Today we crossed the highest point on the tour and completed our first 1000 miles, as clearly shown in binary form above. For those of you who, like Chad, don’t fully appreciate my nerd humor, there’s this:

The day started brisk and clear in Santa Fe. We climbed about 1000 feet over the next 20 miles to the Glorieta Pass and then descended into the Pecos valley. The Glorieta Pass was the site of a

number of people involved I think the comparison to Gettysburg is a stretch, but it appears that New Mexico and Arizona will put up historical markers for almost anything. After the Pass our first SAG stop was at the Pecos National Historical Park (https://www.nps.gov/peco/learn/historyculture/index.htm)

The area has been inhabited since 11,500 BCE, culminating in the Pecos Pueblo, the remains of which are still there. The Spaniards built a mission which was burned down (cue “Burn Down the Mission” by Elton John) and rebuilt. Chad and I walked around the whole site.

We resumed the long downhill to Las Vegas, New Mexico. Storms were building around us but we didn’t mind.

The storm caught us, drenched us, surrounded us with thunder and lightning, and pelted us with hail. It was not good. We made it to Las Vegas where we are staying in a classic old hotel. We had a pizza, dried out, napped, and dined in the hotel. Everyone in the group is exhausted.

Tomorrow will be the second longest ride of the tour, 109 miles downhill to Tucumcari. Better weather is forecast.