The Brown Hotel

We began our ride straight into a flat, almost featureless, plain. There was very little in the way landmarks. Twenty-six miles later we got to Springer, NM, and stopped in the old Brown Hotel, where I enjoyed my first donut since Finland. We sat at these tiny wooden barstools. Sadly, we learned that the Brown Hotel, in operation since the early 20th Century is closing its doors for good in a few days. We will be the last bike riders to dine here. About a mile outside Springer on the road to Cimarron, I sustained another flat tire. Again it was the front. I had to stop and do repairs right next to sign that warned us not to pick up hitch-hikers because we were near New Mexico's prison. I put in a spare as quickly as I could, while Steve managed to find a piece of wire embedded in the inner-tire. Storm clouds gathered as we ate a bag lunch from the Brown Hotel. Big black veils or rain were approaching from along the crest of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains.

We managed to dodge the storms. At Reyaldo, we stopped at an old adobe building, which housed a museum. Steve and I lingered a bit outside, when a man dressed in blacksmith garb came out and beckoned us in. Even though the museum was closed, Jimmy, took on us a tour and told us this was Kit Carson's house.

Tonight, we have luxurious accommodations at the Boy Scout camp near Cimarron. No tent tonight, we each get a tent cabin with a cot and a mattress. What a deal! The only thing that makes me nervous are all the vultures that are roosted in a tree nearby and a sign warning us of marauding bears.

Russ is back!

Today's Stats: 57 miles. No road kill. One sited antelope.