Day 61 - Section 6A - New Mexico
09/24/06
Improvised Camp Site, NM 15m to Improvised
Camp Site, NM 74m = 59 miles
Ponderosa Forest in Gila National Forest
 We broke camp a bit late. It had rained
last night and the tent was soaked. It was still cloudy
and it looked like it may rain this morning so I packed
a wet tent.
Spencer’s friend wanted to travel solo
again so Spencer and I took off. We traveled through
some amazing countryside. It started as a bleak desert
ride and ended in a beautiful forest of
 ponderosa and
pinion pine trees. Beautiful doesn’t even come close to
describing the area. I was riding high on life through
this section.
We passed by what looked like an old
school or church that must have been built in the 1800’s
and was made from mud and rocks with a timber roof.
 Tonight was very relaxing. We had a very
nice campfire and ate well. Before we retired for the
evening we listened to an elk herd making all sorts of
rutting noises. The herd must have been less than 100
yards from camp.
I would have to say the Gila National Forest is one of
the nicer parts of the ride.
Day 62 - Section 6A - New Mexico
09/25/06
Improvised Camp Site 74 m to Black Canyon
Campground 125 m = 51 miles
Amazingly Beautiful
 This morning I woke up in a dense 4 foot
high blanket fog. It looked very surreal and peaceful.
By 7am we hit the trail and it was a fantastic morning
and a great time to be riding. Everything about this
morning was fantastic.
We tanked up with two days worth of
water at the Beaverhead Work Center. So far most of
water sources
 along this section have either been dry or
really nasty looking so I have been caring extra water.
My BOB trailer felt like I was towing a ton back there.
Water is so heavy and having a blown trailer shock makes
the trailer bounce and really hard to control.
In the afternoon we climbed up some
fairly steep terrain which leveled out after an hour.
Later we had an awesome stream crossing. I decided to
walk across it barefoot because it looked to rocky to
ride through. Spencer thought he could ride across it
and was rewarded with wet shoes.
The terrain is so lush. I just can’t
believe I am in New Mexico at the end of summer.
We setup camp at the Black Canyon
designated campground. This is my last night camping and what
timing. I am down to the last of all my meals. I
finished off my last dinner tonight. Tomorrow I will
finish off my breakfast and lunch meals.
We talked for awhile around a nice
campfire and went to sleep.
Day 63 - Section 6A - New Mexico
09/26/06
Black Canyon Campground 125m to Silver City
180m = 55 miles
The Last Ride
 Spencer was in a hurry to make it into
Silver City so he took off immediately after breakfast.
I took more leisurely pace because this was my last day
on the trail and I wanted to remember it.
The trail this morning was mostly up
hill and it weaved through an amazing forest. I wish we
stayed at Rocky Canyon Campground last night
 instead. It
was much nicer than the Black Canyon Campground we
stayed at.
I encountered at least a dozen stream
crossings that were not mention on the route map.
Although there was only a small amount of water running at the time,
these crossings were still tricky to
 cross because of all the cobblestones and deep sand. This section would be really
bad to ride after a good rain. It was apparent that the
water line can get as high as 4-feet.
After HW 35, the trail was very dry,
dusty and, hot. It was not too much fun at near 100
degrees.
 HW 152 and HW 180 going into Silver City were
the pits. Super heavy traffic and there were a dozen
rolling hills. Once I was in Silver City I met up with
Spencer at the bike shop. We share a
motel room at the Cozy 8 and the room was the pits! It
was $79 a night and it was one of worst hotels I have
ever
 stayed at.
Tomorrow, my wife will come pick me up.
It is hard for me to imagine that I am finished.
I thought about going all the way to the border but I
don't feel like ride in the 100+ degree heat through a
sandy, thorn infested, and bleak looking desert just so
I can say I road to Mexico. Silver City is good enough
to call it done.
Day 64 - Section 6A - New Mexico
09/27/06
Silver City 180m = 0 miles
The Day After
My wife came and picked me up and I was
so happy to see her again my eyes teared up and I had a
lump in my throat.
Spencer called me and told me he got a
bunch of flats after Silver City and the trail was very
soft and sandy.
After hearing his story I was glade I
stayed here.
The End -
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