Alive! Silver City to Hillsboro.

What a day! We left Silver City and crossed many valleys, racing into each in high gear and then grinding up the other side in low gear. It's tiring, in part because you can't develop a rhythm for your ride. We were helped along by an icy tailwind. We passed by the enormous Santa Rita open-pit copper mine. It's been in operation since 1804. At twenty miles, Michele spotted the Mimbres Valley senior citizens center. The center looked warm and comfortable inside for lunch while we were cold and winblown outside. we realized, "We're seniors! Let's go in!"

When we finished lunch, we saw that clouds were forming. We were about to start the climb to Emory Pass. It's eighteen miles and about 3000 feet to the top at 8228/8828? feet. It's the highest point on our ride. The wind was fierce and erratic and very cold. Snow began to fall by about 7000 feet. We finally made the pass. After a couple of quick photos, we began the seventeen mile descent. Small hail was blowing sideways across the road in stretches. We were afraid to take the descent fast but we were shivering with cold. I can't remember being colder than I as halfway down. We are grateful to have reached Hillsboro and our motel safely.

We're through the mountains until we get to West Texas. We have a long day tomorrow, 80 miles to Las Cruces,but the terrain should be flat finally. Rest day in las Cruces!