Day 15: Kingston NM to Las Cruces NM

We finished todays ride just short of Las Cruces NM camping in Prehistoric National Monuments Park.  Another big kudos to Sandy for hunting out a great spot.  The wind that was in my face all day has died down and we are ready to settle in for the night. 

Another fantastic camp site thanks to Sandy
I had to show a picture of the bike

This morning started with a great breakfast at the B&B, then some work.  Ended up the owners need some help to move in a new bed mattress.  It was a fun little job and great way to get to know Gary.  After some discussion with Catherine on solar stuff we took the traditional daily picture and I headed on my way.   If anyone is Kingston, NM I would highly recommend a night or two stay at the Black Range Lodge. 

Highly recommended and great host.
Black Rang Lodge

There is not much to say about todays ride.  I got it all wrong in my preparation.  The profile looked downhill – wrong.   I was expecting a side wind all day that end up being a head wing.  The imaginary downhill did nothing to help.  The scenery heading down the mountain was great.  

Once I hit the flat lands it looked the same going across the desert then turned to farmland all the way to Las Cruces.  One of the interesting parts of the day was navigating a road closure.  Early on Route 187 the road was close.  After some waving and sad looks the work crew let me walk across the construction site to the other side.  It was not really a big deal, but I understand the need for safety.  I am thankful they let me through, I could not figure out an alternative route.  The best name town award is below!

OK, I give up who names a town
Truth or Consequences, sounds like a board game.

Thanks for letting me through...

The weather today was complicated.  Early on the temperature was cold in the 30’s and the ride downhill, so I need to dress for this.  By the end of the ride the temperatures pushed 70F but the head wind and riding into it made it feel much cooler.  I left my windbreaker on all day and was comfortable.

Today’s ride stats:

 Start Time:    9:15 AM Mountain Time    Finish Time:  4:18 PM Mountain Time    

Elapse Time:  7 Hr. 3 Min.                          Ride Time:  5 Hr. 51 Min.

Distance: 82.7 Miles                                    Average Speed: 14.1 mph

Climbing/Descent: 1624/3736 Ft.             TSS: 156

Average Power: 149 Watts                        Normalized Power:  162 Watts

Calories:  3140                                           Ave/Max HR: 119/137 bpm

For food and drink today, I ate 2 cliff bars and a bunch of Bloks.  I met Sandy just before the 50+ miles to town and had my daily ham sandwich and banana.  For drink, I had a bunch of water at lunch and emptied all 3 of my water bottles. 

Tomorrow we will be in Texas.  The ACA route give an option to ride around El Paso to the north.  We will take this route and find a campsite east of town.  Weather will be very windy tomorrow so we are hoping camping will work.