Day 17 Guadalupe Mountains NP to Carlsbad
Riders set their alarms early in order to get to Carlsbad, NM. Everyone emerged from their tents in the Guadalupe Mountains and started packing up. Things were going well until we tried to access the bikes. Though we have been locking the bikes routinely over the past few weeks, somehow we could not find the key to the Master lock that was securing the industrial strength chain that was wrapped around the bikes. So began a search for the correct key. About twenty keys were found. Nevertheless, after about three different people tried each key in the lock, the bikes remained chained together. At this point, we got resourceful and tracked down a nice fellow camper with tools. Our Riders tried to show off their brute grip strength by attacking the bike chain with wire cutters. After several people had unsuccessfully showcased their skills, it was time for a hacksaw. It took Maggie and Pete to hold the bike chain while Fujii sawed. After several minutes, our bikes were finally freed, and the ride commenced.
Even though, it was only a 37 mile day, the ride was miserable. The Riders anticipated a day that involved mostly descents. Typically, when biking downhill, our Riders can average 20-30 mph without pedaling. Today, with intense headwinds, our Riders averaged approximately 13 mph downhill with furious pedaling. Furthermore, despite breaking out the cold weather gear, the Riders were freezing. Then, large rain droplets started falling from the sky. The combination of the cold, wind and rain made this a tough day. Riders were rewarded, however, with steaming cups of hot chocolate and a trip to Carlsbad Caverns.
The Caverns were amazing! Many Riders have never seen underground caverns like this before. Together we entered the “Natural Entrance Route,” a route that descends 750 feet into the Earth down winding, steep trails. Signs along the trail taught us how billions and billions of drops of water have created cave formations including stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies and popcorn. The resulting structures were breathtaking. This underground world is not one that the Riders will forget any time soon, and helped to end the day in a positive way.
~Lenore