We got our heat today - 119?

Monday, June 8   Day 2   Las Cruces to Truth or Consequences, NM   80 miles

The later part of the ride did indeed get pretty hot, but it didn't seem like 119 F to me. Everyone else uses a Garmin, which among many other things records the temperature extremes during a ride. The various Garmins ranged from 109 to 119. I would not have even guessed 109, but perhaps it was.

The photo of me above is earlier in the day at a bend in the Rio Grande River. During that part, the scenery was interesting with "table" mountains popped up all over. We had some green, and even a few more pecan orchards. Here's another photo from early in the day, when the temperature was quite pleasant.

Our first rest stop was at a Border Control Checkpoint after 28 miles. I think it was the only place on the road wide enough for the van to stop and provide some space for us. The roads today were mostly straight through with no cities -- other than:

Yes, Hatch, the self-proclaimed "chile pepper capital of the world." It had a special interest for me and my siblings since my mom's family is Hatch. The next sign in the left of the photo explained that the town was named for Edward Hatch, a Civil War general who was New Mexico's military commander in 1875 when the town was founded. My sister did some research today and said he is our 5th cousin four times removed. Well, that's interesting, but it sounded like he was no closer to me than Adam and Eve.

The downtown had a some unique features - mainly these statues everywhere conveying the chile pepper theme.

Paul and I stopped for a while taking photos, and then had to catch up to the others. But first, his Garmin took us about a mile out of our way, so by the time we got to the correct highway, we had to burn burn burn to catch up. For about 10 miles, we took turns at the front and cruised at about 22-23 mph and finally came to the others.

After 23 more miles (62 total), we reached our lunch stop just below the dam for Lake Caballo - which backs up (guess which river?).  As always, our hosts put on a fabulous dining experience and we did not want to get out of chairs to continue. It was getting pretty darned hot by then.

Our lunch picnic site was only about 40 feet from the edge of the Rio Grande River. It was cool to see the water gushing out from the base of the dam. Paul even came over here and dipped his head in to cool off. The Rio Grande is so wide and full farther north like this, but in El Paso where it is the U.S.-Mexico border, it is puny. Too much of it is taken for drinking and irrigation on its way south.

Here's Paul climbing away from Lake Caballo, and by now it was hot. It also got hillier, which made us feel 

even hotter.

Look at that long hill Bob and Corey are climbing. And we still had about 10 miles to our destination, Truth or Consequences. It got its name because the town changed it from Hot Springs. In 1950, Ralph Edwards, the host of the radio quiz show Truth or Consequences, announced that he would air the program from the first town that renamed itself after the show; Hot Springs won the honor. Edwards visited the town during the first weekend of May for the next 50 years.

 We are staying at a famous hot springs lodge, and each night's room charge includes 30 minutes in their hot tub.

From the outside, it doesn't seem too fancy and special, but it is! Ted Turner bought it a few years ago and spiffed it up. When we arrived, first things first: Bob bought us some beer to help refresh us after the tales of 119-degree temps we had just ridden through. Some of the riders had run out of water by the end (I was okay.) After an hour or so, most of us went to the spa. They fill one of their many tubs each time guests want to use one (they are not kept filled). I joined Paul, Bob, Corey, and Rob, but only Rob was left when the others got out and grabbed my camera for this photo:

The hot water and jets felt great, especially on my neck and back. 30 minutes was just right.

Dinner was in the lodge, which turned out to be good for another reason - it started raining hard, and as I type this at 9:45 pm, it's still pouring out there with lightning and thunder. The menu had some unique items, like bison, rattlesnake, octopus, liquid-nitrogen ice cream, chile lemonade, and I forget what else. Hatch chile peppers were used in all sorts of dishes.

Tomorrow will be much like today - 80 miles, straight north with few road turns, to Socorro, NM. We will see the big lake just north of town, Elephant Butte Lake. That name made for some jokes. I think it should be cooler after tonight's rains. I'm going to try something - putting here our link to the map of tomorrow's ride. Some followers of this blog might want to glance at where we are and where we're going.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7598620