Day 41: On the road to Deming.......I found it.

Last night was absolutely one of the worst on the trip. Even though I wasn't right beside the interstate, it seems like there is something about Friday nights and about every 18 wheeler in New Mexico passed my tent. Plus trains ran on the track most of the night too, and it was just really cold. But with all that, I was up and ready to go when the sun rose over the mountains. I started at Exit 49 and the first goal for today was to get to Exit 62 where there is a rest stop so I could eat some breakfast/lunch. I'll be walking I-10 again today.

I hadn't gone but a couple of miles when I saw the Continental Divide sign. It was just a little further than the woman had told me. My understanding of the Divide is now that I've crossed it, if there is a giant flood my body will end up in the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Pacific. I hadn't gone too much further when I saw an antelope.....unfortunately, it had encountered a car but it was an antelope none the less. After a while I reached Exit 62, and stopped in Dairy Queen for a sandwich and a banana split blizzard. Rested there for a couple of hours and headed up the road. I noticed a lot of cattle grazing off on a big ranch on my left. Before long, down this dirt road came a pickup truck full of cowboys pulling a trailer of saddled horses. I am assuming they were going out to work the cattle. I also passed another one of the working old time windmills. I'm not quite sure of the concept behind them, but it always looks like there is a large container of water next to them.

I continued up the interstate and before long here came this white Ford pickup on the shoulder of the road coming right at me. I thought it was going to run over me but it slowed and pulled alongside. There was a little old woman inside the truck. She rolled down her window and asked me what I was doing way out here. I told her I was just walking and she asked me if I wanted a smoke of her pipe. I told her I didn't think so because it would make me crazy. She said I was already crazy or I wouldn't be walking on the interstate. She said she really liked my hat and asked if I would give it to her. I told her I couldn't because it kept the sun off of my face. Then she left, but we both got a big kick out of the brief encounter.

Before long I reached Exit 68, which was my next place I was planning on resting. There is a large truck stop there, so I wanted to get something to drink and rest awhile. While I was there, I noticed another road that runs parallel to the interstate. I asked someone who worked there where it went. They said it went into Deming and it would probably be better to walk there then on the interstate. I looked on my map and found the road. Even though it looked a little longer, I decided to take it so I could get away from the traffic for awhile. Once I started down the road I was immediately rewarded by seeing my 6th tarantula. The road was quiet, very little traffic and I was able to enjoy the scenery without worrying about getting hit by a car. One thing that amazes me out here is how flat everything is, but it is still so high in altitude. Back east we associate altitude with mountains, but here you can have altitude with flat ground . So far I've walked about 5 miles on the road and noticed that most of it is posted "No Trespassing " and has Duke Energy on the sign. I wonder what use they have in mind for land out here?

I eventually decided I'd had enough for today, so I found a secluded place to set up my tent. Far away from the road and train tracks, so I should have a quieter night tonight.