April 24 Day 31 cycling Las Cruces to Hillsboro, NM

More north and west wind forecast today so we left a little earlier at 7. Didn’t get to visit any of the sights in Las Cruces, NM’s second biggest city, so will have to return for a visit. Continued to follow the very dry Rio Grande north today crossing it several times to the very large Caballo Reservoir. So many beautiful mountains around Las Cruces/Mesilla and headed north. Beautiful river valley road lined with miles and miles of pecan orchards (mostly flood irrigated in very clay soil) and some vineyards, onion fields and must have been chiles growing somewhere. The cute town of Hatch, NM has a 🌶️ festival every year, and there are 🌶️ and produce processing facilities everywhere.

Then we turned west at the Caballo Reservoir and headed into the mountains and to old NM mining towns. The west wind had picked up as forecast and was quite gusty, too. After a second strong gust almost knocked me over, I turned around and took refuge a hundred yards back in the only shade for miles next to a tourist information sign and texted Jody for a pick up. The guys continued on with some climbing and then a big downhill which was slow due to the wind into this very tiny old mining town of Hillsboro.

Besides the benefit of missing the wind and some more climbing, my plea for a pickup caught Jody just as she was seated in the only tiny cafe in Hillsboro to enjoy a fresh piece of apple pie à la mode! Being the sensational support driver she is, she got my message, asked for the remainder of her pie and ice cream to go, hustled back the 7 miles to me (even though I did tell her not to hurry cuz I was comfortable in the shade with the coolish wind), and once loaded, offered the yummy dessert to me in the car …. like she had gotten it for me!! I inhaled it! Best pie on the trip! How could it not be! 😊 🥧 🍨

On 3 different roads today: 74.7 miles 2047’ for me. 81.7 miles & 2470’ for Tom & Steven. Steven booked us a cute Airbnb called the Sheriff Murphy house.