Good Eats, Good Friends, Good Drinks, Good Music!

Even though we still haven't seen everyone we need and want to see we've managed to meet up with a number. First stop for me was Viola's in Los Alamos to have dinner with my good friend Paul and eat GREEN CHILI! Of course we've had some great meals with Donna & Tom - Donna's cooking is always good! And then there are the "rents" - Don & Nina - who are staying at Nancy's. We've had two really good meals there and as always have enjoyed the company. Last night they managed to pull off a surprise; very early birthday celebration on Trox. We've also caught up with Doug & Ingrun R. First time was at their home where Ingrun cooked a WONDERFUL meal of pasta and prawns. It was a lot of fun seeing their home and as expected Ingrun is a marvelous cook. Doug made us "coffees" to go with our desserts. He roasts his own beans and as expected it was YUMMY - made the long drive back to Donna & Tom's much easier with that little (?) hit of caffeine.

Last week we managed to get down to Santa Fe to have dinner at the Second Street Brewery. Our friend Doug R. has a blog for open mike night and he plays a mean sax with the house band.

Well worth going if you are in the area on Wednesday night. Check out Doug's Second Streeet Brewery Blog. A number of friends stopped by to join us. Among them were Doug T. - a long time friend who actually introduced us many years ago.

Doug T and Trox

Also sitting at our table were Evelyn and Joseph, Susan, and Jennifer all of who worked with Trox.

A good end to a fun ride!

Here comes Clyde!

Jason and Deb - THAT was fun!

John's back!

That kind of ride deserves a beer!

Now, that we're back - where the hell were we?

They all made it back in essentially one piece!

Exploring the Continental Divide Trail (CDT)

Riding part of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) has been executed in spurts! First one was from our campsite at Hopewell Lake (N36 42.014 W106 14.048) where it took Trox a while to actually find the trail. That ride was almost 30 miles and took him just short of 7 hours - needless to say when he rode back into camp he was pretty bushed. A shower, dinner, and bed followed.

The next section was done a few days later after we had moved to Trujillo Meadows up on the Cumbres Pass. We camped in a really nice campground (N37 02.488 W106 27.072) at over 10,000 ft. This second section was a group ride with our friends John & Jean as well a some other great riders ... Jason, Deb, Clyde, and Kenny. It was an 18 mile plus ride taking about 6 hours. It was followed by a fun dinner in Chama. And, hey, Clyde, Trox tells me you might have some really great photos - hope you will share them with us. The marker labeled "for Clyde" has a lat/long of N37 02.730 W106 30.752 and was 11,327 feet ASL.

Then next day on our way back to the Jemez, Trox did another section starting just north of the Echo Amphitheater by the Shrine to the Virgin Mary. Starting point was right along the highway at N36 24.111 W106 29.685.

The profiles on these three rides all looked similar --- LOTS of UPHILL!

Where we've been

We've been on the move since we got to New Mexico. Here's a map showing the highlights.

A: Donna & Tom's in the Jemez
B: Los Alamos NM
C: Santa Fe NM
D: Lamy NM
E: Hopewell Lake N36 42.014 W106 14.04
F: Trujillo Meadows on top of Cumbres Pass in Colorado N37 02.488 W106 27.072
G: Chama NM
H: Nancy's in Cuyamungue NM
I: Doug & Ingrun's (the balloon is hiding behind "H")
J: White Mesa

Many of Trox' rides have started from Donna & Tom's although we just got back from the Chama area where he was able to do 4 or 5 rides (more to come about that) checking out the Continental Divide Trail. Enough for now - Trox just arrived so I gotta run and go have dinner at Nancy's!

Ride 8.17.2010

Kolt-Fm N35 46.819 W106 31.617

Trox did another solo ride on the 17th. This one was almost 20 miles. While he was slogging his way up hill I was in "town" at the gym and going to lunch. The picture here shows the radio/tv towers he got to. They are marked on the trail map.

Ride 8.15.2010

Today John & Jean joined Trox on a great ride. 17+ miles from Donna & Tom's up to Cerro Pelado and back. Some of it done in pouring down rain!

These pics were taken at the top - notice the storm in the background towards "home". They got back to the house soaking wet, cold, muddy, and in good moods!

We all enjoyed a dinner of hamburgers, pasta, salad, and a wonderful dessert! We are hoping to do another get together --- maybe in Chama next weekend.

Ride 8.13.2010

Looking towards Redondo from lookout

Trox did another ride today --- up to the lookout on Cerro Pelado

Ride 8/12/2010

Trox went on a bike ride in the Jemez. He didn't come home with any pictures but LOTS of mud.

First hike in the Jemez

Hiked up to Jemez Falls yesterday. Nice 3 or 4 mile hike.

arrived in new mexico

We arrived in New Mexico this afternoon and are staying in the Jemez at Donna & Tom's. I really like the Jemez this time a year because it is COOL!