Trace The Mitten
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog

Happenings, Reflections, Ideas, Analysis

TRACE THE MITTEN

A long stretch without towns day 63

7/31/2020

0 Comments

 
Comfortable weather today.  The humidity feels better. The wind is not bad.  I looked at the map and see  that miles north, too many for a side trip, is Philmont Scout Ranch.  As a Boy Scout I went backpacking through the trails.  I would trace this back to be the origins of an outing like this tour.
Picture
My route now will follow Interstate 40.  For some years Route 66 went north to hit Santa Fe and come down to Albuquerque to miss the mountains east of  the city.    Exits of the interstate will give me food, but I probably will need to sleath camp.
Picture
The peak shown here is the "Tooth of Time" the primary photo spot for Philmont Scout Ranch near  Cimarron .  The ranch covers 140,177 acres of the Sangre De Cristo mountains of the Rockies.  I loved being able to hike there.  I loved the sense of adventure and being outside.  I continue this with my bike travels.  It is easier for me to load my gear on my bike than put it on my back.  
Picture
They said "Bikers Welcome" so I took them up on it. You can see all the gear that I am carrying and my laundry drying. I use those sticks for my tent poles.
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Out in no ones land, but i am here enjoying it

7/29/2020

0 Comments

 
We have a lot of undeveloped land in Michigan, my home, and I see that here.  There is arid land and I wonder what can they grow here.   This what I found out.  For our US consumption  we get their wheat, beans, corn and sorghum.  Hay is another dry land crop that works here. In some areas you find onions, potatoes, dairy, sheep, cattle, cotton, poultry and eggs.  Their warm climate can produce sugarcane, tomatoes, bananas, mangoes, avocados, blue agave, coffee and pecans.    Great to hear they can grow so many crops and plants in different places in the state of New Mexico.
Picture
Corn.
Picture
Chile peppers.
Picture
The remains of the Mission of Saint Rosa.
Picture
Farewell to Santa Rosa. I always enjoy getting to a little bigger town.
Picture
Santa Rosa Lake State Park.
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

In santa rosa, nm and loving it

7/28/2020

0 Comments

 
Santa Rosa (Saint Rose) has more water than some of the areas around.  In this state you can see the repeated influence of the Spanish settlers. The Pecos River flows through and there are some artesian springs.  The humidity level today is 63% which can be uncomfortable for my breathing.
Picture
Picture
The Blue Hole is 80 ' deep and 60' wide.  Sixty-two degrees will take your breath away.  A steady source keeps it fresh.
Picture
Still have some unique places in Santa Rosa.
Picture
Back in the busy days. Look at all those buses!
Picture
Not quite the same now.
Picture
0 Comments

pleased with the progress-day 61

7/27/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
The elevation increase is gradual and the west wind of 7 mph is not bad. Eighty four degrees is not too bad either. The Continental Divide is still 200 miles west and I know I will gain elevation as I proceed.
Picture
I enjoy riding the shoulder on a divided highway like this.  There is plenty of space to keep me from traffic and most vehicles will move to the left when they pass. The big problem of the shoulder is the debris.  Watch out for bits of metal.  The steel belts in truck tires are troublesome.   Always carry a tire patch kit, extra tubes and on a long trip like this I will bring an spare tire. The nearest bike shop ahead is in Santa Fe.
Picture
Many of the towns that I have seen started as the Rock Island railroad came through and eventually it connected with the Union Pacific. Now the Rock Island company is a small shell of what it used to be.  As highways developed the trucking industry took over more and more freight hauling.  Fewer trains  and  diesel engines meant less reasons to stop in some of these small towns and this effected their fate. When Route 66 started  in 1926 it was a dirt road and did not get the first pavement until the mid 1930s.  Once roads were paved this allowed for increased truck traffic and provided greater route flexibility for transporting goods.   Intercity bus routes helped to move people without cars.
Picture
0 Comments

through newkirk toward Cuervo, Nm. day 60

7/26/2020

0 Comments

 
Here I am in warm, make that hot, New Mexico.  It was 94 degrees in Michigan today, so is this any worse? Today the wind was from a westerly direction and I was fighting it most of the time.  The road goes between the higher ground on either side. 
Picture
Picture
Glad to stay on the level ground and not up and down the hills. I like to see the cloud formations while I ride.
Picture
No motels near here, so let's enjoy another night in the open range. This area was used for cattle for many years.
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

A short day-going only a little further

7/24/2020

0 Comments

 
 I only went 13.9 miles today. 87 degrees.  Wind SSE @ 7. That is a comfortable day enjoying the beautiful colors. Also enjoy the open sky at night too.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The open land gave nice options to enjoy the land.
Picture
You never see this many stars. The ambient light that we are so used to in the city. You just drop your jaw.
Picture
I get a great view of the sky. In Michigan we have dew settle on the tent at night, but here it is drier in the morning. I can put a tarp up if the dew will set. This is a photo of my bug bivy.   The bottom is waterproof and the pole keeps the netting off your face.  There is not much other room, beyond the  mummy bag.  I have a pocket for my glasses and flashlight  I got this to keep the bugs off and out in the desert who knows what else may want to crawl over or in your sleeping bag  (snakes, scorpions, and ?).
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author

    I love my riding days and look to find interesting and informative items to share.

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    September 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Lands End To John O' Groats
    MUP
    Pacific Coast Highway
    Route 66 Virtual Tour
    Sites During Rides
    Tour Prep
    Upper Peninsula
    Virtual Tour Yellowstone

    Pacific Coast Highway
    ​MUP

    RSS Feed

Home  |   About  |  Contact  |  Blog  |  Gallery  |  Links  |  Tours  |  Rides   
Trace the Mitten - Footer Icons
Proudly powered by Weebly
TraceTheMitten.com © 2014
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Gallery
    • Michigan Lighthouses
    • Historic Sites
    • Day Rides >
      • Michigan
      • Indiana
      • City Signs
    • Tours >
      • Trace the Mitten 2011
      • Trace the Mitten 2012
      • Great Lakes Relaxed
      • Great Lake to Lake Inaugural
      • Michigander 2017
      • Michigander 2018
      • Michigander 2019
    • Equipment
  • Links
  • Blog