The temperature’s been dropping daily and we’re off to a cold start to the Cibola Forests. About 50 miles from Socorro, it’s a climb up and over hills to the Plains of Agustin (correct spelling) which is vast and beautiful, 50 miles by 20 at 7000′. Antelope, hare/rabbit things, very bloody cold and flat. Smack in the middle of this enormous plain is the Very Large Array.
There were also some dirt roads.
After leaving the Plains it’s through more hills and into the Cibola forests. Not so much a forest, but trees where there have been none for days.
Looking back towards the Plains.
And into Pie Town. More a tiny village and named after the apple pies they made in the 20’s. Yup, another oddball name, like Truth Or Consequences, NM. The cafe where they originally made the pies still sells them as they were.
Down the road a bit, a more typical building. There’s no-one to be seen. As usual.
And then a 100 miles down, past a sandstone escarpment to San Raphael and Grant’s.
Ride notes: Stop and add insulation and winter gloves when I first need them, not later.