GDT Day 49 - La Jolla Canyon to Beaverhead Work Center

Fri. Sept. 23, 2016
La Jolla Canyon to Beaverhead Work Center.

Start - ~7000'
High pt  7670'
Lo pt. ~6900'
End Elv ~6900'
Climbing ~1000'??

Miles ~40.8
Total time 5:40
Ride time 4:15
Day with BOB 47
3 continental divide crossings

Sunny morning, and I am making breakfast in the dirt of my primitive campsite as the suns radiance warms me and the earth. The elk are still bulging a bit this morning, though the one just a few scores of yards away has quieted down. All is good as all 3 of my tires are still happily inflated, so I am heading out to an emergency supply drop with Glenda for more tubes, tires, and patches. This is a couple days earlier than planned, but she has already picked up the requested gear. I now have very little in reserve in this area; If I get another tire and tube cut like yesterday or get thorned again, I will need to humbly hitch a ride, if there is traffic that is.

I am down to just 2.5 bottles of water this morning and not alot of watering spots are indicated in the guide. I introduce myself to the hunter across the road and he is more than willing to share some water and also gives me a bottle of Gatorade. He is taking a break this morning as he had to walk 5 miles out after his 4 wheeler broke down yesterday. Another chance meeting with kindness and hearing their story. I can now make it to the work center where there is water and I will meet Glenda.

There is a brisk wind that grows in personality as I gain altitude. I top out into a more open area and the winds true nature is revealed as a purposeful headwind now as I pedal across parkland to my 1st divide crossing. Then down into Collins Park proper as the route loops around to another crossing of the divide. One more turn and I now have a tail wind to push me to the 3rd and highest divide crossing of the day at 7670'. I have entered a very pleasant and healthy ponderosa forest and I do modest roller coaster on great road while slowly losing elevation. I enter O-Bar-O canyon which is grassy, wide and not very tall, with occasional canyon walls to accompany me.
A local rancher and sons stop to chat, and let me know I am getting close to the work center, and also give me a nice cold bottle of water, yum!
I arrive at work center, and it looks like it is closed up for the season, but water and restooms are open. I hydrate and wait for Glendas arrival. Later, the assistent foreman Anthony, stops by to tend the garden. After discussing where Glenda and I could camp with the trailer, he says it is OK to camp there, gives me some fresh veggies from garden, and also some delicious smoked salmon to tide me over until glenda arrives. I really appreciate the kindness and generosity.

Glenda arrives and we set up and make dinner. It is dark by that time. So the bike work will have wait until the morn.

GDT Day 48 Toaster House in Pie Town to La Jolla Canyon

Thurs. Sept. 22, 2016
 Toaster House in Pie Town to La Jolla Canyon

Start - ~7800'
High pt  8200'
Lo pt. ~6900'
End Elv ~7000'
Climbing ~1700'??

Miles ~60.9
Total time 9:45
Ride time
Day with BOB 46
Three continental divide crossings

Owls a hooting
Elks a bulging
Springs a silent
Tires a popping
  And the kindness of strangers

Started off saying goodbye to Simone, Thomas, and Benjiman as they headed out to the cafe for beakfast as it opened. Thomas and Simone are trying to finish the route in 3 days and have a 100 mile day planned. Not for me. Shooting for Valle Tia Vinces campground as per the guide at about 30 miles. Head out and it is sunny and I hit 2 divide crossings quickly in the rollling pinon juniper lands. I stop for a break and look up at the fully laden pinon tree right next to me. I have a short day PLANNED so I take 30 minutes or so and collect pinon nuts, improving havesting methods as I go.
Stop and replenish water at a stock well where a trail angel leaves the pump switch available for bikers and CDT hikers.
I climb up a mellow pass, and get my 3rd divide crossing for the day and quickly reach the targeted CG. It is only 1:45, weather is fine, and I decide to continue after checking map, and elevation profile. My next target after heading down the pass is to head across the plains of San Augustin before slightly climbing back into the national forest, and some primitive camp sites, for an extra 30 miles. The riding should be straight forward, and I think I can shorten the ride 2 days from now that is a long day with several of the big twisty hilly Gila climbs in  the 2nd 25 miles of that day. I would rather tackle those fresh in the day, not at the end.
I have a decent cadence going as I crank across the plains. These plains are home to the Very Large Array radio telescope, location chosen in part due to its being relatively quiet of electro magnetic emmisions in the radio frequencies. I believe it is the largest in the world. I am about 17 miles of the 30 when I hear a pop and sizzling sound as my front tire has an immediate decompression event, aka a blow out. 
Bummer,  as the tire and tube are both cut. Not sure what caused it, but the tire has over 2000 miles on it. The tube is toast, and while the tire could possibly be booted, I am wary about putting my last tube into the booted tire. I need to use my last tube, and resurrect my more worn and thorned emergency tire. Several passing vehicled stop and ask if every thing is ok;  I say yes as I work to replace tube and tire, while thinking these better work, and oh boy, I have almost no reserves in the tire dept after this blowout. A forest service workcrew pass by, and then back up, asking if I need any help, water.  I get a couple of bottles of gatorade as there are few water sources for the next 55 miles. A skeptical couple with a load of firewood queries me for a while, offering assistance.
I ready to start cranking again on the remaining 13 miles. I have burned precious sunlight on this sunny day, and am now also concerned about running out of day light. As I approach the national forest maybe 11 or 12 miles in, the sun is getting low and red.  The tires are holding and I am eagerly looking for a camping spot. The recommended site I have been targeting since the pass is already occupied by some hunters. It is beautiful country, grassy with widely spread ponderosa and low canyon walls. But it is not much used in this unpopulated part of the state, and I cannot find another pre-existing spot. I end up camping under a majestic ponderosa across the road from the hunters, who roll in at 10:30, or 11 pm.

I am however concerned that I may be stuck due to the tire and tube situarion, or that I am one incident away from being stuck. I use the InReach emergency satellite communicstor to send text msg to Glenda to arrange for an "emergency" supply drop. This has her meeting me 2 days earlier than planned. She already has the needed tires, tubes, and patch kits.
The question is, meet me here, or 40 miles from here after another day of riding. The tires will tell me in the morning.

I have seen elk while searching for a campsite and the bulls are bulging from many quarters as dusk settles into evening. The owls start their nightly reverie all around me as I set up camp and cook dinner. As I lay down to rest, a boisterous bull elk is harping his heart out what seems only 20 or 30 yards from me. The Owls and the Elk are my nighttime lullaby, soothing away my concerns as I drift off into the morrow.

GDT Day 47 Armijo "Canyon" to Pie Town

Wed. Sept. 21, 2016
 Armijo Canyon to Toaster House in Pie Town
HAP

Start - ~7200'
High pt  ~7800'
Lo pt. ~7200'
End Elv ~7800'
Climbing ~1500'??

Miles ~30
Total time 4:00
Ride time
Day with BOB 45
One continental divide crossing

Got up early and had a no cook breakfast. Want to get to Pie Town and pick up my food care package before post office closed at noon.
While only a out 600' elevation change, lots of rolling hills to climb, some times in sand. The Sawtooth Mountains grew to the east as I whittled down the miles.
My tires held out and got me to town.  The post office was still open and as I started up the stairs, Ojo, a free spirit pulls up in a bumper sticker strewn little pickup. He asks if I am riding the divide and if I am going to stay at the Toaster House. Which I am, but I follow protocol and ask where it is. He will show me as he is kind of a caretaker of the place (though lives a few miles away), although the place really seems to be mostly self managed. I unload and head back to the main drag. Much to my surprise a cafe was open and I got to enjoy some Sweet! Blueberry! Pie! After a great 1/2 lb. burger.

Back at The Toaster House, I start working on my tires. The front has been bleeding Slime since yesterday and it is time to de-thorn the tire of ~8-10 embedded thorns and see to the tube. Alas after several patches (now up to 12 across all three tires), that Slime tube is kaput. I replace with a standard spare tube, after multiple redundant checks for thorns in the tire. I don't have much margin left for bike tires; one standard unsullied tube, 5 patches, one compromised and worn tire. If I get thorned again, I might be stuck.
It is ironic to think about being stuck on the route due to one of mother nature's hitchhikers. Two other bikers roll in about dinner time, Simone for Belgium and Thomas from Virginia. We hob nob a bit and exchange stories. They AR ebig milage tourers, having rode from Grants that day.

I have now finished the 5th map, and tomorrow I will start in on number 6, the last map. Pie Town to Antelope Wells, NM on the Mexican border. The guide book has this as 8 days of riding, but I will meet Glenda outside Silver city to split up a particular long and hilly day, and we will explore some of the Gila Mountains together.
Provided of course, that I can make there with my tires.......