It was a cold morning in Mimbres and everyone in camp moved quickly to eat and pack up so we could get on the road and warm up. I was the first out of camp, just after 7:30. The first few miles on SR 35 were downhill to an elevation of about 5700 feet. After turning north on SR 152 it was a steady uphill climb for several miles. By 9 am I had covered 14.7 miles reached an elevation of 7025 feet and had several climbs and short, fast descents. There was minimal traffic, great scenery and the gear selection on my Long Haul Trucker was helping to make the ride enjoyable. I reached the top of Emmery Pass, 8228 feet just before 9:40 and stopped for a snack and to take some pictures. The 16 mile descent to Hillsboro was fun and I had to use my breaks to ensure that I stayed on the road. On the way to Hillsboro I was joined by another rider and we stopped in town for an early lunch. After a good meal, the remaining 20 miles or so to Arrey passed by quickly, although we faced a bit of a headwind. Mileage for the day was 59. We set up camp at the Arrey RV Park (ranked low on my scale because of limited restroom and shower facilities).
Had a good lunch in Hillsboro
