New Mexico ADV loop - Day 6

It started raining at 3am, I’m glad I packed most of my gear away even though it was cloudless when we turned in for the night! It sprinkled for half an hour or so, and I hoped that was all we’d get… but it really started raining in earnest around 6, and kept it up for more than an hour. So now everything is quite wet, and I had forgotten how this tent is just adequate in rain or condensation conditions; the foot of my sleeping bag is pretty soggy.

Will’s tent performed admirably, as it turned out; better than mine, and his was less than $100!

We hung things out to dry, but it was 100% humidity and the sun kept hiding behind fog — who ever heard of such a thing in New Mexico?

Anna reported weather coming through this afternoon, then clear for a day, then real rain W-Th. We’ll have to carefully assess options when we get to Grants; depending on conditions, we might need to hole up in a hotel for a day or two.

We eventually got things dried out enough to pack them, just in time for more clouds to show up and obscure the sun. It started raining again as we left the campground, and got wetter as we rode. Despite the rain, the scenery was fantastic and we rolled along at modest speeds through the Gila forests, no one about except an occasional elk hunter (and most of them were holed up in camp.)

We finally outrode the rain, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun as we descended into Reserve. We stopped for refreshments and food at the Prod-O brewery and distillery; pizza was pretty good, beer OK, music and theme very very Country Western. The stop gave us time to consider routes - continue on the BDR, knowing that more wet weather was coming? Or find alternate paved routes, either north to Grants, or east towards Socorro? Or something else?

We studied the weather forecast and elected to head east, nominally to the campground at Water Canyon just before Socorro. We had good weather until a few miles before Magdalena, when a big cell caught up to us and gave us a soaking. We rode out of it, and arrived at the turn to the campground with the storm close in our rear view mirrors… The odds of a dry campout seemed near to zero, so we elected to get a cheap motel room in Socorro.

Our dinner choices were limited, and required a walk or a drive, but a storm was imminent, and no Uber or Lyft services were quickly available (no surprise, given the location), so we re-donned our damp riding gear and rode the bikes the mile to get to the saloon.

In Socorro, at the Capitol Bar & Brewery (good place, 130 years old this year!) was this cocktail, which looked interesting but I didn’t try; I might have to make it:

ROADRUNNER

High West bourbon, High West rye, Amaro Averna, Cynar, Angostura & Orange bitters

Fortunately the band of rain had moved on by the time we left, although the next one was on its way — I could hear the thunder and see the lightning by the time we got back to the motel!

Lessons and actions:

• Definitely bring a rain shell and pants for future trips! Everything got soooo wet, and while the motorcycle jacket and pants are waterproof-breathable, they are heavy and unweildy for camp. Better to have a lightweight set along, for wind & rain.
• Consider a new, less-leaky tent, or try to re-waterproof the (now 25-year-old) current one.

What has worked well?

• The new Bedrock clogs, with thick socks - my feet have not been cold! Now, I’ve been careful not to wear them in the rain… but the motorcycle boots would be ok there if needed, I guess.
• My trusty old Optimus Nova stove has been a workhorse, brewing up at least two kettles in the morning, and for dinner last night. We’re getting near the last third of the white gas fuel bottle, and then we’ll switch to gasoline and see how that goes.
• Wool layers - not stinking obviously anyway. I’ve lived in two wool t-shirts, a Patagonia wool knit top, wool undies.
• Capilene bottoms, which work better with the knee braces than the leggings they came with - thinner, less abrasive.

Mileage for the day: 175
Trip mileage: 789
Google maps Route