New Mexico

Hi Everybody,

This morning at 6 AM it was 43 degrees and raining.  It was hard to get going!!!  Dave and Mike finally took off at 8:32.  Today they are traveling off the planned route to stay away from ice and snow in the mountains.  Most of the day was spent on I -10 sometimes with a tail wind and sometimes with a cross wind and rain.  It was somewhat uphill but not drastically.  At one of the stops along the way, they tried to help a guy in an old panel truck get going after he pulled in next to the motorhome with the motor banging badly.  After a few minutes of heads under the hood, bodies underneath looking up at the chassis, it was decided that there was no hope and the man called a friend to come a get him.

We stopped just short of the New Mexico line and the guys called to say that Mike had had a flat.  That is # 8 total flats for the trip.  The rain has mostly quit, just sprinkles now and then.  

We crossed into New Mexico and went 22 miles to Lordsburg and a KOA campground. It is cold tonight, about 45.  The guys didn't get here until about 6--just getting dusk.  They rode 86 miles today.  Dave had a flat (#9) just west of Lordsburg.  Now the problem is that they have used up all the spare tubes and there is no bicycle shop closer than 42 miles.  The plan is to be in Anthony, NM by Wed. evening. We will rejoin the Adventure Cycling route map at Las Cruces.  So if we make it in 2 shorter days that will be easier on the bikers.  However, to find the needed tubes we will have to go farther tomorrow.

If this all sounds confusing, join the crowd.  We will probably have to go off route to find something tomorrow.  One of the advantages of staying on the prescribed route is that all the bicycle shops are listed for you on the back of the map. 

A note to all the Lions' Club people about the Melvin Jones Memorial.  Bert Miller, our niece Kea's dad and a Lions' Club member, emailed to say that he was sure that I had the wrong name for the town where the memorial is located.  He was right.  It was Fort Thomas not St. Thomas.  Sorry, all you Lions!

Please remember that Dave and Mike are riding for a cause.  Thanks again to those of you who have already contributed to CFOI, CFO and UPT.  Please visit the website for all the information.  We really believe in this lay movement that encourages people all around the world to seek a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through attending camps and retreats.

Love and blessings,

Lana