Southern Tier: Virtual Tour Into New Mexico and Across to Texas

In New Mexico I am on Mountain Time. The third state on the trip.

I did not realize this. Glad that there is a marker to remember what our country did.

The temperatures were in the 80s which is much better than the many days near 100.  The first ten miles on today's ride was gradual gain and then we had shorter rollers.  Later in the ride we had a stiff headwind.

Lordsburg is a town of around 3000.

We are about 700 miles from LA and this has long been a popular overnight stop for travelers. Currently there are 13 motels with over 300 rooms available.  In the mid 20th century this was one of the few places in the area that accepted black guest.  El Paso was another spot for black travelers to find a room.

The Continental Divide Trail starts SE of here at the Mexican border.

On this section you can ride on the shoulder of the Interstate Highway. Does that sound like fun?

We crossed the Continental Divide. I do not think that we will see this again until we are much further east.

A city of almost 15,000.

in 1881 this was the meeting place of the second transcontinental railroad. There are two wineries in the area.  Agriculture and transportation are the mainstays of the economy now. Two state parks are close and sound interesting.  City of Rocks has many rock formations and at Rockhound park you may see many different minerals.

The attraction of Akela.

The first places started in 1946; combined and went with a cute theme of the old west town.

Again some time on the Interstate. Debris on the shoulder can cause flats. (wire from steel belted truck tires)

The Rio Grande

The routes are mostly flat.

Las Cruses with the mountains in the background.

Las Cruses has 111,000 people and is the largest city in southern NM. It is the home of NM State University. The White Sands Test Facility and Missile Range are close by. 

Going down to El Paso we are near the Rio Grande that serves as the state border.

We passed by cotton fields.

We also passed pecan orchards.

I am now through NM and that is the 3rd state of this virtual tour.  I have covered 880 miles.  I now enter Texas and below you see the position at the red dot.  I have a long way until Louisiana.