A confusing day time wise, most of the country changes the clocks to daylight savings overnight but not Arizona. However we were soon to cross into New Mexico. A slightly warmer start than the previous day began with a long gentle climb leading to a tough stretch, then a drop to a store conveniently situated at our road junction. We needed the sustenance to power us up a 2600' sustained climb ahead, which proved to be a very sustained slog. Mark powered up it while I used photography as an excuse for a couple of breaks!
Last of the desert
Long climb
Near the top we suddenly crossed from a desert terrain to forest greenery, a welcome change; and a steep drop and another climb brought us to the New Mexico border. Another drop into an area of parched farmland and lunch. A succession of ups and downs sapped the strength but a long slight downhill to finish the day brought us into Buckhorn before 4pm in case it's limited facilities closed early on a Sunday: in the event we had till 5.
Mark sets up camp behind the cafe
The town boasted a small store with campsite behind, a good little Mexican cafe and post office, and being isolated they were an overnight for most of the passing bikers. Enjoyed dinner in the cafe followed by a relaxing evening catching up on laundry, diary and making a vague plan of how to arrive in Austin on the correct day.
