Our hotel last night was also known as a pizzeria. We had a nice eggplant pizza where they first had to stoke a fire to get coals. Overall, delicious.
Our hotel also overlooked Isalo National Park. From the reviews an interesting place to return.
Breakfast at the hotel and then we set off. Today was less climbing mostly a gradual ride up the hill, 1000 net climb (probably double with the dips). What made today tougher was the wind. Not long after we started we had wind (my estimate 15mph occasionally slightly more). This explains the 7.5mph average cycling speed.
There was enough wind that as we passed some occasional huts along the way, there weren’t kids running out to see us on the road.
We slowly made our way and at 26km was the only real town of the day. This was a good spot for a coke stop and break.
More people along in the village here.
Cell phone tower in front of some basic huts.
After the village a little more of a slog until we reached an agreed upon stop at 52km. It wasn’t the complete 88km to Ihosy but with the wind this was enough of the ride.
Ihosy was a larger crossroads town. The guides didn’t list tourist hotels though we did see some places for rent. The bridges here are mostly one way traffic so we followed the ox drawn cart across the bridge with herded cattle coming our way.
Rather than stop in Ihosy we had decided to continue to Ambalavao. This gives us tomorrow to explore and stay in the same place.
Today could have been a tough day with wind and hills but we cut it short with a sag to Ranohira and a relaxing afternoon.
When we awoke the power was out. Soon enough it was so daylight so we could pack. Breakfast at the hotel and a purchase of bread rolls before heading out of town. Almost immediately the climbing began, a total of 1500ft over the next 20km.
Along the way stopped to get a photo of this man toting a large cart. There are a surprising number of people walking along the road, even between villages.
Close to the top we crossed Zombitse National Park. There were some trees here but those disappeared at the next summit. The road became open and the wind picked up. Somewhat of a cross-wind but also adding as a head wind. It wasn’t too bad on the way back down, but as we started climbing back the other side for another 1500km climb.
A few km in the climb V. came back as our sag driver. Prospects of spending a long afternoon riding uphill and upwind weren’t as attractive so decided to cut it short. Another 10km and Bert joined me.
We drove through to Ranohira which made for a shorter day. Here we found a place to stay and out for a late lunch. This gave us a little more time to relax in the afternoon.
This last photo was interesting because the shop sold a few bike parts, a lot of miscellaneous things and did haircuts.
Today was a long ride, 127km/79 miles from Toliara heading inland. When we woke up, it was still dark. We packed our belongings and had a breakfast in the hotel.
Turns out we had picked a nice hotel and had our own bungalow
After breakfast we brought out our luggage and met the driver we had arranged for the trip. Looking at today, I’m glad I wasn’t carrying fully loaded panniers. This also gives some options along the way.
We started through Toliara. It was crowded in the morning with pedal cabs, trucks, minibuses and people walking along the way. The road started fairly smooth, we were fresh and cycled faster.
After 5km was turnoff for the airport and it became quieter. At 10km we had the first hill as we turned inland. I didn’t capture many photos but today we crossed some villages and rural areas. Kids would see us, call out and get excited . I didn’t know exactly what they were saying but I sometimes tried mimicking back what I heard. Later in the day, perhaps as I got more tired and slowed down, they would run along. Except for one instance a kid grabbed the bike rack they left me alone.
At 40km it was time for a coke stop and some crackers. The road occasionally had some large potholes. These were tougher on the vehicles than bicycles at least where we could weave to find pavement.
The landscape was dry.
One of few village photos and this one was calm.
At 66km we reached the larger town of Andranovory. We didn’t realize it but we cycled past our driver and we didn’t see each other. So we stopped at last restaurant before end of town and got lunch (chicken and rice). We left messages and set off.
The second part of the ride the road was in worse condition. In sections potholes consumed the entire road. Sometimes this left giant holes that were like rollers to ride down and up the other side. Other spots were skipping from hole to hole.
We slowed down. I was watching the clock with sunset time and figured as long as I was going 13km in an hour there was enough time. As it turned out, I arrived right at sunset.
Now time to take a shower, post the blog, eat and get ready for tomorrow.
Uneventful travels have brought us to the starting point: Toliara on the Southwest Coast of Madagascar.
For me this included 22 hours of flying time: two hours to Atlanta, eight hours to Paris, ten hours to Antananarivo and two hours to Toliara. Add in eight hours of time change and some longer layovers and the clock showed two days of travel.
Entry to Madagascar was fairly efficient. A visa on arrival cost $10 for 15 days. There didn’t seem to be much of a customs inspection. This surprised me in contrast to other island nations such as New Zealand which are careful on plants/animals coming as stow-aways.
I was also pleasantly surprised my bike flew for free to Antananarivo and then a $40 charge the last leg.
The taxis were small at it took two of them to get from the airport to our reservation. Right around 5am and then a restful sleep to catch up. Looks like a nice place. Today a chance to put together the bikes.
On my way to Madagascar. Photo below from the Paris airport. This is also a test to see that I can create blog posts and get them included in the Madagascar page by setting the right category. This makes it a bit easier both to view and to edit the web site by adding only a post at a time.
Checked my bike box in at the Austin airport. Flew to Atlanta where I had a six hour layover. After that an eight hour overnight flight landing in Paris CDG airport in the morning.
AI assistants continue to grow in capability. I am particularly intrigued by recent additions of “deep research” that essentially do web searches to collect information and then create an overall summary. Below is my experience trying to use Google Gemini Deep Research to investigate the following question
I am looking to find or create a tool that will help me record events for a bicycle travel blog of an upcoming trip. An ideal system would ask me an initial set of questions, transcribe my responses and then ask follow-on questions to clarify or collect additional levels of detail. What tools are out there that do this task or can be used together to accomplish this task?
After typing this into Gemini, it provided me the following “research plan” and asked for a confirmation
(1) Search for existing all-in-one AI-powered journaling or interview tools designed to transcribe spoken responses and ask dynamic, context-aware follow-up questions to generate narrative content. (2) Identify and evaluate top-rated voice transcription applications and software. Focus on features relevant to a traveler, such as offline functionality, accuracy, and ease of use on mobile devices. (3) Investigate AI writing assistants and conversational AI platforms that can be configured to act as an interviewer. Explore their capabilities for generating relevant follow-up questions based on an initial block of text. (4) Research automation platforms to understand how a workflow could be created to connect a transcription service with a conversational AI, detailing the steps to automatically process transcribed text. (5) Explore guided journaling and travelogue applications that use pre-set question templates or daily prompts to structure entries, assessing them as a simpler alternative to a dynamic AI system. (6) Synthesize the findings into potential tool combinations or ‘stacks’. For each proposed solution, describe the workflow, the specific types of tools involved, the likely setup process, and the potential pros and cons. (7) Compare and contrast the proposed custom AI-driven workflows with the simpler, pre-structured journaling apps based on setup complexity, cost, flexibility, and the potential quality of the generated blog content.
It gave me a chance to edit this plan, but it looked fine so I clicked “start research”
As it went along, it provided some progress steps along the way. For example here were the first lines. It also started to list web site URLs that it looked at.
Understanding the Core Need
I’m starting to explore tools that can help create a bicycle travel blog. The ideal solution would act like an interviewer, transcribing spoken responses and asking follow-up questions to gather more detailed information. This suggests a need for a combination of voice transcription, natural language processing for question generation, and a way to integrate these functionalities.
Initial Research Approach
My initial approach involves looking for existing all-in-one solutions that might fit this description. If a complete solution isn’t readily available, I’ll then investigate individual component technologies like transcription services, AI writing assistants, and automation platforms. I’m also considering simpler, non-AI alternatives like guided journaling applications.
Next Steps in Exploration
I’m beginning my research by searching for terms like ‘AI interviewer for journaling’ and ‘conversational journaling app’ to identify any existing integrated tools. Concurrently, I’ll be looking into ‘voice transcription apps for travelers’ and ‘AI story writing assistant’ to understand the landscape of individual technologies that could be combined to achieve the desired functionality.
As it went along it found some tools that seemed to do a lot of what I was asking (reflectr and ulog.ai). It also pretty quickly honed in on some potential solutions summarizing a bit further
Comprehensive Understanding of Solutions
I’ve now gathered a comprehensive understanding of various approaches to meet the user’s needs. This includes dedicated AI-powered journaling tools, individual components for a custom solution, and simpler journaling applications. I have enough information to compare and contrast these options effectively.
All-in-One Tool Insights
I’ve confirmed that ‘Reflectr’ and ‘uLog.ai’ are strong contenders for an out-of-the-box solution. uLog.ai, in particular, stands out for its ability to use AI to ask follow-up questions and build a narrative timeline, which directly addresses a key aspect of the user’s request.
Refined Transcription Options
For voice transcription, ‘VoiceScriber AI’ is a robust option for offline use, while ‘Otter.ai’ offers a suitable Pro plan for individual users, providing a clear path for integration. I’ve also confirmed that Zapier can effectively connect transcription services like Otter.ai with other services, eliminating the need for complex developer APIs in many cases.
Automation and AI Integration
I have a solid understanding of how to leverage Zapier to automate the workflow between a transcription service and a conversational AI, such as ChatGPT. This provides a clear framework for building a custom solution that can generate follow-up questions based on transcribed input.
Ready for Final Synthesis
I have reached a point of saturation in my research and possess all the necessary information to synthesize my findings. My next step is to compile a comprehensive report that compares the various solutions based on factors like setup complexity, cost, flexibility, and the quality of the output, providing a clear overview for the user.
This led it to create the following report. Which was the result of the research. While it doesn’t solve the complete problem, it seems like an intriguing starting point of pointing at existing tools/approaches described on the web as well as other approaches.
Note: This is an 18-page report, at bottom left you can go to next page…
April 2025 and time for another bicycle trip. This time I decided to take a week of vacation to bicycle in New Mexico. I have a condo in Alto (near Ruidoso) and planned trip with that in mind. In particular (a) I picked a route via Ruidoso so I can switch out gear and (b) I brought my work laptop so I can work remotely in the week immediately following.
April is an OK time for such a trip. Summer temperatures make the lower elevations and deserts unpredictable for a summer trip. It is the windiest time of the year, but the winds come from South/West more often than other directions so a good chance at some tailwinds. I built some slack in the schedule so I could wait out a short-term adverse weather event.
On Thursday, April 3rd I rented a minivan, loaded it up and took off after work. Only 100 miles to Brady, TX but I like getting the trip started on the road rather than early the next morning. Friday was a “recharge day” so no meetings and employees are encouraged to take off (but with pay). A nice perk and in my case it gave me an extra day for riding.
Friday morning I was on the road and reached my condo around 3pm. I had brought with me three bicycles. One was a mountain bike I normally have there but had moved to Austin in Fall 2024. I also brought a new Kona Sutra bike I purchased at start of the year. I only had a front rack on it so could carry enough for staying in motels but not quite enough if I also wanted a contingency for camping. The final bike was my Trek 520, a trusty bike with front and rear panniers.
The plan was to start off with the Kona Sutra from El Paso to Ruidoso – and probably the Trek 520 from Ruidoso to Santa Fe. This way I would get some more extended time on each bike and could better compare them from touring perspective.
Below is the starting picture at the El Paso Airport. I arrived a little before sunset so this let me drop off the rental car, load my bike and ride a very short distance to the airport hotel.
In the days before starting, I had checked the weather multiple times. There was a cold front coming through. Further north in New Mexico and even in Ruidoso this meant snow in the forecast. In El Paso it was more showers. What was more important was the direction and speed of the wind. From El Paso to Alamogordo I had two choices:
The more direct route was ~85 miles mostly NNE on US 54. There was one small settlement (Orogrande) where I could probably camp but otherwise not much choice. With a headwind or strong crosswind, 85 miles would be miserable but with a tailwind it could be fun.
The indirect route was ~55 miles from El Paso to Las Cruces and then ~65 miles from Las Cruces to Alamogordo. The section from Las Cruces to Alamogordo also went through wide open desert but at least was 20 miles shorter.
In the end, the weather forecast told me ENE winds strengthening during the day and somewhere between 0.05 and 0.25 inches of rain. Taking two days also make later days a bit warmer and still favorable for wind. So I decided to take the Kona Sutra, no camping gear but go in two days via Las Cruces.
Many motels in Texas have waffle makers and often in the shape of the state. So my breakfast included a Texas waffle.
It was overcast but dry and there was a moderate wind from the east. If it was windy this early in the morning, I was glad I made my route choice. There were some rolling hills including this spot where I looked over some of the city. The airport is in the east and I went around a ridge of mountains to follow the Rio Grande River valley.
The photo below was ~13 miles in where I had reached US 85 and right close to the river. There was construction here and the road was officially closed but I was able to bicycle past. After this a short section of bike path and then a straight but road with a moderate amount of traffic as I headed north through El Paso. At 16 miles, I took a short stop at a convenience store for a snack and then back on the busy road.
At 22 miles I reached the state line. By now traffic was less and until Las Cruces it was more of a quiet road along orchards. I saw multiple groups of Saturday morning bicyclists though they all seemed to be going the other direction. I also met two cyclists who were going coast to coast on the “southern tier” route. I had also bicycled this same route in 2001 so it was nice to be back where I had cycled before.
Examples of these pecan trees. I was surprised they were just now starting to get leaves.
One village had a huge cell tower. I think it was supposed to be disguised as a tree. However, the disguise wasn’t very convincing since it was much taller than any other tree in the area.
Small catholic church in La Mesa. I had the same picture in 2001 here
After La Mesa it gradually got busier again and I went through Mesilla and then across I-10 through middle of Las Cruces and then across I-25 and close to US 70. Overall a nice ride. Temperatures never got much over 50F but there wasn’t much rain. This let me get to the motel and relax in getting ready for the next day.
Las Cruces to Alamogordo (63 miles)
Today was a nice ride across the Tularosa Valley. Most all the climbing was in the first 13 miles. After that calm winds and mostly flat. The profile was expanded to fit the screen so it wasn’t as steep as implied. Close to the top were a few places with 7% grade. I was in my lowest gear. I’m glad I don’t have a rear rack on this bike as the extra weight would make the low gearing not quite enough.
Pretty much the entire route was along US 70 first along the frontage roads. There was a steady grade. Sometimes a bike lane but also sometimes some glass in the lane. The morning started out just below freezing so it was nice to generate heat while climbing.
As I passed a space/missile museum I then joined the main highway and the grade also got steeper. The last five miles varied between 5% and 7% sections.
After 13 miles I reached the top. San Agustin Pass
There was a wildlife refuge here with some displays and a large missile statue
From here a relatively quick descent until I came past the entrance to White Sands Missile Range at 20 miles. After this a steady ride along the floor of the valley without much variation in altitude.
US 70 was a divided highway with four lanes but the shoulder was reasonable and traffic gave me enough room. Signs all prohibited any access to smaller roads.
As I got close to 45 miles I saw some of the dunes from White Sands National Park.
I stopped at the visitor center to eat a sandwich I had brought with me but didn’t go further into the park. I’ve been there before and was happy to keep going after my late lunch.
Without too much difficulty, I made it to Alamogordo and to a motel I had reserved in advance. Nice chance to rest and get ready for the next day.
Alamogordo to Alto (56 miles)
Today was a day for climbing. The first 13 miles were flat to Tularosa but from there 26 miles and 3000ft of climb to the top of Apache Summit. After that a descent into Ruidoso and then another 1000+ft of climb to Alto. My cycle computer recorded 4629ft of climb.
I had done this same ride a year ago and had ~2 inches of snow at the summit. So a much better set of weather for today. Slightly cool at the start but it quickly warmed up after that. All this was familiar area from other cycling as well as visiting in the area.
After leaving Alamogordo, I came past the giant pistachio and an obligatory photo.
I stopped at the Chisolm gas station outside Tularosa at 13 miles. Got a few things to eat and shortly thereafter started the climb. US 70 is a divided highway with a good shoulder. The grades were also reasonable and steady so a good road to climb on.
Catholic Church near Bent NM
I measured my progress by keeping track of elevation. At 6500ft was a more general area with school and store. This was a good stop to get some lunch.
Another 1100ft of climb brought me to the summit. I have now brought three different bicycles to this summit point.
Ate a banana and threw away the peal in the dumpster. Thought the scarecrow on the fence was interesting. A way to ward off illegal dumping?
From here 8.5 miles of descent and down into Ruidoso. Mountain ahead is Sierra Blanca and the information sign also describes the peak.
After a late lunch, I took the local roads up from Ruidoso to Alto. Alto is a small unincorporated area so for outsiders I’ll also mention “Ruidoso” as general location but in this case it mattered since I was climbing. Close to the top is a section with ~10% grades and I took a short section to walk this uphill. I also crossed this burn areas below.
Not sure what that fuzzy thing was in front of the lens, but I was happy to reach my destination.
From here started working the next set of reservations. I had sent an email to the motel in Corona but not heard from them. So decided to call and got voicemail that all their rooms were full. So I left a message for wait list. In any case, I’ll also need to bring my tent and camping gear for the next section just in case I don’t have a place in Corona.
Alto to Carrizozo (26 miles)
Today was a shorter easier day. The next two places along the way were Carrizozo (27 miles) and Corona (73 miles). While I could probably make it to Corona in a day, that would be a long ride and not leave too much margin for wind. This also let me dial into work, attend two meetings and catch up with my email. I didn’t want to arrive too early so didn’t leave Alto until 11:30am.
The ride to Carrizozo had 3000+ feet of descent and only 1000+ feet of climb. There were a few stretches of 8% grade but overall this also made it somewhat easier.
For this next stretch, I decided to swap bikes and instead take my heavier touring bike. This meant I could take my camping gear. I didn’t expect to get a motel room in Corona and otherwise there wasn’t as much margin. The bike felt comfortable and rode slightly different from the Kona Sutra. Most importantly, it had some lower gears so I could both carry more and also very slowly ride up the steepest hills if I needed. Below is the photo at the Chisum store just at departure.
There was some descent and climb right away, particularly down an 8% grade for two miles. After that it climbed back up some and hovered back around 7000ft for a while before descending steeply again into settlement of Nogal shown below. There was a strong wind coming from the WSW and as I got past Nogal, it seemed like it picked up some. Nogal itself was at 6500ft so still 1000ft to descend after that.
As I was riding, the motel sent me an email. There had been a mixup and they didn’t have a room for me after all. Not too much else to do – but ride down to Carrizozo and check things out. There were three motels in town and I had reserved at the only one where I could online (via booking.com); the other two had fewer reviews on Google so I wasn’t sure.
At 19 miles I reached the intersection of US 380. The last eight miles from here had a solid headwind combined with a slight descent. It was still some work riding into the wind but I was happy with shorter ride.
I reached Carrizozo a little before three. I went to the motel that had cancelled but there was a note and phone number on the door. So instead I went across the street to Carrizozo Inn. Just as I was there, one of the cleaning staff came up. She didn’t speak English but was able to call the owner. He told her to open a room and he would come by in an hour or so and settle up.
That was appreciated and I was happy to have a room. I never did get a room key or the wifi password but otherwise a nice place to stay. Out of the wind and a good rest for what I expected would be a tougher ride the next day.
Carrizozo to Corona (52 miles)
Today was only 47 miles but there was a chance of stronger cross-winds later in the day so I was on the road not too long after sunrise. Corona would be the only stopping point so had some snacks and water along the way.
The day started out beautiful, calm and sunny. There were no turns today so everything on US-54.
At 20 miles came the only side road – NM 55 going off to Mountair. 62 miles down the road and perhaps a chance at lodging? Though nothing online. I briefly paused but in the end decided to stick with the original plan. In hindsight this turned out good since I would have found myself rationing water since I brought enough for Corona but not for this extra distance.
Two miles later an entrance to Windmill Ranch. After this point, I started getting some wind. Fortunately, mostly a cross wind and hence wasn’t a big issue.
There is a block of construction starting after mile 27. I have driven this route multiple times, most recently in January 2025 but wasn’t sure what I would find this time.
The first miles were good and still kept a shoulder on the right side. There was a steeper climb for a mile or so where I switched to the left side since it had more room.
When I got to the top the original road was still narrow without much of a shoulder. Not in photo below but there would be convoys of trucks/cars coming past so that could be obnoxious. However, to the right they were getting close to done. The road went from pavement to oiled gravel to smoothed gravel and finally to rough. For multiple miles and most of the distance I was able to avoid the narrow original road by cycling on the not yet open sections.
All this brought me to Corona by 1:30 pm or so.
The first order of business was to go to the motel. There was an adjacent general store and I talked with the motel owner there. They hadn’t responded to my email or voicemail. Their outgoing phone message said they had no room but leave a message to get on a wait list.
So I asked the likelihood of a wait list. They said none – they had rented their rooms during the week to workers on a nearby wind farm. Between the wind farm and construction nearby pretty much everything was full. They did have an RV park with bathroom and shower and I could camp there if needed.
They had a fun old phone booth
I hung around town for a few hours, got a bite to eat and read my Kindle book. It was a relaxed afternoon. After that I loaded up on some extra water and some food and left around 4pm to ride a few miles out of town where iOverlander had indicated there was a national forest where some had camped. Four miles down the road I found the entrance.
Half a mile further I found a spot on the left side and got behind the trees and set up my tent.
It was a nice campsite. The sun warmed my tent. The moon came bright the first part of the night. There was a travel trailer nearby and the owner came in right around sunset and started a generator that went all night. Not too bad of a hum and they left just a bit before sunrise. So a nice ride overall.
Not too far in this area were also some of the tall wind towers.
Corona to Moriarty (64 miles)
Today was a flat ride though slightly longer than average. I woke up well rested in my hidden campsite. It was a cool morning but quickly warmed up in the morning. There were some wide open spaces and I was happy to have no wind.
My first place along the way was Cedarville. It was pretty much remnants of a town. Seems hardy for pinto beans to grow in this area – and also hardy to have folks homesteading here.
Behind the Cedarville sign you can see one of the run down buildings.
At mile 13 was a roadside picnic table. There was some glass around and looked like some people had hopped the fence. I was happy with my campsite and glad I didn’t decide to continue and try camping here. I didn’t see any “no camping” signs but it was narrow to the fence and likely private property across the fence.
At 20 miles I noticed something on my Google Map, a marker for “Geographic Center of New Mexico”, looked like less than a mile off the road (though it turned out to be 1.5 miles each direction). I had some time and seemed like an interesting place to explore – so first down this road.
I reached a ranch house about 0.7 miles down this road and then there was a separate path to go from there. Eventually made my way to a flagpole and a small enclosed gate.
I stepped back and took a panorama photo so you can see how sparse and wide open this otherwise is. You can see the flagpole about a third of the way into the panorama and otherwise wide open country.
After this back to the main road and then to Willard where I was there by 11:30am and hence just in time for lunch at the cafe.
After lunch the road turned more north and slightly into the wind but fortunately not too strong. Estancia was 13 miles later and largest town.
Some motorcycles coming into Estancia.
After Estancia the shoulder gradually become wider and there was also more traffic. Not sure what this “What About Us” sign meant. Overall, reached Moriarty about 3:30pm so was a nice ride and finish to the day. Also good to get a bed and a shower again.
Moriarty to Santa Fe (52 miles)
Today was the last day riding and completion in Santa Fe. I found my way to a motel about five miles west of town center – and also near the airport and car rental place. I actually gave myself eight days to ride so will have a free day tomorrow to do some shorter riding around Santa Fe and get to more official places.
Moriarty is a roadside stop along I-40 with plenty of motels and roadside business. Also some signs for historic Route 66. Each day this week had been getting slightly warmer and this afternoon was warm but still reasonable. Hence, April was a good time to do this ride as two months from now would have more risk of rather hot temperatures.
After crossing the Interstate it quickly became wide open country again. There were even some farms including some center-pivot sprinklers. The road was mostly flat with a shoulder.
After a very gradual ride as the land followed a wide area up, I reached ~6600ft and more change in landscape with some slight hills. From this point at mile 17 to Galisteo at mile 28.5 I dropped ~500ft but also came over some lower hills as well. There wasn’t much traffic on this road though I did see a rider pass me – and likely turn around at Galisteo since he then came back the other direction.
Galisteo had this church at main intersection of town. Otherwise didn’t see any business.
Historic marker.
The next 9.3 miles were on a smaller road with some steeper climbs and drops.
There was unfortunately also a ghost bike along the way. At a turn on bottom of a hill.
At the end of this road I came to NM 14, also known as the Turquoise Trail. This road was busy. It was also rather hilly with a few steeper descents. Overall from here to Santa Fe, I made back the 500-600ft I had dropped going into Galisteo. There was a restaurant combination feed and grain where I had lunch.
I came past the prison district coming into town.
I didn’t see any welcome to Santa Fe signs but after crossing under the interstate on this tunnel, found myself on side of a busy main road. It was hot and still a slight rise but fortunately, all pretty close as I found my motel.
I have tomorrow as a free day so will have to see if there is a shorter ride I do in the area. Overall, the ride from El Paso to Santa Fe was 370 miles over 7 days of riding. For the most part the weather cooperated and in particular no nasty headwinds. or really strong winds. Also gave me a chance to ride three days on the new bike and four days on the older touring bike as a mix.
From the seat of a bicycle one can get a unique view of the world. You stop in places others might quickly bypass or miss.
I’ve been reminded I was still a strange curiosity by the dozen people in south India that watched me change a flat tire – or by groups of kids in Africa that watched our strange Tour D’Afrique circus come past their homes. One of my favorite images was the one below where several riders in Ethiopia were watching “The Lion King” on a portable player while kids from the neighborhood were observing these strange characters that came to their village.
At the same time, a bicycle is close enough to be approachable, to share a smile and revel that we are all human.
While cycling one can also see results of some humanitarian efforts from US and developing countries. Some of them are accompanied by large signs describing the sponsor – often an NGO, a government or religious organization.
Sometimes there isn’t a sponsor, but something is pretty out of place like these foosball tables that you are sure it came from elsewhere.
The western countries are not the only sponsors. In Africa at least, there were multiple signs of Chinese infrastructure such as this road building camp complete with Chinese/Ethiopian flags and preparations for the Chinese new year.
Occasionally these can seem misguided like these painted crosswalks in a few Ethiopian towns. Which just seems strange when people are going to walk everywhere anyways.
The amount and presence of these projects seems to vary a lot from country to country. There were a few like Ethiopia and Cambodia that stood out with a huge presence. Sometimes seems to distort things since people you meet often assume “you must be one of these foreigners coming here to do projects”, similar to what I experienced in Timor Leste.
From my reading, a larger focus of US areas have been in areas such as safe water, disease prevention, disaster assistance and programs such as the “Food for Peace” program.
Occasionally areas such as crosswalks can seem strange/wasteful. However, despite that I believe on balance, providing this assistance is better than not doing so. In particular, I am supportive of having US policy (and current law) to fund and provide assistance via US AID and other governmental organizations. The total budget is large on an overall basis (~$60B) but also relatively small compared to other areas we fund such as defense or even border security costs. Hence, I think it is on balance money well spent in part because it helps people and builds ties.
So I am rather dismayed at recent events where abrupt changes were made to assistance programs and US AID. Now some of my concern is a “process issue”. In particular, it appears to me (and my untrained legal). That there is something simply wrong about taking money/organization that Congress has created and funded and simply deciding to disobey the law. Below is a copy of the Inspector General report that was created about impacts of the freeze/disruption. Shortly thereafter, that Inspector General was fired. So I think from a process/legal perspective if the administration wants to make these changes, the should be brought before Congress and new legislation be passed. I believe lawmakers should be on record on how they vote for such a bill.
Though truth be told, even if such a bill were brought before Congress, I still wouldn’t be supportive of it. The reasons is mostly that from my observation, aid and these sorts of programs do a lot of good and is money well spent.
A bicycle ride from Alamogordo New Mexico to Lubbock Texas in April 2024.
Why? This seems to be about the right time of year to ride this segment and several things also come together. It lets me “connect” Lubbock more closely to other routes I have cycled. In the summer of 2020 I spent a month in Lubbock as a cooler break from Austin during the pandemic. One weekend I cycled to Amarillo and other weekends I cycled in the area. However, connect to other places I have ridden including US 83 from Mexico to Canada or across Texas. While Alamogordo also doesn’t connect yet, it comes closer to both Socorro and Las Cruces which I have cycled in the past. It also will include a vacation home I have in Ruidoso where I have also cycled in the area.
It is a little over 300 miles which I expect to bicycle in a week. The first day I drop off a rental car in Alamogordo and then cycle up the hill to my vacation home. From there a four day ride via Roswell and ending in Lubbock.
There is a about 9000 feet of elevation gain and 10000 feet of elevation loss. More than half the elevation gain is on the first day to top of that second bump. After that a lot more downhill than uphill. The second day has the longest overall downhill. The third day to Tatum is the most remote with little in the way of services. The last two days are both flatter and have some wide-spread towns.
The weather can change, but on average temperatures in Alamogordo, Roswell and Lubbock have lows in the mid-40s and highs in the 70s so pleasant cycling. Ruidoso is a little cooler.
While there are trees about ~6000ft, a lot of this route will be on open plains where wind can make a difference. Hopefully I get some tailwinds or at least not as many head winds. The climate averages including wind roses suggest more tailwinds than headwinds so see how well this works out.
I received a prompt from Microsoft co-pilot as an introduction. So I tried it with the following prompt:
Write a bicycling blog in the style of Mike Vermeulen
Here is what it created: Definitely a few things that are incorrect however also some interesting pieces of facts that are correct and show it likely scanned some from my blogs.
Here is a possible bicycle blog entry in the style of Mike Vermeulen:
Greetings from Colorado!
I am happy to report that I have completed the first week of my bicycle tour across the USA. It has been a challenging but rewarding experience so far. I have met some wonderful people, seen some amazing scenery, and learned a lot about myself and the country.
I started my journey in Alto, New Mexico, where I had been staying with my cousin for a few days. He drove me to the border of Colorado, where I said goodbye and thanked him for his hospitality. I crossed the state line and felt a surge of excitement and nervousness. I was finally on my own, with nothing but my bike, my gear, and my map.
My first destination was Trinidad, a small town about 50 miles north of the border. The ride was mostly flat and easy, except for a strong headwind that slowed me down. I arrived in Trinidad around noon and checked into a motel. I took a shower, ate a sandwich, and rested for a while. Then I went out to explore the town. I visited the Trinidad History Museum, where I learned about the rich and diverse history of the area. I also saw the Fisher’s Peak, a prominent landmark that rises above the town.I took some photos and posted them on my blog1.
The next day, I continued north along the Highway 12, also known as the Scenic Highway of Legends. This route took me through some of the most beautiful and varied landscapes I have ever seen. I passed by green valleys, pine forests, rocky cliffs, and snow-capped mountains. I also saw some interesting historical and cultural sites, such as the Ludlow Massacre Memorial, the Cuchara Valley Ski Area, and the Spanish Peaks. I camped at the North Lake State Wildlife Area, where I enjoyed a peaceful night under the stars.
The following day, I faced one of the toughest challenges of my tour: the La Veta Pass. This pass is the highest point on the Highway 12, at 9,413 feet above sea level. It was a steep and long climb, with several switchbacks and curves. I had to push myself hard, both physically and mentally, to reach the top. I was rewarded with a stunning view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a sense of accomplishment. I took a break and ate a snack, then descended the other side of the pass. I reached the town of La Veta, where I stayed at a cozy bed and breakfast. I met the owner, a friendly lady named Susan, who offered me a homemade dinner and a glass of wine. We had a nice conversation about our lives and travels. She told me that she used to be a teacher, but retired and moved to La Veta to pursue her passion for painting. She showed me some of her paintings, which were inspired by the nature and culture of Colorado. I was impressed by her talent and her story.
The next morning, I thanked Susan for her hospitality and continued my journey. I followed the Highway 160, which took me east to Walsenburg, then north to Pueblo. This section was mostly flat and windy, with not much to see. I made good time and reached Pueblo by the afternoon. Pueblo is the largest city in southern Colorado, with a population of about 110,000. It is known for its steel industry, its cultural diversity, and its green chile. I decided to spend a day in Pueblo to rest and explore. I checked into a hotel and took a nap. Then I went out to find some food. I asked a local for a recommendation, and he pointed me to a restaurant called Bingo Burger. He said they had the best burgers and fries in town, and that I had to try their green chile sauce. I followed his advice and ordered a burger with cheese, bacon, and green chile sauce, and a side of fries. It was delicious. The burger was juicy and flavorful, the fries were crispy and salty, and the green chile sauce was spicy and tangy. It was the perfect meal after a long ride. I also ordered a beer, a local brew called Steel City. It was refreshing and smooth, with a hint of citrus. I enjoyed my food and drink, and thanked the staff for their service.
The next day, I visited the Pueblo Riverwalk, a scenic and lively area along the Arkansas River. I walked along the river, admiring the fountains, sculptures, and bridges. I also saw some shops, cafes, and bars. I stopped at a coffee shop and ordered a latte and a muffin. I sat outside and watched the people and the boats. I also checked my email and updated my blog. I received some comments and messages from my friends and family, who were following my tour. They congratulated me on my progress and wished me luck. I replied to them and thanked them for their support. I also checked the weather and the route for the next day. It looked like it was going to be sunny and warm, and that I had about 50 miles to go to reach Colorado Springs, my next destination.
I finished my coffee and muffin, and got ready to leave. I walked back to my hotel, packed my bags, and loaded my bike. I checked out of the hotel and hit the road. I was feeling good and excited. I had completed the first week of my tour, and I had seen and done so much. I wondered what the next week would bring. I pedaled on, with a smile on my face.
