Date(s): Oct. 10, 1999
Day: Sunday
From: Las Cruces, NM
To: El Paso, TX
Lodging: Mesa Inn Motel
Segment Mileage: 59.3
Cumulative Mileage: 1122.7
Actual Riding Time: 4:08
Average Speed: 14.2
Weather: Sunny, mild
Temp: mid 80's
Today was another relatively flat, easy ride into Texas. My last memory of New Mexico is miles of pecan trees lining the road, all the way from Las Cruces to just before El Paso. Before leaving Las Cruces I decided to ride through the city, as we had only skirted the edge before looping south to the RV park. On the way into town, one of the staff at the restaurant where we took Cyndi for her birthday drink the night before, waved as she pulled out of her driveway. I had talked the staff into serving us some chips and salsa even though the kitchen was closed. While waiting I told them about our trip and our walk to get to the place, and they offered to give us a ride back to the RV park once we were finished with our drinks, another example of how friendly and helpful most people have been to us.
Las Cruces is a small college town, home of New Mexico State Unversity. As I rode south to join the route, I saw a purse fly off the top of a car. I went back to retreive it, but couldn't catch the car to tell them about it. The university was nearby, so I found the police station and gave it to them.
We are staying at the Mesa Inn, AKA the 'Bates Motel', but it seems to be an OK place, at least from the outside. I'm waiting for Bob and Tod, who are rolling in as I type. I'll give them their key and head to my room that I will be sharing with Oliver.
[Later] The motel is OK; not the best but it should do for the next 2 days, although I can think of better places for a layover day. Tonight we get a break from cooking and will eat out at a restaurant near the motel. We're all making plans for our free day tomorrow. Some will go to Carlsbad Caverns, which is a 2 1/2 hour drive away. Even though I wanted to see them, I don't care for the 5 hour round trip so will probably go into downtown El Paso, and perhaps take the trolley across to Mexico with some of the others who are not going to the caverns. Several people need to find a bike shop for new tires, tubes, patch kits, etc. There are said to be no bike shops between here and Del Rio, 440 miles away (nor much of anything else), so the bikes need to be in good condition. I'm looking forward to a rest from riding and from setting up and taking down the tent.
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