We Got Guts!

Day 14

Silver City over Emory Pass to Hillsboro (actually Truth or Consequences)

Today started out at 27 degrees with a wind chill of 19 degrees, I was glad to have been in a motel for that! Started late to allow for the temperature to rise a bit-this was a big day-the day I take on Emory Pass, all 8,230 feet of it.

Dad (Safety and Support) and I went for breakfast while waiting for the temperature to rise. We found this little cafe called Grandma's Cafe in Silver City. It is a well decorated little place run by mom and her daughter. They have run this place for 21 years. The food was great and it is all cooked by mom herself. I had french toast, eggs, sausage, bacon, and toast. Good start to a big day!

Went and checked out of the motel, and finally hit the road. The ride started with gently rolling hills, and a few good climbs. I had an awesome downhill, into a really scenic valley. I stopped for a couple of pictures, and when I was about to get going I noticed a burr in my front tire. I pulled it out and all was well. I started off again, went about 2 miles and realized my tire was going flat. I stopped and changed the tire and realized I was at the base of the Emory Pass climb.

This is to be the highest point of the journey across the southern tier, I was actually looking forward to this, and getting excited to make it to the top. It was a long and winding ride up. The ride offer a stream running almost the whole way, snow, and camping areas throughout the climb. The views were awe inspiring and took my breath away. The sights kept me so busy that when I reached the top it hardly felt like work at all!

The views from the top were incredible, you can see for many, many miles. the view included mesas and buttes, valley's and hills, and a great view of the descent I was about to undertake (8 miles worth)I soaked up the sights got some pictures and was off to Hillsboro. I still don't know how I did not wear out my brake pads on the way down. It was very curvy and fast, and when I finally hit Hillsboro I was amazed, confused, and freaked out that what I thought was a town we were to stay in looked as if it were a ghost town. I rode through town and found no lodging, so it was off to plan "B", a motel in Truth or Consequences, 20 miles to the north. We loaded up the bike ans drove to T or C (as it is written on the signs, for a well deserved rest!

The really fun Garmin data for the day is as follows:

Day 14 Silver City - over Emory Pass- Hillsboro by wegotguts at Garmin Connect - Details