New Mexico

The weather has definitely turned against us (after ten weeks of mostly clear days)! The forecast for New Mexico was a week of thunderstorms, torrential rain, flash flooding and strong southerly winds. The six-day section from Grants to Silver City is impassable when wet, like most of New Mexico's dirt roads. Unfortunately, we needed every day we had left to complete the ride, which was to include the southern tier alternative to El Paso, rather than to Antelope Wells. We agonised over the options and finally decided to hire a car and explore some of the tourist sights, which we missed during the ride. The weather forecast for Arizona was looking great!

This sign is where the trail continues from Grants......

...... and this is what we would have looked like if we continued. They were from "Bike Dream", a supported group which rode the Great Divide trail in 47 days. Imagine camping like this for five nights without a shower!

Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/TheGreatDivideExpedition/photos/pcb.1331866676923507/1331865223590319/?type=3&theater

A Navajo family gave us a lift to Albuquerque, where we picked up our car. It was lovely to chat during the trip and learn about their culture and way of life.
The old town of Albuquerque has gorgeous adobe houses and a lot of chilli hanging out to dry.

There are so many National Parks and Monuments in the area, it was hard to pick a route to see them all. Our first stop was El Malpais National Monument, a large area of lava flows, cinder cones, lava tubes and caves, surrounded by smooth sandstone cliffs.

The reliable waterhole at El Morro National Monument has been an oasis for travellers for centuries. Native Americans, Spanish explorers, missionaries, American soldiers and pioneers have left over 2,000 carvings in the smooth sandstone walls. On top of the mesa are the ruins of a 14th century pueblo.

This is called the woodpecker rock. It is barely holding on!