Palo Duro to Tucumcari

Yesterday was soo cold I wore long underwear on a hike then kept them on inside the van afterwards. I walked 4 miles on the road up canyon to the park office to pay for  camp and today’s admission to the park. $5 per person per day, campsite was $24 paying for water and electric that I only used several minutes of. But I did take 2 hot showers. A park person shared the hiking map and told me of the CCC trail to take instead of the road. I took it making a hiking descent back to Hackberry camp unit where I stayed. Soo cold. I took a shower before dinner, heated shower room. Put the long underwear tops and bottoms back on. Added the wool sweater and Carhart lined jacket. That was to walk back to the van. Empty campground. I ran the propane infra red catalytic heater last night to save battery as the sun lacked intensity to greatly charge the batteries. Heater puts out more heat than the furnace. It is aimed at the back of the passenger seat, some spills over to me at my desk which makes me warmer than the furnace heating the back half of my domicile. I did spread out the 20 degree down bag over the the doubled over down blanket. I used spring camps at the wall side of the sleeping bag to keep it from sliding off. I woke up refreshed albeit a bit toasty. out of bed temp was tolerable 58 degrees. Outside the temps was just under freezing. Last night I felt the air warming. Weather forecast said this would happen plus strong winds.

This morning I planned on riding at 10 till 12, take a shower, then bolt for Tucumcari. I stuck my hand into the freezer and discovered ice build up which was robbing freezing capacity. Still below freezing outside. I plugged in the shore power then turned the fridge to electric and started defrosting consisting of heating the small pot of water to 140 degrees and placing it inside the freezer. Took maybe 20 mins to finally pull off the last ice chunk. And the temp outside hit 32 degrees. Plan was to give it a go, at least ride a bit of Texas dirt.

Tights, heavy wool socks, knickers, long underwear top, heavy long sleeve jersey, wind shell, winter riding gloves and cap. My hands immediately gave bio feedback of put me somewhere warm. I pedaled onward raising muscle heat and my hands joined the rest of the body for a fun ride. I must have ridden Comanche trail down to the end of the park road then returned on green trails back to the van.

Problem with uploading pics.

I allowed myself to get turned around which complicated riding back to the start. Once my internal compass sync’d to the real compass I was good to pedal home. Helped that at the TH a large scale map was posted. I was riding on trails w/ no MTBP track.

I did ride in Texas, my 25th state this year.

Towards the end of my ride the clouds left allowing bright warm sky moving the mercury up. All by myself. I saw 3 mountain sheep (?) scamper up a hillside. They peppered the trail.

The earth here is just dirt with layers of rock mixed in. Very unstable.

Back at the van I turned to to make tracks westward. A shower, put stuff away and rig for travel. I started the engine tow arm up because the transmission slips when cold and right out of the start the road climbed. The tranny still slipped a bit but if I kept my foot into it keeping it in perhaps 2nd gear we made the climb out up the twisty 2 lane black top road. Would not want to be here during events that would loosen hillside rocks.

Up top with internet I found a laundromat in Tucumcari. Once on I 40 it was a straight shot. Right on historic route 66. Clean clothes then a few more blocks west was the grocery store. I remember sleeping in the parking lot of the local airport which is to be my sleep spot tonight. Terminal is still closed but runway lights as is the tower rotating beam are lit. I will be well lit tonight.

It was  53 degrees when I arrived at Tucumcari. I put my sandals back on but left the long pants on.

Tomorrow it is on to Gallup. Forecast is for 10 to 20 mph head wind. Velocity picks up in the evening.

Time zone change meaning I get to live the same hour over again. Now it is 9:40 PM Mountain time, just 40 miles tot he east it is 10:40 and I am tired.

Finished Hiiason’s new novel, Razor Girl, last night. Crazy funny. Kept me engaged while being solitary and no socializing.

Tonight is warmer, 33 degrees. OK, it’s relative. Batteries are good and charged for the blower motor on the furnace. Thel seeping bag is just overhead in case.