Day 9--Sun. Oct. 25--Hatch, NM 101 miles

Today was a day Dave Ryder has been dreading. Biking up to over 8200 ft. We and many others were praying that God would strengthen us for this task. And it turned out to be Ryder's best day biking yet. He was in the lead for most of the day and all the way up the mountain. God surely must have put some wings on his feet. We rode for 101 miles from Silver City, NM to Hatch, NM--the Chile capital of the World.
Our ride from Silver City to the top of Emory Pass, 8228 ft. was 40 miles and took us 3 hours and 20 minutes. Almost all uphill. We left at 7 am when it was barely light out and cold, 40 degrees. We wanted to finish by 3:30 so we could check in to a motel, take a shower, and change, as we had plans to eat out in the old part of Las Cruces with my first foster family--Dennis and Loretta Worthington. They live in Alamorgordo, NM about 70 miles away.
We were able to finish by 3:30, and had a lovely time with the Worthington's. They treated us out to a very fine Italian restaurant. Then after the meal, Loretta gave all us a massage with her "happy hearts", which she always carries with her. It really felt good after a long, hard day of cycling.
After cycling down the mountain into the valley, we rode through many fields of red chile peppers, cotton, alfalfa, lettuce, pumpkin, and pecan orchards.
The second half of the bike ride we had the wind against us most of the time, which really made it hard to keep up a good pace. But despite that we were able to finish in our earliest time yet--PTL!
Well, tomorrow we head to El Paso, TX. This will be Dave Ryder's last day of biking with me. He will surely be missed. He helps to challenge me and sets a good pace. He will fly home from El Paso on Tues. morning. But he plans join me to finish the last 3 days of my trip across America when I bike across Florida and end in St. Augustine sometime the middle of Nov.
Well, it is getting late and need to get to bed. Got to get up early and drive back to Hatch where we left off, some 30 miles away, since there was no motel there, we are staying in Las Cruces tonight.
Good night everyone and God bless!