Crossing Continental Divide

Crossing the Continental Divide

Wednesday 22^th May, 2019

Day 12

Location: Gallup to Grants, NM

Distance: 66 miles

Temp: 35 - 62 F  sunny

   Wind: 15 mph in AM,  17 mph, gusting to 25 mph headwind in PM

Cumulative climbing distance:  1,663 ft

 

Today's highlight was crossing the Continental Divide.  I believe this will be our highest elevation on the entire trip. 

 

On an opposite note, today was our worst day for head or semi-head winds.  In the afternoon we had 25 miles that should have been an easy downward grade from the Continental Divide and fairly level ride into Grants.  However, the headwind turned this into an arduous ordeal, which took an extra hour with a myriad of brief stops to rest and refuel on energy bars and drinks.  We were determined to complete the ride and persevered to end.  But the cost was exhaustion as we could barely carry our bikes to our hotel room and both of us took a nap after our showers.  Completing the ride was a major confidence booster.

 

 

 

The Divide.

 

 

 

  Today we traveled from Gallup to Grants.  Both historic Santa Fe railroad towns on the main east-west rail line.

 

 Biked on the historic Route 66 for all but 12 mile on I-40.

 

 

Through western New Mexico and northern Arizona, all major transportation routes, for the last 150+ years, have all followed the same basic route due the mountains and passes.  The Santa Fe rail line at the left (near the utility poles), the historic Route 66, with Judi biking in the distance, and I-40 on the right (note all the trucks) are all running parallel.

 

 

 

Typical red sandstone hills and cliffs in this region of NW.

 

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Note all the truck traffic on I-40 as we biked on the shoulder approaching the Divide and then back to Route 66.

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 At the Divide.

  While we were cold and struggling with the headwind, this snow-capped mountain peak was in our view for 1 hour, which made the ride seem even colder.

 

 Old motel sign as we entered Grants.