Hillsboro to Las Cruces - Tuesday 2/28

The night was cold and very windy but we were snug in our tent.  We got up before the sun and spent an hour, as usual, packing and getting everything onto the bike.  We immediately had to climb a winding hill with the wind threatening to blow us off the road.  All day long the wind blew in 20 to 30 mile-per-hour guests.  Mucho gust-o!  Sometimes the wind helped us, sometimes it was against us, but the crosswinds were always threatening to destabilize the bike.  Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic and we made it safely to Las Cruces.

The scenery was mostly desert and hills so we only took one picture along the way, of a horse painted like a cow.  A dairy with a sense of humor.

We met another biker crossing the country, a Malaysian named Ty.  He retired and put everything he owns in storage so is traveling all over the country with a bike as his only home.

Miles: 85.3  Average: 12.5

The truth from Ruth:   Last night I was nervous to camp,  because I thought I might be too cold to sleep.  But we had descended over 2000 feet, so the night was not too bad and I was plenty warm.
Today was the first time the wind has bothered me.  It was blowing so hard in our faces  and sending dust and dirt our way.  By lunchtime I was so ready for a break.  In a little town called Hatch, we stopped at a Mexican restaurant called The Pepper Pot.  My food was so good, and it was so wonderful to be out of the wind and cold.  I don't  know when I've enjoyed a meal out so much.
The afternoon went much better weather-wise.  The wind was behind us much more, and I finally got warm.  And tonight we are feeling luxurious in our hotel room.