The sun wasn’t up yet when I started packing up. I was disorganized this morning, and even though I had just cowboy camped it still seemed like I had pulled everything out of my bags. I finally got all packed up and headed out, there was still some of the Gila to finish. Thankfully there wasn’t too much climbing, though more than I wanted, to finish up this section.
I got to the pavement just before the CDT section as the sun was starting to light up the sky. I think it was our idea to knock out the CDT part before sunrise, and the sun was just starting to peak over the horizon when we finally found the trail start. For some reason the GPS track to get onto the CDT wasn’t very clear, and it took a few minutes to figure out how to get there. But there was no mistaking it when we got there. A quick steep hike-a-bike to gain some quick elevation and then a thin single track trail that led around the edge of the hill. It seemed to always climb up, and it looked like a shear drop-off on the other side. It was a bit nerve wracking for me, this early in the morning, exhausted from the last 22 days of riding. Looking back on it I think it was one of the most interesting sections and my memory of it is good, but at the time it wasn’t all that fun.
Though I thought it would never end, the CDT section was quickly done and we started the paved section into Silver City. Jeff said he remembered a good pancake place there, but it had closed, or wasn’t right on route as he had thought. We settled for Denny’s, which still seemed amazing. We took our time, and had a few milkshakes. The finish line was in sight.
Eventually we decided it was probably a good idea to start moving if we wanted to finish the ride before it got too late. We still had another 120 miles to go after all.
I grabbed a few more supplies at a gas station on the way out of town, not that I would need too much at this point. Jeff and I rode together down the highway to White Signal where we got on the last of the real off-road section. It was hot, but there was a nice wind that kept me at least comfortable as we rode through the desert. Eventually we caught up with Tim and David, who had not stopped for supplies, and all rode together to trading post in Separ.
I got an ice cream or two, and something to drink, and sat outside on a bench eating it all. After another extended break we all headed out onto the frontage road and then the final section of pavement with a big sign indicating there were still 65 miles to go. Still or only, depending on how you look at it.
They were long miles, and we each attacked them with whatever power we had left. Our group broke up and spread out in these final miles. It was a race after all. I was dealing with a few issues, saddle sores, blisters on my feet and hands, so while I gave it a good effort, knowing the number of miles left, and the constant ticking down of mile markers, made this section feel like an eternity.
It was late afternoon when I stopped in Hachita to get a soda and try to treat my very sore behind. The heat was still present, but the sun was heading down. I was hoping I could make it to the border before sunset, but with 45 miles to go that didn’t look likely. I kept pushing forward, ticking down those mile markers, and trying to distract myself from how much distance was left.
Nothing too much happened in that last stretch. No buffalo crossing the road, no weather to speak of, just the normal wind that always seems to blow against your path of travel. After what seemed like another 23 days I finally saw the lights of the border crossing and started sprinting to the end. Not that I needed to pass anyone else, it just seemed like the right thing to do. The port of entry sign was finally in view, I had made it to the finish line. I had finished in 22 days 13 hours and 50 minutes.
