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.
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.
Is that Phil on the bicycle in the picture? Glad you are keeping safe and warm. It is starting to get cold in VA, too, and we may have frost tonight. Have you gotten a new pair of shoes recently? Greenfield has a Fall Festival tomorrow w/ lots of games, food, music, and crafts for sale. I'm sure you've seen some of those in the towns you are passing. Be careful, Jeff! Suzanne
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