Day 13: The Rio Grande & Old Town Albuquerque

Not too much to report today - our intrepid riders traveled from Grant to Albuquerque, NM - a 76 mile day. They left at the usual time (7:15); it was "about" 31 degrees and a bright, crisp, beautiful morning. Dad took the van the first ten miles to get ahead of the front-runners of the tour - there were some people consistently ahead of him and the other Pile Drivers whom he hadn't gotten on video yet. (If that's the incorrect usage of "whom," feel free to correct Mom - whom(?) I consulted - and I. Thanks!)

Today's ride went extremely well - they rode through beautiful, open range land. Had lunch at a big truck stop, which also featured a Dairy Queen. After lunch they had a five mile ride up a REAL big hill; at the top, they were overlooking Albuquerque. Then they had an approximately 10 mile descent into town. Got in at 3 pm (5 pm EST). The whole day was just beautiful, a nice change from yesterday. Tomorrow they ride 67 miles (a light day!) into Santa Fe, where they'll have their second rest day on Saturday.

DVD #2 with pictures arrived at the house yesterday. We decided to upload the majority to a photo sharing site (probably kodak), and I'll post the links to the album(s) here when I get more than a day's worth uploaded. (Life will presumably cooperate with that soon.) Dad reports that a third DVD is on its way.

In injury news, one of the riders had an incident with a dog today. A dog somehow got in front of their bike and they ran into the dog - don't worry, the dog is a-ok! The rider wasn't quite as fortunate. Fell off their bike and got hurt. Nothing's broken, but they did take the van the rest of the way to Albuquerque today. Hopefully the injuries were minor enough that they'll be up for tomorrow's ride, and then there's a well-timed rest day.

No pictures arrived tonight, so I give you this lovely picture of Dad drying his clothes that I've been saving for just such an occasion. I especially like the sock folded over a branch on the right (without so much as a clothes pin, like its friends on the left got)! I bet it makes "normal" travelers feel really good about the motel when they come into the parking lot (featured behind the tree) to see random shirts, spandex shorts, and socks hanging off of the foliage. You do what you gotta do! (And at least there aren't any strangers' underwear in this laundry picture, which I appreciated.) So there you have it - Gil doing his laundry. Fortunately he's not too used to modern conveniences such as dryers, since this is the only time in their marriage Mom can think of him washing his own clothes. To him, this must just be how its done!

Santa Fe pictures added 8 pm Friday.

Gil's emailed cliff notes (written 7 am Friday; added 4:45 pm)
Yesterdays ride to Albuquerque was an almost perfect ride. Temp at start a crisp 31 degrees as we departed Grant, NM but after the first couple miles and hills it was great and warmed up quickly. I took a 10 mile hop up the road in the van to get ahead of the fastest riders since I didn't have them on my video (everyone wants a video). Took parts of highway 66. Very photogenic. Also we were on interstate I 40 for about 20 miles. Soon we will be off interstates and the flats they cause (wires from blown truck tires). One fantastic hill 5 miles long about 15 miles out of Albuquerque. It just keep going and going. Then a rewarding 10 mile descent into Albuquerque.

Today we ride to Santa Fe and a rest day. Much climbing today. I'm ready. Told it will be an impressive ride - like lots of photos.