Pecans and Tequila

September 16/09 - Carlsbad, New Mexico
Holiday Inn Express
Mileage: 116.8 km
Total mileage: 3,025 km

Carlsbad is a very pretty city. The people have been very friendly as well.

Upon arriving in town two guys, very much products of the 60's, insisted on helping us find a place to camp. The one began by giving us directions and then the other butted in saying that he didn't know his directions. The 1st guy quieted down and seemed to accept this because he knew the 2nd guy was right. The 2nd guy gave us directions to a city park. I asked him if there was water there. The 1st guy blurted out something about water flowing from a pipe. The 2nd guy stated, "Ya, but that's not drinkable," to which the 1st guy replied, "I've been drinking it for years and look at me!" The 2nd guy and I looked at each other and smiled without saying anything.

The 1st guy had obviously been travelling as he had a couple of packs. I asked him if he had been travelling to which he didn't respond. The 2nd guy stated that he hitch hikes up to Artisia or Roswell, but somewhere along the line ends up on the wrong side of the road and eventually turns up back in Carlsbad. They went off on their way. Several other people talked with us, none having a previous history of drug abuse, and much more helpful.

Just south of Roswell beautiful corn crops lined both sides of the road and then huge orchards of pecan trees. The pecan orchards are something else. Acres and acres of huge trees, regular forests, quite impressive.

Further south, without irrigation the country turned into burnt grass pasture. We probably should have taken Hwy 2 which we parallelled. Hwy 2 to the east of us is closer to the Pecos River where the irrigation is. I could see more pecan orchards in that direction as well as dairy farm silos. That being said, hwy 285 south was a quiet road with good pavement.

Southbound from Artesia the pecan orchards started up again. In this area we also saw cotton crops. Continuing southbound we left the irrigated areas and returned to the desert which we have become fairly accustomed to.

Going through Artesia and before we knew what the orchards were, Deby asked some guys what the trees were. They asked her where she was from, it being unusual that someone didn't know about the trees. Deby told them British Columbia and on our way to Florida. One of the guys looked at her bike and said, "Holy shit, and you're not young either!" (I was thinking "You're telling me!" We all laughed). He told her the trees were pecans and said to drink plenty of tequila before leaving New Mexico.

Nearing Carlsbad the terrain became hilly again. This surprised me. I thought it would be flat from here on in.

An individual stopped us on the road. He was driving his vehicle and offered us water, pop, fruit cups, energy bars, etc. etc. Actually, he did more than offer, he sort of demanded we take something. I took a couple of fruit cups to appease him. So many travellers are amazingly thoughtful.

Changed a rear tire in Roswell. The tire which had gone flat in Vaughn had developed a large bulge and needed to be replaced. Replaced it with my spare, a Michelin World Tour, the biggest 27" X 1 1/4" tire I have ever seen. We'll see how it last.

Today is our 24th anniversary, so opted for the Holiday Inn instead of the City Park with undrinkable water.