Albuquerque is a huge city with lots of everything. Including lots to do! The airport served us well. Many different airlines fly in & out here - but we used only Southwest and Northwest to get people into and out of here. Before driving home I had the car fully serviced, including my brakes changed as the experience in the Gila National Forest sort of did them in! I drove almost exactly 14,000 miles RT over the 3 months I was gone from home. Beth was done a few days ahead of her flight out of Albuquerque, so we did several things in the area - including bike the nice trail along the Rio Grande River, visited the nature center adjacent to the river trail, went to the Aquarium, Reptile Museum and Botanical Gardens, hiked through the Petroglyph National Monument - all very worthwhile!!
Even with the price of gas, this was definitely an adventure of a lifetime that I highly recommend. It is certainly nice for the support vehicle to have 2 drivers and for the rider to have a biking companion. Unfortunately we couldn't always have that, but we did OK. I can't imagine a biker doing this trip without a 4-wheel drive support vehicle, but I know its done.
We learned many things from this adventure.
#1 - We live in an amazingly beautiful country and we saw sights that most people will never experience.
#2 - We survived "roughing it" without refrigeration and did just fine. Although if I never eat another MRE, that will be OK!
We lived without a daily shower often and wore clothes more than once (or 3 or 5 times)and it was just fine!! Its OK to be dirty in the wilds!
#3 - Montana and New Mexico virtually tied for our favorite State - although we had an extraordinary amount of unexpected rain in both. Luckily we were never rerouted by fire - it came to areas after we were through them.
#4 - Be flexible and keep a sense of humor!!
#5 - Have a method other than a phone for communicating with one another. Notes on Stop signs worked well for us.
#6 - Although the ride is divided into over 70 days by Adventure Cycling, Beth actually rode only 52 days of the 67 days she spent along the trail. She averaged 48 miles a day and pulled a 70 lb, BOB most of the time. Days off really need to be figured into the equation for both mental and physical health!! So much to see & do along the way!!
#7 - Be well educated on the trip before you go. We planned & planned for over a year, and brought along a lot of gear, but I can't think of anything we didn't use! Some of the things that people may not bring that we used a lot - a hammer with tines (for tent stakes and good for mud clearing), a garden trowel (for all those primative free camping sites), 2 extra bikes, laptop computer and car charger for it - the charger also charged our batteries for the cameras, lots of dry foods (fruits, jerky, nuts, etc.), laundry soap, a plastic dish pan, & a clothesline, the State Gazetteers that were invaluable, lots & lots of plastic bags (we collected rocks, bones, used them for wet gear, etc.) of all sizes!
#8 - You will eat more than you usually do and still lose weight! Outside and active burns a lot of calories.
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1 comment:
Jan,
This is a voice from the past. I am Jim Summers, who Beth, you and her father met on the Divide route in 2005 after South Pass City. I am still out there doing segments on the Divide, losing some years due to knee replacement and other "life" things. Have made it to Del Norte, CO so far. I am still writing up my stories for the segments and was reading the 2005 report again. I still have fond memories of all of you.
I wondered how Beth is? She was a young woman then and I suspect has gone on to start a family now. I hope all that goes well or that whatever she does or has done goes well. My daughter is now 18 and leaving for college in Wisconsin Aug 18th!
I'd be happy to hear from you and of course, from her too. JimSummers@austin.rr.com. This is unchanged from 2005.
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