Day 41: Caballo, NM to Silver City, NM

Today ranks as the hardest day of the tour and up there with the toughest rides I've ever done.

All started off lovely with a stunning sunrise over our spot on the lake.

The best camp yet

Brekkie

We knew the day would take us over the highest point on the Southern Tier route - Emory Pass at 2500 metres. We also knew we'd be riding directly west, so bang into the wind.

Plan A was to start early, beat the wind, over the pass and head north on the loop to the Gila cliff dwellings and hot springs.

The trouble is that our early is 9am. Five miles along the flat heading to the pass and the wind starts up. We also couldn't resist to stop for a coffee and pie at the nice cafe in Hillsboro.

So to Plan B, hitchhike up to the cliff dwellings with our bikes.

The climb sheltered us from the worst of the wind, but obviously it's replaced by a huge mountain. It's a long way up to the top and hard going but a beautiful road to ride.

High, windy and cold

The headwind is so strong it even turns the descent into work.

Plan C, then. Fuck it, we'll skip the loop and carry on to Silver City. The wind continues and what we thought would be the easy option turns out to be lumpy all the way to Silver City.

12 hours since we set off, 2400m of uphill, only 78 miles made and we grind our way into town just before dark and smash a Wendy's, the first sight of food in town. Spent.

Thankfully in town is The Bike Haus, a place owned by Jamie which we've heard about from many cyclists along the route, that are putting us up for the night.