Pie Town to Collins Park

I fully expected today to be a much tougher day than it was. Perhaps it's my fitness, or perhaps it's because I can smell that the end is near, but today was easier than it had any right to be.

It should have been hard - a 72 mile day with rough roads and a dry camp at the end of it, with sketchy water availability during the ride. I carried 12 liters of water, 6 liters more than any other time on the Divide. The extra I carried in two 3 liter water bladders inside my bear bag that I strapped to my handlebars. 

There were rumors of water sources here and there - a water tank that may be full, stock tanks, a scummy reservoir, but I carried enough to get me through the day, overnight, and 30 miles into tomorrow (where known water was) if I was careful with it.

Luckily, one of the water sources came through! About 40 miles in a rumored cooler full off water and snacks turned out to be true! Gallons of water, oreos, applesauce, peanuts, etc all left out for Divide riders - and according to the guest book it's been used a ton.  I used a whole gallon: two liters to refill the two bottles I'd used, and then I drank the other 1.8 liters right there. This means I have more than enough water for tonight and tomorrow, so I can be comfortable and hydrated!

The ride was 72 miles, from 7:30am to 4pm, with just under 6 hours on bike. I was definitely feeling it by the end with the extra weight, rough roads, and a few climbs.

I also leapfrogged with the Kiwis today, Diana and Andrew, and we are free camped together in Collins Park, a vast field of grass and Ponderosa up in the lower New Mexico Mountains. Just us and... nothing.. really, but views and nature. And, of course, thunderstorms.

The kiwis have done quite a bit of adventuring, including biking across Laos and Cambodia, and tons of other stories.   They've been good company.

We biked through a perscribed burn today, that was pretty interesting. Currently we are in our tents sheltering from one of the many scattered storms around. My tent is currently too hot to be in due to sunlight, but also being rained on.  Thanks, New Mexico.

I only have four days of riding left, but this location I'm at tonight is pretty special. I can't wait for sunset and storms.