What?

This afternoon in Hillsboro, New Mexico with a dark beer at the only thing open in town-wine bar.

The ride into this town this morning was the hardest metal bike ride I have ever done! The wind was up to 30 plus gusting to whatever, it would blow you sideways for a ways.

I need water and rest. Last night was crazy windy and we were ill prepared for the magnitude of the winds and dust. It came in all the tents hole, the scorpions were seeking cover and the centipedes were crawling very fast!

I’m with some very interesting and experienced folk in camp tonight. The two Alaskans, Dan and Anne, then there is the Serbian cyclist who is raising money for a cause in Croatia. Many of the folk i have met have been in recent, my generation, wars. Many wars.

My legs are getting stronger, tomorrow in 20 miles the earth will rise over 4000 feet to 8200 feet, the air will thin, one pushing a bike will think about stopping, cursing the day he or she was born, say screw it and turn and go down hill, I will dream and think about a small gear ring up front (that waits for me in silver City), then -then-then right before one either vomits or does are the fore mentioned-you breath through your legs and ask-“where am I right now”? ? Then you realize your are where you have to be in your body that is pushing a load of food-water-supplies up and over the mountain.

I