Mishaps and heat

Abiquiu, New Mexico to Chama, New Mexico 

Miles: 67

Conditions: winds in all directions, very hot and clear (100F)

Malfunctions: flat tire, routed through river, pedal loosening

Sunscreen applications: 6

I was on the road by 7:30. I was trying to be sneaky so I wouldn't wake my wonderful hosts, but at the last minute Mehedi came out and said goodbye. Staying with Erin and Mehedi was incredible, and I could see bright stars and the Milky Way from my bed. 

Two miles later-- a flat. As I began to repair it, I realized that I no longer had my tire pump: it had fallen off my bicycle at some point. I texted Erin and ten minutes later she and Mehedi had come out to rescue me, bike pump in hand. They took me back to their house to find a spare pump to give me (which came with amazing frozen homemade applesauce). Then they put me back where they found me. What luck! I was so happy what could have been disastrous ended pleasantly.

Three miles later, a black puppy veered out of the bushes and loped after me. After a quarter mile of telling him sternly to go back home, it became apparent that he was not going home. I tied a bit of rope to his collar and walked him back to the nearest house, where a woman told me he belonged to the neighbors but they never paid him any attention, and did I want to take him? She ended up holding onto him until I was gone, although I wish I could have taken him home because he was such a sweetie (and I'm not really a dog person). 

The ride was slow and hot right away.  My setbacks had left me riding in the heat of the day, mostly uphill and entirely unshaded. New Mexico is having a heat wave and the past two days have been record breaking (perfect time to bike!). I pedaled for a mike, stopped to cool down and drink water, then repeated, for miles. I made a beeline for any shade. Soon, I had run out of water again and I was parched. I was contemplating my options and grumbling at myself for not bringing more when I stumbled across an oasis: gas station! 

The owner of the gas station, Tony, was at first a little quiet but as I sat outside taking out my lunch, he came out and said he needed to pack ice, and did I want any? He told me he was a little deaf because he used to be a timber faller, and he'd grown up in the town next door. He spoke in short, gruff sentences and didn't make eye contact, but when I said goodbye he told me to come back.

I continued on my burnt and chapped way, motivating myself with peppy music and the Gatorade I'd just bought. Mile, break, mile, break, shade, break. 

Google maps told me to take a side road, and having thus yet listened to google religiously, I did it (but the road looked small and suspicious). Four miles later, it became rocky, and a quarter of a mile later it dipped under a full and flowing river. Grumbling at myself again, I turned around and retraced my path to the highway. 

Soon, I came across someone walking on the other side of the road. I stopped for my mile break and he cheerfully crossed the road and asked if I wanted any water. When I said no, I have some, he gave me a bottle of water. His name was Sam, and he was thru hiking the continental divide trail! He told me all sorts of crazy things, like someone had invited him home and he stayed with them for five days while they threw parties for him and took him day hiking, because they thought he was so cool. He told me meeting people was the best part of his trips (and I agree!).

Finally, five hours later than predicted, I rolled into my campsite. It had showers and wifi! I happily scraped the layers of sunscreen off of my skin and spent my evening planning the next few days.