Day 56 Hopewell. Lake Campground NM to Abiquiu NM

My thanks to Jenifer & Joel Subblett for the breakfast – just what I needed! Look forward to hearing from you.

I set off before the two ladies but with intentions of meeting up on route or in Abiquiu. From here they had offered to drop me at the bike shop in Santa Fe, 45 miles away.

Todays ride was in two parts. The morning was undulating around 9000ft

Morning ride in NM mountains

Old pioneers homestead. – the area has been occupied since the later 1800s, this basic, isolated home is likely to be less than 120 years old.

Attractive ranch above located on the treacherous road, many miles from absolutely anywhere!

Last serious climb of the day along FR44, out of Vallecitos up through smouldering forests

The afternoon was a descent to NM “lowlands” – a rugged landscape of buttes & desert.

Looking south, first sight of NM beyond the forests – on the horizon, the outline of the mountains to be encountered on my next ride day – to be the last before the gradual loss in elevation & Grants

Pretty soon in the descent, it is very clear you are no longer in Colorado! With it, my first realisation as to how far I’ve travelled.

First stop – a cold Dr Pepper in the village of El Rito. Very Mexican with a great little restaurant & galleries selling local art. Very touristy & quite a shock after so much isolation.

Photos of final descent to Abiquiu

Reminder that NM is part of USA but very much Mexican is spirit – Easy to overlook if you travel to the major cities

Heidi & Kelley arrived early evening & I informed them I would skip Sante Fe in the hope that my duct-taped shoe would hold out. Another sad goodbye. I’m hoping to stay in touch & may well see Heidi’s sister in UK – she will be very welcome!

The evening was spent with Scott Harris, professional steel guitar player & his partner. Both had lost loved ones in recent years & were working on rebuilding their lives. Both had withdrawn from “normal” work to focus on what they saw as most important.

Check out Scott’s group – Chris Arellano y Nuevo Americana