Day 61 - On To Lamesa

Friday, October 29, 2010

Boy did I sleep well last night! This place was a good one, and after the cotton trucks stopped for the evening, it was really quiet. I was awake around 6, but didn't get up for an hour or so because it won't be light until 8. By 8 I was packed and ready to go. I usually start out with lots of clothes on, including gloves, but once the sun is up I start shedding them. By 10 or so, it's getting nice and warm.

Today was a beautiful day weather wise, but unless you like cotton, not much scenery. Cotton trucks running from the fields to the gin and back. Most of them have seen me for a couple of days, so usually toot at me as they pass. Even that small gesture makes the day nicer. Occasionally I would see an oil well in the distance, but not many. I saw two formations of geese fly over, but not any water I can see out here. Maybe migrating somewhere further south?

I still didn't know how far I was from Lamesa, but hoped I could get there today. A day like today (think I've said this already) is nice in its own way.........good weather, good road, little traffic, and plenty of supplies.The secret to long walking is to get the mind to go away for a while, and just leave you alone. I loved today, but not quite sure why. Before long I starting seeing signs of civilization....such as discarded fast food bags! Not long after that, Lamesa loomed in the distance. And shortly after, I am in the convenience store sucking down an icee. The woman in the store told me there was a public park nearby where people camp, so I am going to try that this evening.

I was headed to McDonald's to use their wi-fi, but spotted a Best Western Hotel, and they were kind enough to allow me to use theirs. So, that's where I am as I post this entry. Will fill you in on the rest of today on tomorrow's post.

Two road signs that are usually good news for walkers:

1) Truck lane ends xxxxx feet: truck lanes are usually there because of a steep uphill grade. When they end, the grade is going away. Walkers like that.

2) Reduce speed ahead: many times this indicates you are approaching a congested area, or coming into a town......both which usually mean places to rest and buy supplies.

About the picture above: I passed this house where the front yard was almost completely covered with these white rocks. I thought about when our children were young, this would have been a perfect "keep out of trouble" chore for them. They could pick them up and stack in a pile, and while they slept, I would scatter for the next day! Then, would have told them the ground grew more rocks. I promise you.......our children NEVER said they were bored.

Day 60 - To Seminole and Beyond

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Brrrrrr….was it ever cold last night. Totally unexpected (by me at least) because yesterday was such a nice day. I woke up around 6, but because of the time change, the sun didn’t come up until after 8. I guess being on the extreme western side of the central time zone causes that. On the other hand, it stays light longer in the afternoon. As soon as it was light enough, I headed for Seminole. Not quite sure how far that is, but don’t think it’s too far, so I should get a good start toward Lamesa today.

On the way into Seminole, I passed what could be called a castle, but most likely is called a house out here. Huge place, the kind rich and famous people own. Not your typical Seminole house. I am told a farmer owns it....not your typical farmer. After I couple of miles I was in Seminole, and soon those “golden arches“ came into view. I stopped in McDonald's for breakfast, and while there used their wi-fi to update the blog. Also stopped by the convenience store for ice and a few things. Seminole seems a nice enough small town, and has at least 2 famous people born there…..Tanya Tucker and Larry Gatlin. Hwy 62 and 180 go separate ways in Seminole, and 180 changed from 4 lane to 2, but still had a nice shoulder for walking.

East of Seminole on 180 is nothing except cotton fields or empty fields. Much of the cotton has been picked by now, but picking is still going on in some fields. I stopped around noon or so to rest, and a pickup truck pulled up and stopped. The guy walked over to me with a package in his hand, introduced himself, and said it was for my lunch. Bar-B-Que chicken, ribs, and sausage. We talked a while about my trip, then he had to leave. Very nice of him to do that, but I knew these Texans would start immediately trying to impress me with their bar-b-que!

I ate, rested a while, and back to walking. Saw a sign that listed Lamesa as 28 miles, so figured I could get there tomorrow with time to spare. A young man, his wife, and small child stopped alongside me and talked a while about my walk. Sorry I didn’t get their names, sometimes that happens. He works in an oil field near Hobbs. A nice couple. I wasn‘t sure how far I had come today, but around 530 I saw a perfect place for camping. Wanting to go a few more miles today, I walked by it about 50 yds, and stopped. Thought a while and walked another 50 yds or so. Thought a while longer, and decided to turn around and go back. What‘s another 30 minutes or so walking in the big scheme of things? A good campsite is very important, and there‘s not much out here.

So, I set up camp and settled in for the night. It‘s getting cool, and will be dark soon. Still a few trucks going by, hauling cotton to the gin. But that will stop soon.

Day 59 - Cotton, Peanuts, Watermelon, and oil

Wednesday Oct 27, 2010

Today is a new state and no more lying around a motel room. I was up at 530, showered quickly, and down for breakfast at 6 when they opened. I packed most things last evening, so didn’t have a lot this morning. By 7, I was walking out the door and on the road toward Texas. I never saw the town of Hobbs, maybe the first town of the entire trip I haven't seen. The 62/180 bypass passed north of town, so not sure what the downtown area looks like.

Within a few miles I was off the bypass, and on Hwy 62/180 heading east. There were still some signs of oil wells, but fewer than west of the town. At around 845am, I left New Mexico and took my first steps in Texas. The first things I noticed were these huge crop circles, mostly cotton. Things out this way are planted in circles, I assume because of the way the crops are irrigated. I tried to calculate the approx size of one circle, and I’d guess about 800-1000 feet diameter. (just a guess based on the size of the irrigation device.) Planting in circles appears to waste space, but out here, there’s plenty to waste.

As I walked along I could hear a plane in the distance, and it sounded like it was crop dusting…..but I never could see it. I walked a little farther and encountered 3 guys doing some work on a well. One guy introduced himself as David Kemp, and said they were test the quality of the oil coming from the pump. Three products come from 1 hole….water, gas, and oil. They had a machine that can separate the 3, and from that they determine how many barrels of oil per day the well is producing. David also told me there is no big reservoir of oil underground, but the oil, water, and gas actually seep from the rock into holes in the oil pipe. Am I the only one that didn’t know that? I asked David about the crop dusting and he said thethe cotton is sprayed to get it to dry more quickly so it can be picked. We humans just don't like the speed at which Mother Nature does things, do we? Are we unique in this trait among all living things?

As I continued walking, there were fewer wells, and most of those were in the distance. They were replaced by agriculture…..primarily cotton, peanuts, and watermelon in this area. Also, the businesses in the area became those that support these products…..cotton gins, peanut processing plants, seed producers, etc. This is unlike the area from Artesia to Hobbs, where everything seemed to support oil production. There are also numerous pecan groves in the area, one of the larger being Bass Pecan Farm. The numerous trucks passing me on the road were hauling cotton to the gin. Previously it was oil to the refinery, and prior to that, copper from the mines.

I lost another hour of walking time today……(students, do you know why?) and the road didn’t have mile markers, so I never was sure how many miles I covered. Around 530 or so, I began looking for a suitable campsite. I finally found a business with an empty lot beside it, and was given permission to put the tent up there. Before long it was up, and I was inside, ready for my first night in Texas. Early tomorrow I will be in Seminole, and next headed toward Lamesa.

For The Students

Dear students,

I hope your school year is going well. I will soon be leaving New Mexico, and traveling in Texas for almost a month. So, maybe you can answer some questions about Texas (and 1 about New Mexico):

What is the state bird of New Mexico?

Texas is the largest state in area (continental US), but doesn't have the most people. What state has the most people?(Hint: it's one of the states on my walk.)

What colors are on the Texas state flag?

What is the capitol of Texas?

What is the state flower of Texas?

What is the state small mammal?

Two presidents were born in Texas......name one of them?

There is a famous fort in San Antonio....what is the name of the fort? (Hint: Davy Crockett was there.)

What large body of water borders Texas?

What foreign country borders Texas?

There are 2 NFL teams in Texas.......what are the name of the teams?

Leaving New Mexico for a new state

Tomorrow I'll head east out of Hobbs, and by lunchtime will be in Texas. Although I've enjoyed each state, New Mexico has made a special impression. It fits who I am like a pair of well worn cowboy boots, or a sweat stained cowboy hat.

From the first mile, when several tarantulas came out to welcome me to the Land of Enchantment, to my windblown entry into Hobbs (mile 1029 of the walk), I have enjoyed the land, the people, and the mixed cultures of Native American, Mexican, and others. The landscape stretches out forever, with mountains popping up here and there to interrupt the flatness.

I've been to White Sands and saw a missle test, to Organ and ate dinner in the same building where Billy The Kid hung out, crossed the Rio Grande, and reached the highest altitude of my walk at Cloudcroft. I've been to Mescalero where horses run free on the reservation, and eaten in so many small cafes where I felt out of place because I wasn't wearing a cowboy hat, wranglers, and boots.

I've met people like Tom Runyan who sells some great cherry cider, and Faye Baker who makes great tacos. And Faye's husband Ralph, the state trooper, who kept track of me as I walked Hwy 82. And the Kie family.....Robert, Diana, Rob Jr., and Catherine, a native American family who shared their home with me, and introduced me to many of the cultures of Native Americans. And I'm leaving out many more. But one thing they have in common, other than the generosity and kindness they showed me, is......they each have a store about Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid.

As I was leaving Kelly's Cafe in Loco Hills, Jodie Carlile invited me to come back. "I have some good horses, we'll go riding and I'll show you some of the ranch." That might be all it takes to get me back out here some day soon......to go riding on the ranch, going no place in particular. At this point of my life I seem to enjoy going no where in particular, especially if the pace is slow. This time I'll bring my Wranglers, boots, and cowboy hat.

But, states end, and new ones begin. The next challenge is Texas, a 500+ mile walk that will consume most of November. And the whole time, I'm sure I'll be listening to those proud Texas talk about their great bar-b-que, big horned cattle, pretty girls, high school football, and great steaks. But I'll endure, and sure will enjoy it like the other prior states. See you next in the Lone Star state.

Day 58 - A day of rest

Today was a rest day, just relaxing and getting organized. Had a nice breakfast here at the hotel, and walked across the street to Wal-Mart to buy some stuff.......and get a haircut! My first one since mid-August, so that feels and looks much better. Came back to the room to work on the blog for a while, washed some clothes, and then headed out to mail a package at the post office.

The State farm office is along the way, so I stopped in to thank them for delivering the package. They also gave me a t-shirt, a gift certificate for a local grill, and some chocolate. Must be something to that "like a good neighbor" slogan used by State Farm. (That's Jordan and Melissa in the picture.....after finding out I was from Virginia, they had to show me there's some good bluegrass music in NM. Is Melissa holding that banjo upside down? Maybe they do it that way out here!)

On the way back to the hotel, I stopped by Saturday's Grill for lunch. It's a 50's style place with great decor, food, and service. Back to the hotel for more work on the blog, TV, rest, and packing. I'll set out early tomorrow, heading for Seminole, TX. So far the trip has covered approx. 1030 miles, or about 36% of the total miles. I've followed pretty much the planned route, and don't see any significant changes for the remainder of the trip. I had planned to go through Charleston, SC for Alan's benefit, but since he is no longer here, might alter the route a little when I get to SC. My health remains good, and the weather has been favorable for most of the trip.....hope that continues.

Hope all is going well with each of you, and hope that you'll continue to follow the trip. Take care......Jeff.

Day 57 - I blew into Hobbs, NM........

literally, but more about that later. I woke up around 5am this morning and thought the tent was going to fly away. During the night, the wind had picked up and was hitting the tent broadside. So no more sleeping this morning. I packed the stuff inside the tent, and moved outside to start taking the tent down. The wind was blowing so hard it made this a very difficult task. But, finally everything was packed, the sun was coming up, and I was ready for the road. The goal today is to reach Hobbs, check in the motel, a bath, something good to eat, and watch the Cowboys. (comes on around 630pm out here.)

As I was walking down the dirt road where I camped, a guy stopped by and asked where I was walking. He said, "you'd better hang on to your hat today, because if it's blowing this hard now, it'll be something by afternoon." I thanked him for the advice, and headed down the road.I was told there is a restaurant about 12 miles west of Hobbs, so I headed there, about 8 miles away. Traffic was heavier this morning making the walk difficult. With no shoulder, I was on and off the road. Finally started walking facing traffic because there were hardly any cars going from west to east.

Before long Hwy 529 ended and turned into Hwy 62/180. This road was wider, with a nice shoulder for good walking. Shortly after, I spotted the restaurant, Montie's Cafe. I had a good breakfast, asked directions to the motel, and headed toward Hobbs, still 12 or so miles away. By now the wind was picking up, but almost directly behind me........so that proved an asset. When it would stop blowing occasionally, it was as if I was standing still. Around lunch time, I reached the bypass that runs north around Hobbs, and rested there for a while before going on.

By now, the wind was really blowing, hard enough to move me (and the cart) if I stood broadside. And, the bypass ran north/south, so the wind would be hitting me and the cart from the side rather than from the back. Not sure the wind speed, but gust of 60mph were predicted for the afternoon. I think it got close because the next couple of miles were a challenge. Sand hitting the sides of my face and legs stung like bees. Finally, after 2 miles or so, the road turned more to the east, and the winds were at my back. Before long I spotted the motel, and soon after that was checked in, clean, and heading to Chili's for take out. Soon after that was in the room watching the Cowboys lose not only the game, but most likely any chance for a successful season. Oh well, wait'll next year!

During the game, the front desk called and said I had a package. Through Michelle's State Farm connections, it was sent to David Whitten's office here in Hobbs, and held for my arrival. Melissa, who works there, delivered it to the motel. It's nice to get something from home, almost like Christmas. In the package was a blanket for the coming cooler weather, beef jerky, mole skin, my 3rd pair of New Balance 1226 shoes, and Sundrops....the drink of choice in NC.

After the game and a Sundrop, it was time for bed. It was soft and warm, and it was nice not having to set up camp.

Day 56 - On To Hobbs, Day 1

I rested well last evening, with the bubbling of the oil flowing through the pipe to the storage tanks. I was up early, packed, and set out toward Hobbs. My goal today is just get in as many miles as possible, at least 20+.......that'll make tomorrow's trip into Hobbs a short day. Hwy 529 is a good road with a smooth, wide shoulder. Traffic was light because it's Sunday, but there was a steady stream of tanker trucks heading to the oil fields to load up from the storage tanks. The process appears to be: wells pump into the tanks, tanker trucks pump from the tanks and take to the refinery.

There are fewer wells along Hwy 529 than previous days. It seems they stayed north closer to Hwy 82, and I am traveling south of that. Or, maybe this part of the land has already been pumped out? Not sure, just not as many wells. Do all wells pump from the same body of oil, or is each well a separate source? I need to ask someone that.

The only human contact I had today was when a car pulled over, and the driver introduced himself as George McDonald, an attorney from the Ft Worth area. He had seen me on his way to Cloudcroft, and wanted to learn more about this guy pushing a cart down the road. George and I talked a while, he asked if I needed anything, and headed on his way. The guys who told me this stretch of road was desolate were right.......nothing but a few scrubby bushes and a few wells. Around the 22 mile mark the nice shoulder disappeared, and it was hit and miss after that. Luckily traffic remained light.

After 26 miles I decided to call it a day. It has been a good day with good weather. Found a nice field for the tent, checked to make sure no horses were around, and set up camp. It gets cool and dark pretty quickly around here, so I was soon in the sleeping bag and settled in for the night.

(I didn't take the picture above, just using to illustrate how many of these roads look out here.)

Day 55 - Riverside to Loco Hills

Last night turned out to be a good location. The weather stayed good, and I was out of sight from the traffic. I was up early and on the road by 7am. It’s 70 miles from Riverside to Hobbs, so that’s 3 good days of walking. I’ll try to get 25 or so today and tomorrow, and leave a shorter day for Monday.

The landscape has now changed to pretty much the scrubby, high desert look, with very little of the grassy plains that existed prior to Artesia. But there was another thing that filled the landscape….wells. The landscape was full of the “bobbing parrot” well pumps. Most were operating, some were just sitting. I spotted a young guy sitting in his truck waiting to go to work, and stopped to ask him more about the oil fields. His name was Jerrold Chavarria, from Artesia, and he worked for Tandem Energy as a “pumper.“ His job is to see the oil (or whatever), is flowing to the storage facility.

Jerrold told me that oil, gas, and water are pumped in the area. From the wells it flows to the storage tanks, some which are right beside the well, others several miles away. It was interesting to learn about the fields from Jerrold. One last question I asked Jerrold, “why do all these people out this way drive Dodge pickup trucks?“ Since I came in Artesia, and now going east, it seems 85-90% of all trucks on the road are Dodge Ram. West of Artesia, in the ranching area, 90% would be Ford. Jerrold just grinned, and leaning back on his 2008 Ram pickup, said, “we love our Dodge trucks out here.“ Before I left Jerrold, he gave me 4 bottles of water for my trip.

The weather was beautiful, and although the landscape wasn’t as nice as other areas, it was a good day for walking. Before long it was time for a break, so I unpacked the cart, threw down a tarp, and laid down as far from the road as I could. In about 30 minutes or so I heard sirens coming from all areas. Guess where they were headed? Yep, a woman had called 911 and reported “man down and not moving at mile 124”, so four emergency vehicles headed out to save me…….2 from Artesia, 2 from Loco Hills. This isn’t the first time this has happened, but I wonder why…..if people are so concerned about me, why don‘t they just stop and ask if I‘m ok? Guess I‘ll need to make a sign saying, “Don‘t call 911, I‘m resting.”

Anyhow, it all turned out ok…the guy from Loco Hills EMS said he thought it might be me because he had seen me the day before in Artesia. I told them the rest of my route through NM, in case they got other calls. I do have to rest occasionally, and the fencing alongside all the roads prevents me from getting too far off the road. One of the guys questioned where I was headed, I told him, and he said the only place to buy something between here and Hobbs was a restaurant in Loco Hills…..8 miles from here, and it closes at 2 on Saturday. It was 1140, and that's a stretch for me in 2hrs and 20 min. I quickly packed the cart, shifted gears from “meander” to something a little faster, and headed out……with a nice wind at my back.

Just as I headed out, a large tanker truck pulled over to the other side of the road and signaled me to walk over there. I did, and the driver handed me 3 tamales for my trip. I didn’t even know what they were, but he explained it, and I thanked him. Before I left he asked if I had any water. Yep, 4 bottle at least. I decided to try the tamale, and unwrapping it from the “corn husk“ looking thing, took a big bite. I see why he asked if I had water. My mouth, and especially my lips, were on fire. I named these the ½ gallon tamale, because that‘s how much water it took to stop my lips from burning. They were good, but I‘m just not accustomed to this hot stuff. But, a very nice gesture from the driver.

At 5 minutes to 2, I walked into Kelly’s Cafe. The woman who waited on me, Kressy Carlile, said it was fine, so I ordered lunch. While she and I were talking, I told her about the walk, and she wanted to take pictures, and said my lunch was “on the house.“ Her husband Jodie, who was waiting for her to get off work, took the pictures and he and I talked for quite a while. In fact, the restaurant was still going strong when I left a little before 4pm. Jodie suggested a good place to camp, about 6 miles down the road, so I headed out for there.

As the sun was getting low, I found the spot, looked around, and settled on a place to put the tent. Soon had it up, and inside for the night. One interesting thing about the location……there is a pipe coming from one of the wells and it runs close to my tent. Unless the well stops pumping, think the stuff flowing through the pipe will lull me to sleep.

(That's Kressy, Chere, and me in the pic, in front of Kelly's Cafe in Loco Hills.)

Day 54 Continued : Still in Artesia

When I left you I was in the public library catching up on the blog updates. I left the library, stopped by a burger place for lunch,and headed back on Highway 82 East. I really liked Artesia,at least what I saw of it. They have done much improvement to the downtown area, even a movie theater,and it is very attractive. Artesia appears to be an oil town,with a big refinery on the East side.

As I left town,there was lots of agriculture along the way. Cotton,hay,and a very large pecan grove,were some of the products. After a couple of miles, the landscape turned into something that looked like a huge scrapyard. Most of the stuff was related to the oil industry....Big machinery and containers,etc. There was also lots of businesses related to oil....Either to drilling and refining, or to repair of the equipment.

I soon crossed what appeared to be a river (with no name), or maybe it was some sort of agricultural ditch. Either way it had lots of water,but was not very wide. I then came to a small village named Riverside,and stopped at a store for ice and a few supplies. By this time it was getting late, so I started looking around for a place to camp. I came to a long building that housed the local volunteer fire department. I looked around and found a nice spot behind the building for my tent. The weather looked a little threatening,so I figured the building might provide some protection in case of a storm. I also looked around to see if there was any horses in the vicinity, just in case.

Before long the tent was up,and I was in the sleeping bag cozy and warm. Hopefully no one will come and run me off during the night.

Day 54 - Finally in Artesia

Around 4am this morning, I woke up to something trying to knock down my tent. Recognized immediately it was the horses back, and hitting the tent with their hoofs. They just didn't want me in their pasture. I jumped up, went outside and threw rocks at them until they left. They went far enough away to be outside the range of the rocks, and watched me. The minute I was back inside the tent, they would return. What's with these horses......isn't this strange behavior for them? Anyhow, my sleep was over for the night, so when it started getting light, I got up and started packing. I love horses, but not these two.

Before long was on the road to Artesia. I had about 5 miles left, and started seeing signs of town before that. Artesia is very proud of its high school football, and everything in town is decorated today because of a game tonight. Unfortunately it is out of town, or I would stay and attend. The high school stadium is somewhat famous, having been featured in a 1993 National Geographic article. I hadn't eaten today, so began looking for a place to get breakfast. Happened on Ruth's Restaurant, and stopped in. A group of people at one of the tables stopped me, and said they had seen me several days back in Alamogordo. Has a nice breakfast, and them went looking for a place to get on the computer.

Along the way, passed by a State Farm insurance office, and stopped in. My daughter-in-law Michelle works for State Farm, so if I see one along the way will stop in and ask them to send her an email. Well the people here made a big deal of me stopping in.......took pictures, called Michelle, and sent me off with a t-shirt and a few other things. I think they also tried to sell me some insurance: accident and coverage for my cart and possessions! A nice group of people, and a nice welcome to the town. They gave me directions to the public library, so I walked there and asked to use their wi-fi. They said fine, so here I am, @ 430pm edt, on Oct 22, just finishing up my blog.

When I leave here, plan to get some lunch, maybe some supplies, and start out toward Hobbs, NM. It's about a 75 mile trip, which is at least 3 days if I get in a few miles today. I plan to take a day off in Hobbs, and my family is sending a package or two there, awaiting my arrival. After Hobbs, well you know what's next. Hopefully Verizon has better coverage east of Artesia than they have the past few days. I'll be talking to you from the road.........Jeff. (The pic above, although not a very good one, is one of several statues in Artemis.....it is in memory of people who worked on oil platforms.)

Day 53 - The Road To Artesia, day 3

Around 5am this morning, I woke up to one of the most violent thunderstorms I've ever seen. The decision to stay with the Kie's was a good one. Fortunately, by the time I was up and packing to head out, the storm had moved on, and the weather was improving. Except for some fog, it appeared to gonna be a good day. It was still about 30 miles to Artesia, so I didn't plan to do that in one day.......just get most of the miles today, and get into town tomorrow early and try to work on the blog. Diana invited me to join them for breakfast.......it was some Mexican food, not sure of the name, but very good. I talked with her and the children for a while, thanked them for the hospitality, and bid them farewell.......a nice family.

My first goal today is Hope, NM, about 10 miles away. The terrain is mostly flat or rolling, and absolutely nothing along the way except utility poles stretched as far as the eye could see. But, I don't mind that, in fact it's kinda nice occasionally. After a couple of hours, reached Hope and stopped by the store for some supplies. There met Lupe' (loo pay), owner of the store. Ralph, the trooper, had given me a message for Lupe', so when there were several people in the store, I told her I had a message for her. Of course this surprised her, not knowing me from anything. She asked what was the message, and I replied: "you need to keep your shoes on when you're driving!" She immediately knew who told me that, and everyone in the store had a big laugh. In the past, Ralph had worked an accident when Lupe' hit a deer, and noticed she wasn't wearing shoes. He told her he could ticket her for that, so it's been a big joke since. Lupe' even gave me a free slushie because, "I was sweeter than Ralph." Ralph: beware the next time you stop at the store.

After resting and getting supplies, back on the road. (This is the 2nd "Hope" I have passed through.....the first was in AZ, and it was 111 degrees that day.) The terrain continued the same, not much of anything. It's elk season out here, and several trucks passed with their kills. Some of the racks were wider than the bed of the truck. A car passed me, and turned around and came back. A guy got out, introduced himself as Ted Moore, and his sons as River and Travis. They had come out to check about some business interests in the area, and also doing some sightseeing. Ted took some pics with the boys and me, and soon headed off for Las Vegas.

As it was getting later in the day, I decided to get to milepost 100, and then look for a campsite. That would leave just a short walk into Artesia tomorrow. Before long, along came Diana Kie and her children, on their way to pick up Robert in Artesia. They asked if I needed anything from town, and I said a hamburger would be nice. Diana asked where I was going to camp so she could find me on the return trip. She left, but before long returned, saying she had found me the perfect place at mile 99.5. Said she had already asked the owners, and everything was ok. Sounded good to me.

I walked on a couple of miles, found the place, and talked to the owners. Before long, had the tent up, and waiting for the burger. It was getting cool, so I climbed inside the tent to stay warm. Before long, I heard some noises, and something pushing on the tent. Crawled outside and there were 2 horses beside the tent. I "shooed" them away, they went about 50yds or so, and just stood and watched me. This continued.......as soon as I was back inside the tent, they came back. Soon, the burger arrived, and the horses seemed to go away......maybe the car scared them.

I talked a while with the Kies, ate the burger, and settled down for a quiet night.....or so I thought.(that's my campsite in the picture above. A working windmill is in the background.)

Day 52 - The Road to Artesia, day 2

I slept later this morning than any other day of the trip. Not sure why, maybe felt safe in the trooper's yard. I could hear Ralph and Faye talking, so climbed out of the tent and started getting things ready for the day. Ralph was on duty today, so getting ready to head out. We talked for a while, Faye brought out some cans of food for my trip, and I set out. Artesia is still about 50 miles away, so I was just trying to get some of those miles behind me. The day was cloudy and cool, and the terrain gently rolling or downhill. The creek that had been beside the road most of yesterday, had now meandered off to the south. And the mountains that have been around since I entered New Mexico, have mostly disappeared.......replaced by a rolling terrain of grassy fields. But still lots of cacti around.

Ralph patrols the road I am walking, so I saw him several times today. Also saw him make a few traffic stops. He had court today in Artesia, and stopped by on his way there and left me a couple of sodas. Also stopped on his way back, and handed me a burger he had picked up in town. Ralph reminded me that I was still in rattlesnake country, so be aware of that. I had mostly forgotten about rattlers, so will try to be more careful. Before long, I saw the largest one of the whole trip.......unfortunately for the snake, a car got to him first.

As I started my final walk for the day, a car pulled alongside, and a woman jumped out and introduced herself as Diana Kie (rhymes with Pie). She and her husband Robert live about 2 miles up the road, have a big house, and invited me to stay the night. She said rain was predicted, I couldn't make the next town, so maybe wanted to stay inside. I really wanted to make a few more miles today, but decided to accept the offer. I walked to her house, Robert was just coming in from work, and he showed me where to put my stuff. (He didn't seem surprised to have a stranger show up at the house, so maybe Diana has done this before.)

Diana had taken her car to Mescalaro for some repairs, so Robert and I had to go pick her and the children up. It's a long drive, but I was able to learn much about the Mescalero tribe along the way. Both Robert and Diana are Native Americans. Robert was born on the Mescalero Reservation, Diana in California, but later lived on the reservation. The Mescalero are one of a few (or maybe the only tribe) to be able to stay on its land when most other tribes were relocated. As we came into the reservation, a band of horses were running loose alongside the road. They belong to the tribe, and run free within the reservation. Robert also told me New Mexico is a "free range" state, meaning animals can roam freely without being fenced in.

The trip was long, but very interesting. We passed through some rain and storms on the way back home. When we arrived, I was tired and ready to get in a soft bed.

Day 51 - Mayhill to Artesia, day 1

If there's one bad thing about sleeping in the laundry room, it's the possibility that someone will want to do laundry.......and that's what happened last evening. As I was just getting settled into the sleeping bag and getting comfortable, the door opens and in walks a guy with a handful of clothes and other things. He was just as surprised to see me on the floor as I was to see him. He started to leave, but I told him to come on in and do what he needed to do. He introduced himself as Phil DiGiannantonio.

Phil is an IT guy of 30 plus years who lives in Philadelphia. One day he caught a bad case of "cubicle" fever, so quit his job and decided to bicycle cross country......well not all the way across, but from Laguna Nigel, CA, to Coppell, TX........where he has relatives. His trip started on Oct 1, and he'll be on the road a total of 26 days if all goes as planned. Phil's experiences have been much the same as mine as far as interacting with people.......mainly positive. His route has gone through many of the small towns that I have. We sat and talked for a couple of hours. Phil thinks he will go back to work when he gets back home, but probably as an independent contractor so he can have more control over his schedule. Good luck to you Phil, and have a safe rest of your trip. BTW: Phil is a Hokie.....entered school to study forestry, changed to accounting, and has spent most of his career in IT......makes sense to me.

Phil stopped by the laundry room this morning to talk a few minutes and take a few pics. He was leaving later in the morning, so I set out to find some breakfast. The local cafe was open, and the minute I set foot in the place, I knew it must be good......most everyone in the place other than me had on a cowboy hat, boots, etc. After a hearty breakfast, I set out toward Artesia.

The road was mostly downhill with a bold stream following alongside. It was nice having the sound of the water, and seeing the cattle and mule deer drinking from it. The mountains were close by and kept the stream close to the road. Most of the area is pasture, with horse and cattle farms. One ranch even had some longhorn cattle. After walking about 8 miles, the Lincoln National Forest ended, and as if by magic, the landscape changed from forest to semi-arid "high desert." I also began seeing more cacti, many of them blooming. I also saw another working windmill. Many of these roads out here are cut right out of the side of the mountain, and there are shear cliffs right beside the road. It's pretty creepy walking alongside these, with rocks seemingly hanging in mid air, ready to put an end to the walkingman's trip.

Much of the afternoon was more of the same. I was now in the Penasco Valley, and it is absolutely beautiful. The weather was mild and sunny, a great day for a walk in New Mexico. I was a little short of supplies, so started looking for a place to restock. Flagged down a car coming up a dirt road to see if he knew any place near by. The guy introduced himself as Tom Custer, and said he had been trout fishing in the area. He wasn't from here, so didn't know of any stores. Recognizing the name Custer, I asked if he was an relation to Gen. George Custer. In fact he was, George being his great, great, uncle, and he was named after George's brother. Quite a coincidence to meet up with him.

I walked on, and a car pulled up in front of me. A man got out and introduced himself as Ralph Baker, New Mexico State Trooper. He said his wife Faye was making tacos for dinner, and I was invited. They lived about a mile up the road, so I told him I would be there shortly. Ralph said there was a store between here and his house, so I decided to stop there first. There I met Tom Runyan.

Tom is an interesting guy......former sheep rancher until the coyotes kept killing all the sheep, so now ran the store and the Tom and Pam Runyan Ranches. He asked if I was the man walking across America, I said yes, and he said some guy on a bike left $5 at the store for me to buy supplies. That's Phil looking out for me. Tom and I talked a while, but I soon had to go.....there was dinner waiting up the road.

The tacos were ready when I arrived, and we sat around and ate and talked. Tom started his career as a trooper later in life, and patrolled Hwy 82 pretty much from Loco Hills to Alamogordo. So, his work went right by his house. After dinner, Ralph showed me a spot in his yard I could put up the tent, and before long I was cozy and warm in the sleeping bag. The temperature was mild, and I felt very safe sleeping in the yard of a state trooper.

Day 50 - Cloudcroft to Mayhill

Brrrr.......was it ever cold last night! Expected to be around 36, and felt every bit of that. Because days are still warm, it's hard to have the right clothes always available. But the sleeping bag did its job, so I stayed reasonably warm during the night. After I got packed up, walked across the street to a cafe for breakfast. While sitting there reading the newspaper and eating, who walks in but none other than Joe Ben Sanders, archaeologist. We sat and talked a while. I told Joe Ben I had "goggled" him, and there was some controversy around some of his findings. But he said, "some people are just stupid." My world is almost totally gray, but Joe Ben's is still very much black and white.....good for him.

Cloudcroft is a nice village, located in the Lincoln National Forest at the southern end of the Rocky Mountains. It's between seasons right now. The summer season is over, and the ski season hasn't started. David, the policeman, told me that in the summer it seems about half the people in El Paso come here to escape the heat. Population in the village is around 800, but over 20,000 if you count close by surrounding areas. He also told me they will be getting snow soon, maybe as early as next week. Glad I came through when I did.

It was time to get walking and I headed east. My destination today is Mayhill, about 18 miles east. Only went a block or so and saw the high school band outside practicing. It couldn't have been over 40 degrees, maybe they're used to the cold. Think how cold those instruments were. As I walked a little farther, came upon the "Ski Cloudcroft" slopes. Without snow, it was easy to see each slope. They didn't seem to long, but some pretty steep. Appears work is being done to add new slopes, and maybe increase the size of the existing ones.

The walk today was almost all downhill, so that was nice. In contrast to the climb to Cloudcroft where there were few if any houses, this side of the mountain had many houses, ranches, RV parks, etc. The horses here looked fat and healthy because they could graze; whereas the horses I've seen for the past month or so almost always looked skinny.......because they had no place to graze in the desert. Around 1pm, the sun finally came out (been cloudy all morning), and I began feeling more comfortable. I saw a couple of hawks, and about 6-8 deer. The deer looked different that the eastern white tailed deer......they had larger ears and were a darker color. I think these were deer, but I've been told there are lots of elk in the area . I also saw several more springs. (Students: do you know what a spring is? Have you ever seen one?)

Around 430 or so, I reached Mayhill. Not much here.....a few stores, a church, some houses, etc. I inquired about a place to put up a tent, and was told there was not much in the area. They suggested I go to the RV park (which I passed a couple hundred yards down the road). I did and asked if they allowed tents. She said yes, just pick a spot. She then started telling me about the facility, and mentioned sometimes tent campers like to stay in the laundry room. It has water, heat, sofa, tables, carpet on the floor, etc.......not your ordinary laundry room. Plus the park has wi-fi.

So, that's where I am.....in the laundry room. Warm, with lights and heat. Maybe tomorrow night might be cold again, but for tonight I'll be cozy and warm. Tomorrow I'll continue east toward Artesia, and expect to leave the mountain and forest sometime during the day.

Day 49: Alamogordo to Cloudcroft, NM

I was up early, showered, and then down for a good Hampton Inn breakfast. I packed up my cart and checked out of the room. I had to walk about 3 miles to meet Sonya and Mickey Stovall to give them the cart. After about an hour, met them at the Home Depot, put the cart in their truck, and planned to meet them later in the day.

After turning off Hwy 70 onto Hwy 82 which would take me into Cloudcroft, I noticed a sign saying Cloudcroft was 16 miles. One of the first things I passed along the road was a pistachio tree ranch. The road was uphill but without the cart, the walk was pretty easy. I also didn't notice any shortness of breath as the altitude increased. After walking a little further, I started hearing a lot of gunfire. I walked to the other side of the road and looked down into the valley and there was a bunch of folks doing target practice. It looked like some law enforcement people and some regular citizens. It's a good place for target practice since there is very little chance a bullet would escape the valley and harm anybody.

After resting for a while, I started back up the hill. At about the 6 mile mark, the desert changed to forest.......as if there was some invisible line on the earth. There were all kinds of deciduous trees.....oaks, cherry, birch, and most any type we have in the East. Just recently my friend Wayne and I were discussing when the desert would turn to forest and he hit it about right.

At the 8 mile mark, I reached a little place called High Rolls. I stopped in the High Rolls Trading Post and ordered a hot dog, a fried apple pie (made with local apples), and a drink. This area is a big producer of all types of fruit.... apples, pears, cherries, which also reminded me of home. While waiting on my order, one of the women behind the counter asked where I was headed. As I was telling her about the trip, a guy sitting in a booth nearby said he was also a walker, and asked me to join him. That was my introduction to Joe Ben Sanders.

If you looked at Joe Ben, you would think he was a cowboy. He was sitting there in a black cowboy hat and looked exactly like Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn. But he is really an archaeologist and an author, and one of the most interesting guys I've ever talked to. Joe Ben did his walking looking for archaeological sites for gas and oil companies, and doing research for universities. He would sometimes walk a whole state and if he found a site, it would either have to be moved, or the company would have to relocate their project. He was a very interesting guy to talk to.

Eventually I left the trading post and headed up the road. There was an apple festival in progress this weekend, so there was a lot of traffic. I stopped at one booth and bought a bag of kettle corn and then another booth and bought 2 pears. I left High Rolls and got back to walking. As the altitude increased, the leaves on the trees had started changing colors, and again I was reminded of home because I know the trees are changing there also. I passed a spring coming out of the side of a mountain, and I also found an almost brand new motorcycle helmet and a pair of gloves.......not sure what they were doing there.

As the altitude increased and I neared Cloudcroft, there were fewer deciduous trees and increased numbers of conifers and other evergreens. This reminded me a lot of the area around Grandfathers Mountain in North Carolina. Around 3:00 I reached the village of Cloudcroft, and stopped by a convenience store to get a drink and ask about a campsite for the night. I was told that tents are not allowed within the village limits and I would have to put it up somewhere outside the village. I walked over to the police department to ask if they knew any place I could set up camp. I met the Officer on Duty, David Black, and he suggested I put it up on a trail near the village which was in the National Forest........which I decided to do.

Before long, Sonya and Mickey, along with granddaughter Morgan and Mickey's mother, arrived with the cart. I invited them to dinner and we went to a local place to eat and talk for a while. After dinner, we unloaded the cart from the truck, and they headed back to Alamogordo. I headed over to the spot the policeman had told me to put my tent, set it up and got ready for the predicted low of 36 degrees tonight.

The walk today was one of the nicest ones of the entire trip. Although traffic was heavy due to it being Sunday, plus the apple festival in High Rolls, walking without the cart was a pleasure. The scenery was beautiful, and watching the landscape change from desert to forest, was amazing. I hardly noticed the climb.

Day 48 - A Day To Rest and Get Organized

I didn't sleep very well last night.....maybe the bed is too soft. Up early for the Hampton breakfast, and mostly rested and worked on the blog today. Watched some football, and washed some clothes. The motel has a nice indoor pool, but I can't seem to get motivated to go down there. Walked next door to Chili's for lunch, and will watch the race this evening as well as get organized for tomorrow.



I'll leave first thing tomorrow for Cloudcroft, which is the highest point of the entire walk at 8,600'. The good news is........my daughter-in-law Michelle, who works for State Farm, contacted a State Farm agent out here and made arrangements to have my cart driven to the top of the mountain. Edd Gauldin at the Alamogordo office volunteered to take the cart, but he's going out of town, so arranged to have a co-worker, Sonya, do the honors. Thanks Edd and Sonya....and Michelle. (With the steepness of the mountain, the altitude, and the curvy roads, that is a blessing.) So, if I can get myself to the top, no more mountains the remainder of the trip. Last night it was 36 degrees at Cloudcroft, so I'd better be prepared for that.



When I first planned the trip, it appeared the first 3 states (CA, AZ, NM) would be the most difficult because of the desert, mountains, heat, and lack of roads/supplies. If all goes well, in another 8-10 days they will be behind me and we'll see if that was the case. Hopefully the onset of winter won't add too much difficulty to the walk.

Day 47 - On To Alamogordo

Around 4am this morning, a pack of animals came close to my tent. Then about 30 minutes later, came back again. I was on the road side of a barbed wire fence, so that possibly kept them from coming closer. Based on the "yelping" sounds, I assumed it was coyote......both young and older ones. I'm not sure what they would have done if the fence wasn't there, but glad I had stayed on my side of the barbed wire. For the entire trip I have not been concerned about my food and animals because there just haven't been any around. Maybe I'll start thinking more about that.

I wasn't sure how far I am from Alamogordo, but assumed I couldn't get there today. Just put in a good day's walk, and get there tomorrow. Again, the weather is nice, and the road is flat and wide open. Along the way I spotted a single coyote near the road, and the biggest rabbit with the biggest ears you have seen. Both nice sightings. I wondered why this area is called White Sands, because I haven't seen any white sand after a day or so of walking.

After a while of walking I came on another Border Patrol checkpoint. The guys there talked to me a few minutes and sent me on the way. I asked one of them how far to Alamogordo, and he said, "just over there, maybe 10 miles or so." This started me thinking maybe I could get there today. Around 1, I reached the White Sands National Monument. Now I could see why the name White Sands......sand dunes every where. There's a nice visitor center, as well as the monument, and a driving route through the dunes. I stopped for something to eat and look around the gift shop. Oh, I did buy something.......a large bag of beef jerky, brown sugar flavored. It's produced by the Cow Creek band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians in Oregon. The best I've eaten so far, but very expensive.

When I returned outside, there was a bag on the cart with water and a snack, and a note, "water for your trip" written on the bag. Never did find out who left it, but people seem to do stuff like this. Also, there were about 30-40 Cushman motor scooters of all sizes and shapes out front. These were once very popular, and there is a Cushman club in New Mexico that was hosting a ride. Very interesting to see all the different models.

I left the visitor's and noticed a sign that Alamogordo was 13 miles. It was only about 230, so I figured I could do that. I could see the town in the distance, and it was mostly downhill. So I set out with that as the goal. Walked a while and rested. While resting, 2 F16 fighter planes took off from the Holliman Air Force Base, and flew right over me......that was exciting. Then I walked some more, and some more, and so on. It was right in front of me, why can't I get there? Finally, around 8pm (and after dark) I reached the Alamogordo Hampton Inn after maybe 28-30 miles of walking. Just a total miscalculation on my part, but it looked so close.

They had a room, and soon I had a bath and walked next door to Chili's for food. Came back, ate in the room, and watched a little TV. A very long day, but I'm here and can rest tomorrow. We learn from these things.

Day 46 - Organ, NM to Alamogordo Day 1

I was up early, rested from a nice, warm night in the trailer......even had an opportunity to get clean and shave. Weston stopped by to talk a while, and told me much about the history of the area. At one time there was lots of mining, both gold and copper. There is also a Lyndon B. Johnson NASA test facility in the area. Another local guy, Steve, stopped by to learn more about the walk. Steve works for the Border Patrol and had some stories to tell about his work. But, it was soon time for the walkingman to get to walking. Before I left, Weston noted that the police had closed the road near the top of the mountain getting ready for a missile launch......a what?



I had about a mile to get o the top of the pass, and struggled my way there. In addition to a shortness of breath due to altitude, I also had a headache......is that caused by altitude? When I reach the top, the US Army police had closed the road. When there is a missile launch, Hwy 70 is closed for 1 hour on both the Alamogordo and Las Cruces end of the road. That gives any en route vehicles time to clear the area before the missile is launched. Then the missile is launched and the road is opened. Just blind luck that I was there and able to see the launch. Not sure what was being tested, but all appeared to go as planned........at least to the casual observer. I think the date/time of each launch is published in the area to allow people to work around the road closing.



From the top of the pass, it was a beautiful view of White Sands and the road was downhill for miles. Nothing out here except occasionally I would see buildings, some partially underground, and of course, the whole area was posted for no trespassing. Just a very big, wide open area. Before long a car pulled up in front of me and out got a nice lady named Sandy. Sandy lives in Aguirre Springs, NM. She had seen me the day before and wanted to find out more about the walk. Sandy brought me water and a banana, and we talked for a while. She offered me a ride, but of course I had to decline.......not what walkingmen do.

The rest of the day was walking and resting. The road was flat or downhill, and the weather was nice. As I walked along, noticed a guy up ahead taking pictures of me walking toward him. Introduced himself as Gene Gutierrez from Las Cruces. Gene owns his own woodworking/cabinet business, and is semi-retired. Said he never wanted to totally retire. He has 6 children, most still in the area, and 8 grandchildren. Gene is doing some type of study of "Americans on Wheels", so I gave him another example for his study. A really nice, friendly man, and very interested in my walk.

It was soon time to find a spot to camp, and I found a good one. It was close to the road, but not a lot of truck traffic along that road. The ground was good for holding tent stakes, and there was a little privacy due to some small trees between me and the road. It was getting cool and before long I was in the sleeping bag for the night, warm and cozy after a good day.

Day 45 - Las Cruces and Beyond

Up early, packed everything, and over to Subway for breakfast. They have a nice breakfast menu. I asked around and was told I could take the frontage road to Hwy 70, so no more need for the interstate....that is a treat. The whole time I was on it, someone was reporting me to some agency. If walking, I was "in the road." If resting, "I needed help." Neither of which was true, but drivers don't want walkers on their interstates. I guess before cell phones, none of this mattered.

For some reason, I had the idea I could just jump from the frontage road to Hwy 70, and all of a sudden be north of Las Cruces, and making good time toward Alamogordo. I could see the city from the truck stop, so must be there.....right? Not so out here, where it is soooo flat you can't imagine. I still had a long walk through Las Cruces to get to the other side, wouldn't be clear of the area until around 2pm. That was a disappointment, not sure why, but just wasn't the expectation.

While walking through Las Cruces, crossed over a river. Didn't pay much attention to it, but when on the other side, saw a marker for the Rio Grande. I thought that was only along the border of Texas and old Mexico, but found out it runs throughout most of New Mexico......did you know that? Not a lot of water in it, but it had some. Some locals told me it is occasionally low due to drawing water off to fill reservoirs, etc. Stopped by a Walgreens' for some mole skin (a life saver and my feet love me for it). While there asked the clerk about a grocery store to buy supplies. Next light, over 1 block. I asked if that was a normal block or a New Mexico block which can go on forever. It was a normal block, than goodness.

Walked to the store, bought supplies, and went outside to rest for a while. There met John from Chicago. John had moved to the area recently, following his (ex) girlfriend. She had moved here for school, John saved his money and followed her here, she decided to pursue other options. But John liked the area and decided to stay, away from the fast life and big city. Like so many others, he was looking for work, but seemed open to lots of different jobs. I invited him to come along for a walk, but John figured he needed to find work. A nice young man, I think he'll be ok.

Kept walking and eventually I was clearing the city, heading east on Hwy 70 (looks north on the map, but they call it east out here.) This is the start of the climb to San Augustine Pass, a 5,700' route over the mountains into White Sands. It starts slowly, but gets steeper nearer the top. Along the way, south of the highway, is the Organ Mountains. If you saw it, you'd know why the name. The top of the mountain looks exactly like the pipes in a pipe organ. After struggling up the climb, I came to a place named Organ.......still not to the steepest part of the climb. Decided I'd had it for the day, so began to look around for food and a place to camp.

In this tiny place, where there is almost nothing else, there is a Thai restaurant. I've never had Thai food, so decided to give it a try. Being one to try new things, I ordered a rib eye steak, baked potato, salad, and soda! Excellent food, cooked to perfection, and nice atmosphere. I like Thai, but didn't notice lots of difference from American food. I later learned that this very building was once a saloon, and entertained the likes of Billy The Kid and Pat Garrett. Everywhere you go has history, just depends how far back we have to look.

After eating I went looking for a place to camp. nearby there was a place named, "Patti Ann Trailer Park", so I went to the office to inquire about a spot for the night. Met the owner, Weston Lee, and he said I could put the tent up there. Before the stakes were in the ground, Weston came out and said he had an empty trailer and I could stay there if i wanted. It was warm, had water, bathroom, etc., so I was happy to get that. There was no furniture as the trailer was being refurbished, but I was happy to put the sleeping bag on the floor. It was getting cold outside and the warmth of the trailer was really a treat.

So, after a somewhat frustrating, long day, a nice ending with a warm place to stay and a good Thai meal.......does it get any better?

Day 44: Deming To Las Cruces, Day 2

Last night was cold and noisy. Because it seems the whole state is fenced, it's hard to get too far from the noise of I-10. And, the nights are getting colder out here.....not sure the temp, but I need to start wearing warmer clothes soon. I started out at exit 106, and thought there was food around exit 116, about my normal rest time. The sun was getting higher, and it was a great morning for walking.

Well, exit 116 had no food, nor anything else except signs telling about food on up the road. So, guess it's gonna be beef jerky for breakfast. Actually I've come to like that stuff, so take back anything negative I've said in the past.....and it's lightweight and keeps forever. After my rest, back on the road.

Today was one of those days where not much is happening. I did encounter a Border Patrol checkpoint there on I-10. Every vehicle traveling west from Las Cruces has to stop for a short check. I never knew Border Patrol did checks anywhere except the border, so something new to me. Fortunately, traffic on I-10 is light enough that it isn't a terrible inconvenience. Can you imagine stopping every car on one of the interstates on the East coast? Traffic would be backed up for 50 miles.

Some of the students have asked me what I did about going to the restroom while on the road? Well, you get creative, and put your pride aside. The Border Patrol inspection station is being expanded, so the construction crew had port-a-jons for their use. I asked permission, and they were fine to share the facilities. Nothing fancy, but better than battling the thorny bushes of the desert.

This was a day where no exits happened when it was time for a rest. So, not much benefit from them, and I just plugged along. I had noticed a sign advertising a large truck stop at exit 132, so decided to make that my stop for the night. Truck stops are normally 24x7, and many times have showers, restaurants, etc.....good stuff for truckers and walkers. As I approached my exit, here comes an EMS truck, lights flashing, and pulled up to me. Someone had reported a walker on I-10 needing help. They decided I was doing fine, and went on about their business.

Finally reached exit 132 around 6, had some food at the attached Subway, and looked around for some place close by to camp. Right across the street was an industrial park, and the entrance was nicely landscaped (even had a pomegranate tree) Because there were no signs stating otherwise, I assumed camping was allowed.....and I did. The location was great, but the truck stop was busy most of the night, so there was some noise. But, a nice, safe, place to be after a long day.

As I was nearing the truck stop, I noticed a frontage road alongside I-10. Hopefully, my time on interstate highways is over for the remainder of the trip.

Day 43: Deming to Las Cruces , Day 1

I was up early and went across the street to a convenience store for breakfast. I came back, bathed, got packed and was ready for the radio interview. I like talking to Keith Larson because, being an adventurous guy himself, he seems to understand why somebody would do a walk like this. He always asks good questions, so it is fun being interviewed by him. The interview seemed to go fine and in case you didn't hear it this morning, there is a link on the blog.

This morning I will be walking down highway 549. It parallels interstate 10 and keeps me off it for about 18-20 miles. One of the first things I noticed about the road was that there was no shoulder at all. I was worried about that, but there ended up being almost no traffic so it wasn't a problem. I hadn't walked but a couple of miles when I came upon the St. Clair Winery. I resisted the temptation to go in and sample some of the wines, but I will put it on my to do list when I come back out this way. It was a beautiful day today, great day for walking. It wasn't long before I encountered my 7th tarantula. It was small one, but never the less it was a tarantula and fun to watch. I also am starting to see big groves of pecan trees.

Just as I was about to stop for my rest after 3 hours of walking, an old Buick pulled up beside me. The guy inside asked me where I was going. I told him I was going to North Carolina. I asked him his name. He introduced himself as Ivan Thompson ,"Cowboy Cupid"(see picture above).For the past 20 years or so, Ivan has worked in Old Mexico arranging marriages between Mexican women and American Men. He said that it had gotten too risky in Old Mexico, so he left down there and is now working on a horse ranch outside of Deming. Ivan was every bit as much of a real cowboy as Charlie Parker, from his hat and belt buckle to his boots. He just happened to be driving an old Buick instead of a truck. A local film company made a documentary of Ivan's 20 years of match making called "Cowboy Del Amore". Ivan showed me a copy and said it was available for sale online. I'm sure that I could have sat and talked to this man for days, listening to stories of his life.....But Ivan had to get back to the ranch.

I rested for about an hour and then headed up the road. I passed more irrigated fields of cotton and hay, and also more pecan groves. Because the road was parallel to I-10 , I could see in a few miles they were going to merge back together in a little place called Akela. It finally merged back with I-10 at Exit 102, which means I'd come about 20 miles since leaving Deming. There was a nice gas station/trading post there, so I stopped, took a rest, and got some supplies for my cooler.

After resting an hour or so, I set out on I-10 to put in a few more miles today and to find a place to put up my tent for the night. While I walking along I noticed several NASCAR haulers coming back from the race yesterday in California. I found a suitable place that was flat and protected after walking about 3 miles and decided to stop there for the day. Although I got a late start this morning, I still got in 20 plus miles and had a really great day.

Day 42: Deming, NM

As bad as the previous night was, last night was that good. I had a secluded campsite, away from the interstate and train tracks. It was cool again, so I decided to put the fly on the tent as an added layer of warmth.......seemed to help. Slept comfortably all night. My wake up call came at 6am, and by 7 I was on the road. Because I'd taken Rt 418 rather than the interstate, wasn't sure exactly how many miles left to Deming. I figured this route added at least 2-3 miles to the trip, but worth it to get away from traffic.

Very little traffic on the road, so I was able to enjoy the scenery. Lots of agriculture along this road, I assume it is irrigated. I passed a large field of pumpkins, acres of cotton, milo, and chili peppers. Also a large vineyard. After not too many miles I was in Deming. Stopped by McDonald's for breakfast, and while there a guy approached me to ask about the trip. He was riding an immaculate, 1980, Vespa scooter with approx 3,000 miles.......said he was a collector. Enjoyed talking to him, but sorry I didn't get his name. He did tell me there is another award winning vineyard in this area.

I stopped by Wal-Mart for a new cooler.....the styrofoam one I've been using is splitting, so bought a new Coleman. It's heavier, but I'll cut back weight somewhere else. With cooler weather coming, no need for as much liquid. Plus, think I will be moving into more populated areas over the next month or so, where supplies will be more available. Decided to stay inside today, so checked into a Holiday Inn Express for a little R&R and watch the Cowboys (lose!). Checking email, updating the blog, and just chillin'.

Tomorrow after the radio interview, I'll head out for Las Cruces. It's about 60 miles, so I figure 3 days. There is an alternate route I can take out of Deming, Hwy 549 the old Las Cruces road, and it will keep me off I-10 for about 18 miles. Then, back on the interstate for a couple of days. After Las Cruces, on to Alamogordo, then across the mountains to Artesia, and finally on to Hobbs. After that, a new state. I hope to be out of NM by the end of October.

One of the "bummers" about the walk is I do little, or no, sightseeing. If something is not in my path, I usually don't see it. But, that's a choice we have to make on an adventure such as this. 6-7 months on the road, away from family, is long enough. Plus, I hope to come back one day traveling in a more conventional manner, and see the things I'm missing this time.

One thing I would encourage you is to check out the link named "Where I'm Going." This shows info about the next destination. Some of these places are really interesting, especially to us "east coasters" who maybe don't know as much about the history of the West. Las Cruces is especially interesting, as was Deming.

Talk to you next from the road to Las Cruces.........take care, Jeff.