Day 70 Silver City NM to Hachita NM

8:15 am – Miles, Dusty & I set off from the Murray Hotel & rode to Hachita, 72 miles to the south. The high mountains were finally behind us, replaced with high desert – mesas & rolling hills.

Miles – climbing out of Silver City

The 40 mile stretch of clay road between White Signal & Separ was dry enough to ride on without too much difficulty & we were back on to gravel & metalled roads before the new rains had time to deteriorate.

Dusty on the clay roads

Crickets here are big & plentiful

Often seen staggering on the trail. This fellow is about 50mm!

Lunched at Separ, a huge store that tries to sell everything – about 20 staff & hardly any customers.

1st sign showing Antelope Wells & journey’s end

Another Divide Crossing on route to Hachita

Dusk & best light as we approach Hatchita

Today, Hachita was having bi-annual reunion – past & present residents reunited at the community centre – eat & drink home cooked food & weird, potent brews, dance & reminisce. Divide riders were present in force & were made very welcome. Poor weather (recent & future) had funnelled about dozen of us together &, on this night, some more than others, made our mark. Karey Todd was in her element & ma great ambassador for our group – chatting & dancing with one & all.

I accepted a bed for the night from Shuttle organiser, Jeff Sharp, he had promised a hot shower &, 1 mile west of the noise, a quite night’s sleep. I found it at the end of the worst dirt road of the entire ride – a most unexpected challenge which left my bike & packs in caked in clay.