Last Leg in Lordsburg

I traveled for a month now, and I did and saw some things and met people I'll always remember. But the last day of riding was a day of reckoning for me: I had another flat tire, but it was on the trailer this time - I didn't think I'd ever have to worry about that, and I wasn't prepared for it, i.e. I didn't have a spare or any way to fix it really. I had my first wipe out, coming around a corner into Lordsburg. I was tired after the morning's ride and leaned into the turn too hard, landing on a pile of gravel head first, my neck was pretty raw afterward. I was tired because the heat was becoming oppressive, climbing into the high 90's/low 100's again, and knowing that I have to cross the Divide in this heat was weighing on me. It wasn't much higher than Lordsburg, around 4500' to 5000', I think, but it was more than I thought I could do in the heat. I'm tired, of the heat, and waking up at 5:30 in the morning, and being thirsty, and thinking of the 600 or 700 miles of desert and hot Texas plains to come.

So for this time around, the dream came to an end. In hindsight, I made some mistakes, primarily leaving too late in the season. I should have left San Francisco in the very beginning of April, or even late March. I talked to bikers who thought I would be fine, but I don't think any of them had ever attempted the trek. I had some bad luck with an early heat wave and unseasonably hot weather, but an extra month would have helped me avoid most of the heat. I should have brought less gear - there's no way I'll pull a trailer behind me the next time. The next trip will involve a minimum of gear carried in in bags on panniers, or maybe I can even convince someone to follow me in a car - it would be ideal to carry nothing but water bottles and a wallet on the next trip.

I look forward to the next trip, whenever it may be, but this trip ended with me sapped in Lordsburg, New Mexico, with a deflated trailer tire, a swollen, bruised neck, and a wounded ego, in a KOA (Kampgrounds of America.) I sifted through my things, trying to keep out of the desert sun under a wooden picnic shelter while deciding what I could keep and what I had to abandon, just me and the occasional jackrabbit. I managed to get a Greyhound ticket out of town, from a station behind the local McDonald's, and I knew space for luggage would be limited. So, clothes check, camera check, toiletries check. Trailer, no, bike, no. The last time I saw my bike it was sitting under a sign at the campground, "Please come again." There was no room for it on the bus, and I couldn't find anyone who wanted a road bike, i.e. jackrabbits and sparrows don't ride bikes. Hopefully a passing camper will see it and get some use out of it some day.

I'd like to thank everyone who read the blog and followed my rambling to its conclusion, and thanks for all the positive feedback. I had planned to write a book after my adventure was complete, though I think that's not likely to happen now since I cut my journey short. But it's good to know that lots of you enjoyed my entries and wanted more, so the next time maybe I'll have a books worth of material. Sorry it took so long to finish, I've been distracted while I adjust to life in Maine.

Thanks again to everyone, and if you would like to keep in touch, please feel free to write to me anytime, davidladd1@hotmail.com.

Happy rambling to all.