Springer NM to Dulce NM is a mountain ride you will never forget. What is that famous line; There is no easy way. If you have never used the down hills on a long-distance to recuperate, you will need to on this ride as it is a living hell of up and down hills, sharp corners and unfortunately a little road construction as well. There are also burned out fire areas, which actually resemble what hell might look like and if you ride off one of those clips you might just find out? We start out in Springer NM and travel North for our warm up miles and turn left to go West on highway 58 to Cimerron, NM where we pick up Highway 64 for our trek across New Mexicos toughest terrain. The folks in this part of New Mexico are some of the nicest people in America and it must be the American Indian mixed cultures, they are truly great Americans indeed. Cimerron was your wake up call and you have ridden only 14 miles, but you are already feeling the pain in your legs. Get use to it. Twenty-five more miles and we are in the small tourist town of Eagles Nest and the terrain all around us now makes sense to such a name. Fifteen more miles and we are in Angle Fire and we need a rest, but it is not wise to rest now, we have so much more to go. So we sip from our water bottles at the next hill crest, try to hyperventilate ourselves, as the air is much thinner up here and then feel the rush of breeze as we cycle our pedals and loosen those muscles, but pay attention, high speeds will wear out our brakes and there is not a bike shop within 125 miles. We can rest in Taos, a tourist ritzy town only 20 more miles and two more hills; up and down again. Wouldnt be nice if the map showed us those in advance? Maybe not, we may decide not to go? Yes, that is a thought isnt it? Well, all the Yuppies come up to us and ask us how far we are going and almost choke on the Lattes when we tell them Coast-to-Coast and once we get done with these hills, it is almost all down hill from here. The rest are pussycat foothills compared to this elevation. Hard to believe there is civilization way up here? Interesting. Even somewhat sparsely populated, I can see why the Indians chose this area to live. Well 45 miles until the next hair raising set of mountains, hope we have the energy for them. How long does this Highway 64 go for again, we stop at yet another cross roads to look at the map. One hell of a long way is the answer, which comes to mind. We finally reach the ominous canyon road area and more of this for the next 35 miles and then some more breathtaking beauty and breath-taking hill climbs too. We are not quite half-way on the day and it is already well into the afternoon so we better get a move on. We try to pick up the pace, this lasts about 10-miles and we are beat to hell. More highway intersections, one leads to a lake and yet we are not going anywhere near it, but occasionally we can see it in the distance. The map says it is; Lake Heron, yah a smaller version, thats nice, I am thirsty. Only 50 more miles, but my legs are history and I pray for just one more downhill to rejuvenate myself, luckily rumor has it that there are two more moderate ones and one good downgrade, bad news there are three inclines two and they add up to 3,000 feet. And you thought you could handle this? This truly is what separates the men from the boys and We Will Not Quit! |
