Today we rode from Silver City, New Mexico, US to Hachita, New Mexico, US. Sunny weather with little clouds (some cloud coverage in the morning). Road conditions included paved road, gravel roads, and dirt roads. Highlights of the day include the dirt road with snakes, and the scenery change to desert.

Riding statistics: on Sunday, September 11, 2022, day 42 on the route, it took 11:32h (07:57h moving time), between 07:44 and 19:16, to cover 127 km (79 miles), including 705 m (2313 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 16 km/h (10 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 28 °C (82 °F) with a minimum of 18 °C (64 °F) and a maximum of 38 °C (100 °F).

Totals: So far, it took 12 days, 17 hours, 54 minutes, and 21 seconds of cycling time to cover 4464 km (2774 miles), including 52095 m (170924 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.9 km/h (9.3 mph).

Although we would not have mind to sleep in and take it easy, we had to get up early if we wanted to enjoy breakfast in the motel and stop for getting groceries on our way out of town. The breakfast was a typical continental breakfast with of course waffles. After getting ready, and checking out, we started our ride for today. After 2km (1.5 miles) we stopped at the local grocery store to make sure we have enough food for the coming two days (since there will not be much on the route). After getting groceries we continued our ride out of town.

We had to follow a paved road for about 20km (12.5 miles) to get to our turn off onto a gravel road. This paved road was wide, 2x2 lanes and a very big shoulder. We passed a huge mining area, and at some point, there was a big snake in our path. It seemed dead because it did not move an inch (although there were no signs of injury).

Once we got of the main road, we cycled through red canyons, patches of tress, etc. It looked amazing. That lasted for a few kilometers and then the scenery changed to a real desert environment. Sandy hills, sage bushes, and flowers (because of the rain earlier this year). Not much more. Well, typical desert animals like different snakes (dead and alive), strange caterpillars, and many other small animals. Especially in the first section ran into a few snakes, even a small one in the middle of the road. I was so intrigued that Anna had to remind me that it is a live snake which could be poisonous. I promptly steered away my bike. I felt cautious after these snakes, and the first while I was alert, continuously scanning the road surface. Not always easy with all the rocks. Eventually, we got used to the situation. We were on a 60km (37 miles) dirt road which was based on dried up clay (impassable when wet). Sometimes we had patches of loose sand and rocks. Combined with a fierce headwind. Sometimes we saw a building, often abandoned. This was no environment for humans to live in. Despite the harsh environment, it was again a beautiful scenery.

Eventually the dirt road ended, and we arrived at Bowlin’s Continental Divide Trading Post, a souvenir shop that also sold (very expensive!) snacks & drinks. We enjoyed our beverages on a picnic table in front of the building where there was shadow. We made it a slightly longer break since we enjoyed sitting down for a bit, and knew we only had 12km (7.5 miles) of gravel road, the last of this trip, followed by 32km (20 miles) of paved road to Hachita.

That last gravel section of the trip include a lot of wash boarding, a brutal headwind, and many dead mice. The gravel road ended at a turnoff of the Interstate leading to Hachita, and Antelope Wells. From now on we only have a paved road to the Mexican border where we will arrive tomorrow. While cycling to Hachita, we saw employees of the border patrol passing by. They drive around in recognizable cars border patrol cars, but also in pickup trucks with some machinery in the back. At some moment we saw that the machinery is in fact a portable watch tower. They slide it out, and on top are cameras and probably other highly sensitive equipment to monitor the area. We were riding slightly uphill, the headwinds continued, and we pushed on until we reached Hachita.

Upon arriving, one of the first buildings we saw was the food market. We decided to stop and get some refreshments. Very cheap prices for drinks and snacks, especially in this remote location. They had Wi-Fi and a corner to sit. We also could arrange our stay in the Hachita community hall. After relaxing a bit, we went to the Hachita Community Hall.

The community hall was an old building used for different purposes. There were toilets, a kitchen area, and in the main area there were travel beds on which you could sleep. Anna was confident that was the way to go. There were already flies and bugs but apparently nothing scares the woman. Anna went out for a walk to find the post office. Meanwhile I setup my tent inside the community hall (without the rainfly). The number of bugs continued to increase, and I did not feel like sleeping on the travel beds. When Anna came back, I was already comfortable in my tent. It did not take that long before changed her mind too. I stayed most of the time in my tent, Anna is a bad-ass and wrote a bunch of postcards in the kitchen area, where it was raining bugs. Most of them are just annoying. One of them got us a bit worried a first, a whip spider. Anna checked it online, scary looking but harmless.

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