunting season.  Pleasantly surprised to find a GDMBR box in the middle of the desert offering water and goodies for riders! Signed the guest book and ate snacks.  Long miles, 3 days to Silver City so we dispersed camped along the road. 

Last map section, less than 400 miles.  The GD route briefly use the historic Route 66.  So what do Great Divide ride eat while on the route and in the wilderness? My favorite is tortilla wraps with avocado and Fritos, nutritious and delicious.  Off to Pie Town for free pie and unlimited fries for Great Divide riders. 

The theme has been heat and monsoon rains in the afternoon and evening. Loading up on water when riding. We were invited to spend the night at the home of a Navajo family in the White Horse area. It was a special stay. Large, multi generational family with all types of pets and livestock. They were all so generous with feeding and putting us up for the night. I really enjoyed learning about the community, their family and their way of life. Lots of love and caring people. So glad we were able to spend time here .... thank you. Scenery is still changing