Day 55 Lagunitas Camp Ground NM to Hopewell. Lake Campground NM

Another cold night but kept warm by wearing every item of clothing I carried- now everything smells!

Camp mentioned in the guide 1 mile off route, with great views over the Basin. Sadly I didn’t quite make it – instead I wild camped near the turning

Early on, I met Heidi & Kelly, two ladies riding the Divide from Horca to Abiquiu. We chatted on bikes & journey before parting – our paths would cross many times over the next two days.

Shots cycling high in the wild northern NM mountains. Route undulates as passed through forest & desolate open scapes

Despite the few miles covered it wan’t an easy day. Back in Horca, a local had warned me that these dirt road were poor. In plain English, he meant treacherous! This plus a headwind & poor diet made for a very hard day.

Water was a concern for the first time. Today, it should have been plentiful but the NM drought meant dry streams & the two valleys that had water had too many cattle around – so my purified water was kept as last resort only. Even in the campground, water-pumps were turned off. Nearby campers, Jenifer & Joel Subblett, filled my water bottles & invited me to breakfast the following morning!

Heidi Delasantos & Kelly Aldridge in camp

Before retiring, I spent a pleasant hour with Heidi & Kelly chatting & they kindly provided me some me some much needed carbs. Both keen mountain bikers, they had travelled up from Albuquerque to their “back yard” to do a 3 day ride along the Divide down to Abiquiu. As long time friends, had cycled together for many years & completed most of the Divide in small bites. Both enjoyed far more luxuries than me & so packed considerably heavier. Heidi was towing a trailer & Kelly, large side panniers. Though arguably unsuitable for the terrain we were riding, I was to discover they managed the load extremely well, all be it with a small amount of pushing.