Tried another shortcut home last night that didn't quite work, I missed my turnoff onto Hermanas Grade and didn't get another chance until almost 2 miles later, at Hermanas Road. Well, at least I didn't miss that one. Got to my lot about 1 AM local time, full of energy and without having had to take a single sip of water along the way. I had been better prepared this time, having bought another bottle of Dasani water on top of the two pint bottles in my fanny pack, and having gulped down as much water as I could before I left.
Anyway, I got there with some food and some energy, and could see quite well in the starlight, so organized things a little, and over the next 10 hours or so alternately slept, dug, and fixed things up. Before leaving, noonish today, I transferred everything I really needed from my rollaround luggage to my new shoulder bag. Funny how I keep switching from shoulder bags to rolling bags, and each time I do I feel freer with the "new" method of carrying my stuff around.
I didn't really learn my lesson though, because I didn't refill my water before I left. I only had about a pint total for the whole trip. Luckily, the winds didn't oppose me for most of the trip, and were in fact favorable for a while. Also, I managed to follow the optimal route: Hermanas Road to Coyote, East a few blocks, then North on Hermanas Grade to where it bears right onto route 418 (?) and goes straight to the McDonald's. Made it with a few gulps of water left over.
People who always travel in cars probably don't make such a big deal out of shaving a couple of miles off a 14-mile trip. 3 songs on the radio and they're home, so what's the big deal. But for pedestrians and bicyclists, every mile can be hell if you're hungry or thirsty or, as has happened lately, out of energy. So you become a map freak and an intrepid investigator, trying new routes all the time until you find the best one. At night, on these New Mexico desert roads with no streetlights and only starlight to guide your way, it's easy to miss a turnoff, especially when so many of them don't even have signs identifying the cross street. In my case, next time I head back to my half acre I need to look for the sign "adult trailer park" (is that like an adult bookstore?) and make my left there onto Hermanas Grade.
I've been thinking about making a frame to hold my serape like a sail, in case I ever figure out a way to make a skate that works for me (inline skates always hurt too much and put too much strain on my ankles). Basically, it's two triangles that join with two bolts about 1/4 the height, so it looks like a bowtie. A handle then goes through the cutout. Made with aluminum, and folded up it could be like a walking stick. Not sure yet how to attach the serape. The devil is always in the details. Anyway, I'm still working on the skate.
Whoever invented the bicycle is a sadist. The more you are carrying, the more your poor butt gets pummeled against the seat. A better design would have you standing up, and using all your arm and leg muscles for propulsion. That way you eliminate most of the bulk of the machine, since your legs themselves do the steering and the frame is all but eliminated. I'm getting some ideas but they need better formulation. Of course I still want to fly also, but it's good to have a ground-based alternative when in a windy area like this.
last updated 2013-01-10 20:20:51. served from tektonic.jcomeau.com