25 March 2014
Kingston to Caballo Lake State Park, New Mexico
32 miles (Total Miles = 732)

We are lingering over coffee, eggs, potatoes, bacon, fresh pineapple, yogurt, and coffee cake, not wanting to leave this oasis in the wilds. It’s a short day on the bikes so there’s no rush to say goodbye to the Black Range Lodge, a two thumbs up overnighter no matter how you slice it.

There’s also no rush to say goodbye to Larry. Let me tell you a little bit about Larry and Larry, forgive me in advance if I muddle any facts. Larry is one of our riders and he’s the most amazing man, having gone from working many years in the textile industry to deciding to teach High School social studies to deciding to run for (and win) two terms as a Democratic congressman for North Carolina.

Larry tells the most incredible stories in the most down-home and entertaining manner; he’s the kind of guy that you want to sit next to at the dinner table and the kind of natural teacher that you want to take a civics class from. Anyway, Larry has sadly had to leave our team for a few days to return home for a death in the family and this morning we had to say our temporary good-byes until he can join back with the group somewhere in Texas. Good luck, Larry, we’ll be thinking of you and miss you while you’re away.

As for today’s ride, we dropped out of the mountains and down to the Rio Grande, where we’re camping at a riverside State Park. Not a lot of water in that river but where the water really counts – the hot kind that comes out of the shower – there’s plenty.