Rita's Bicycling Blogs

5/19-6/10, 2016 WomanTours' "Atlantic Coast" (Northern Half) Alexandria, VA to Bar Harbor, ME *3/5-5/1, 2015 WomanTours' "Southern Tier" from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL. *Aug 9-16, 2013, WomanTours' "Ride the Rockies" tour in the Colorado Rockies. *9/26/12 to 10/27/12 Pacific Coast Tour Canada to the Mexican Border *5/19 - 6/30 Northern Tier (Eastern half) 2011 WomanTours' from Fargo, ND to Bar Harbor, Maine. *3/5-4/30, 2010, Southern Tier, San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL

Sunday, March 22, 2015

3-22-15 Kingston to Las Cruces, NM 88 miles

We left the Lodge at Kingston, NM with a continuation of the downhill of Emory Pass. The temperature started out at 40 degrees, and with the speed of our first 9 miles, we all dressed for the windchill. There were some long climbs for 5 miles, but the route gradually smoothed out. The elevation from Kingston to Las Cruces changes from 6,200 to 3,800 ft and the temps elevated 50 degrees to a balmy 90 degrees! After the first Sag stop at 26 miles, we filled "Bo Peep's" back seat with our cold weather clothes.

After that, the road had some climbs, but we had more downhill than up. With the freedom from the winter clothes, Lea and I flew into Las Cruces 18-20 mph!

Tomorrow we will ride into El Paso, TX. There will be city riding for the last 25 miles out of 60. After today's 88 miles, 60 doesn't seem so bad!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

3-21-15 Silver City to Kingston, NM 48 miles EMORY PASS!

This was a challenge day for everyone. Although there is always an option to get a "bump" from the Sag, or even opt out for a day entirely, EVERYONE did the entire route! We all made friends with our lowest gears and got into the zone. The scenery was beautiful, and the reward of making it to the top and see the vista of Emory Pass was worth it.