May 31, Wednesday, day 4, light wind; low 80s

We climbed out of Silver City about 11:30.  Had an excellent stay at the Palace Hotel.  Met  a young retired couple from Utah walking the CDT. They needed to carry gallons of water to make it from the border. And they had predropped stashes along the route. Intrepid. Mailed some items home before leaving town.  Hard psychologically hauling long underwear and a fleece with temps in the high 80s.  I'll need it in Colorado, but that's a few weeks and several  hundred bike miles. The route today was tough. We did have one redeeming  mile down late afternoon.  Today's section went through part of the gorgeous Gil's National Wilderness, home of the ancient cliff dwellers.  Lots of beautiful pine forest, a nice change from the desert. Rain chased us into a campground around 5:00.  Another short day. I was shot. Still getting into shape. Lots of granny gearing today and frequent road-side breathers.  Usually just collapse on my bike handle bars, too weary to get off the bike. Met a guy from Athens Georgia sagging for his son and two college buddies doing the GDT. One kid graduated from Anna's HS in Athens. Ain't that America!