Day 2

Glad I didn’t bet my life savings on that 30 percent chance of rain.

Left Deming about 7:15 a.m. and within minutes the sprinkles started. That turned to a steady, cold rain with gusty winds for the next 20 miles.

A guy driving a pickup truck hauling some firewood stopped to see if I needed a ride. "Are you intentionally riding in the rain?" he asked. "Well, I'm riding and it's raining," I answered. When he asked if I wanted a ride, I thanked him and said no. "It's OK. Rain is just the luck of the draw. It's part of the bargain."

After 20 miles of riding in the rain, I pulled into a rest stop on U.S. 180. After spending several minutes warming myself with the restroom hand dryers, I got back on the bike and within minutes the rain yielded to a short-lived but very welcome patch of blue sky.

As I approached Hurley, dark skies loomed and I put my jacket back on (next time I hope to remember to bring my rain jacket, not my windbreaker!). Within a minute the rain resumed and suddenly changed to pea-sized hail. My timing was almost spot-on – just a ¼ mile away was a restaurant, the first available shelter in 17 miles.

By the time I parked my bike the hail stopped, but I still stayed for a cup of coffee.

The rain was intermittent, but colder, the final 15 miles, often becoming heavy.

Cindy caught up to me with about 6 miles to go – I dumped some items in my handlebar bag in the car and an extra water bottle (needless to say, hydration was not an issue on this ride). Rode into downtown Silver City around 12:45 p.m. Total of 52 miles for the day. Cindy and I had lunch and she headed back to El Paso. I will be on my own with full touring weight for the next five days.

Downtown Silver City is a great place to hang out. I’m typing this in an internet café with a couple of folk musicians performing. The skies have turned blue again and the forecast for tomorrow (Monday) could not be better: Sunny, highs around 70 and single-digit winds.

Walked about a mile or so to look for dinner. Settled on a place that advertised "Chinese Fast Food." Fried rice and egg rolls would fill me up nicely for Monday's marathon.

Met another biker when I returned later to the internet cafe. He's biking across the country from San Diego to Florida (reminds me of the story, "I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I met a man with no feet"). He's blogging as well: markonabike08.blogspot.com

He mentioned a website, warmshowers.org -- bikers (or biker-friends) who help out touring cyclists by offering a backyard to pitch a tent in or even a warm shower. Mark is riding a Bruce Gordon touring bike that looked impressive.

Blogging is bit addictive! Great thing to do while waiting for bedtime!

Check out the Bikecapade photo album at http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=q0xr8qy.161e7da2&x=0&h=1&y=-t70kx&localeid=en_US