• Day 2: We drove to the start point (NM Hwy-117 & CR-42) from a motel in Grants.
• The temperature started at 28°F/-2°C. For a short period of time, we waited until the temperature reached about 33F/1C.
• The terrain alternated between Firm Dirt, Soft Dirt (sometimes wet), tire tearing Volcanic Rock, and Bumpy Igneous Rock.
• The Tandem Pilot was very busy navigating his pathway. There were a few places where the road had rock ledges (climbing for the northbound direction) of 1 foot/30 cm and in a few places and 2 Feet/60 cm's in one place. Of course this is very adventurous!
• We met yesterday's Couple from New Zealand again, they were having a tough go of it:
• They had experienced nine (9) flat tires that had resulted from Goathead Thorns (the one or two-horned seed that often looks like a goat's head). The plant is a low growing sage-like plant (shown in some of the following pictures).
• Regrettably, they never learned about Goathead Thorns (the information is hidden in the small print in the area details, and the information is NOT printed as a Warning along the route).
• Also, unluckily, it took a few flats just to figure what was causing the punctures, the evidence disintegrated.
• We told them everything that we knew about Goathead Thorns (aka Spurs, Seeds, and Burs).
• They had already determined the plant source, the Goathead Plant (there are a few different types but the result is the same, Flat Tires).
• They had already learned to not run over the plant, put it is impossible to see the seeds if they have dropped to the ground. Knowing about the plant and issues really helps reduce risk and anxiety.
• We told them about one more bad area to be careful.
• They had run out of tube repair patches, in fact they had been splitting their remaining few patches.
• We gave them ALL But One of our own patches.
• They appreciated the gesture but were concerned for our own safety.
• We explained about our Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire, which has a puncture barrier, and that we had not had a flat tire in the 4 years that we had been using that type of tire.
• Well, you know what happens when a person brags like that, Karma shows up, more about that tomorrow.
• We departed with a good feeling for them and their well-being and how we helped them.
• We met a Ranch-Hand (Segundo) on an ATV looking for and rounding-up his ranch's cattle. He was an interesting fellow and we met him on his way out as well as upon his return (to/from his Ranch).
• We were delighted to see that someone had left plastic bottles of water where the GDMBR, the Continental Divide, and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) all intersect. We did not need any water but what a nice gesture on someone's part.
• On this day we performed a bike ride in some rugged genuine 'American West' land scape, ranging from dry cactus and grass land to a high altitude rocky mountain ponderosa forest.

Day 2 - Ride from the South Entrance to El Malpais National Conservation Area, New Mexico, through the El Malpais National Monument on CR-42 on the 'Chain of Craters Back Country Byway' to the Intersection with NM Hwy 53

Above: The GDMBR is superimposed over the El Malpais National Conservation Lands map.

Above Left: It was COLD! The temperature started at 28°F/-2°C. For a short period of time, we waited until the temperature reached about 33°F/1°C.

Above Right: It did not take long before the stoker wanted her balaclava face mask (it is still cold).

Above Left: Sometimes the road was rough.

Above Right: Sometimes the road was smooth.

Above Left: Our view to the west, we're actual heading directly for that mountain in the photo center and then we turn right/north.

Above Right: This road is OK.

Above Left: A puddle is drying out, we rode straight through.

Above Right: An Ant Mound reveals that the material under the surface is black volcanic pumice/rock.

Above Left: We are riding around an ancient volcanic formation, basically a huge rough hardened rock lake that is one body that is shaped like the number '7', the top-stoke of the '7' is about 40 miles by 40 miles and the long part of the number '7' stroke is about 30 miles by 60 miles. The measures come from my own observation and not anything official - Today, we are riding around the top of the '7'.

Above Right: A lone tree.

Above Left: Every ridge or crest is composed of rock.

Above Right: The road access to the Hole in the Wall, an old Outlaw Hideout. There is only one easy access; all other access is over boot shredding lava rock.

Above Left: The Dark-Brown Bushes are all Goathead Thorn Bushes (for miles).

Above Right: This stretch of road is OK for now but it would be miserable in the rain.

Above: Working windmill, a tank, and a way to get water. This is a 'well' known watering hole for GDMBR Cyclists (pun).

Above: Two kinds of rough road.

Above: This roadway is high quality Mountain Bike Super Highway.

Above: The process of putting on Sunscreen, it takes place every biking day between 9am and 10am. Note that it warmed-up enough that we had already removed our outer-wear. We carry some Purell Handy-Wipes for cleaning off grease, oil, and sunscreen.

Above: We're looking westward at a vast high altitude grassland.

Above Left: The edge of a great ancient lava flow.

Above Right: We're climbing incrementally and all climbing increments are small step of hard rock bedding.

Above Left: As we climb in altitude we are seeing more and more big shrubs and small trees.

Above Right: A terribly thorny Goathead Bush is in bloom. The bloom is pretty and the seeds are thorny.

Above Left: Terry really liked this Cow Warning Sign [Cattle On Road Warning Sign].

Above Right: Cattle Guard and plenty of Goathead Thorn Bushes (dark brown).

Above Left: It is difficult to see but there is a 1 foot/30 cm tall step across the road face. This road is not for vehicles, drivers, or riders who are faint of heart.

Above Right: The Continental Divide Hiking Trail is between us and that hill (Mt Cerro Brillante, 8062'/2457m). The actual Continental Divide is on the other side of Mt Cerro Brillante (Esp/Mex: Bright, Hill).

Above Left: The Continental Divide [Hiking] Trail (CDT) trailhead.

Above Right: A Continental Divide Trail (CDT) marker and the actual trail heading southward.

Above Left: Some kind soul(s) donated free water for anyone who needs it.

Above Right: The GDMBR as it runs by Bright Hill (Spanish: Cerro Brillante).

Above Left: The 'El Malpais' Wilderness is always just to our right hand side. Bicycles and Motorized Vehicles are not allowed in Wilderness Areas, only people and horses are allowed in USA Wilderness Areas.

Above Right: Our road, CR-42 is now heading north.

Above Left: We got to meet our Kiwi Friends again; they were having a tough go of it. They had experienced nine (9) flat tires that had resulted from Goathead Thorns. Regrettably, they never learned about Goathead Thorns and it took a while for them to figure it out. We told them everything that we knew about Goathead Thorns (aka Spurs, Seeds, and Burs). They had already determined the plant source, the Goathead Plant (there are a few different types but the result is the same, Flat Tires). They had run out of tube repair patches, in fact they had been splitting their remaining few patches. We gave them ALL But One of our own patches. They appreciated the gesture but were concerned for our own safety. We explained about our Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire, which has a puncture barrier, and that we had not had a flat tire in the 4 years using that type of tire. Well, you know what happens when a person brags about NOT having a flat tire, Karma shows up, more about that tomorrow. We departed with a good feeling for them and their well-being.

Note: That is is a sticker plant between the ladies.

Above Right: Cerro Colorado (Esp/Mex: Colorado Hill).

Above: An old coral from Mexican Government had been restored.

Above Left: Rough Road.

Above Right: About 5-8 miles of private properties coming up. There is no shortage of Thorn Plants (dark brown).

Above Left: Feathery Sage Bloom.

Above Right: We stopped here for lunch. We met a Ranch-Hand (Segundo) on an ATV looking for and rounding-up his Ranch's cattle. He invited us to drop in for water at the Carrica Ranch (more later).

Above: Northbound on CR-42.

Above Left: Northbound on CR-42.

Above Right: It turned out that CR-42 and us went directly through the main coral of Carrica Ranch. CR-42 is labeled on the Coral Gate.

Above Left: Carrica Ranch Main House (aka, Ranch House).

Above Right: Carrica Ranch Entryway, CR-42, New Mexico.

Above: Carrica Ranch Entryway, Out-Buildings, and Totem Pole.

Above Left: Northbound on CR-42.

Above Right: Cerro Americano.

Above: ACCCCCCKKKK Fresh Gravel! This is the first of four or five 100 yard/meter gravel dumps that we biked across on that day. About 200 miles south of here in the Gila NF, it took us two days to go just 40 miles because fresh gravel had been deeply dumped on the forest roadway.

Notice the ancient Lava Pile-up across the roadway; it actually looks like it could be the roof of a mini-lava tube.

Above: Lava Tube Road. I just had a feeling that we were in a Lava Tubes area. We visited these Lava Tubes later.

Above Left: The Ants have pulled up lava pumice. It is wise to look at the earth around an ant mound, they tend to reveal what earth material is immediately underneath the surface.

Above Right: It looks like an improvised camping area near the Trailhead for the Continental Divide Trail.

Above: Another Trailhead for the Continental Divide Trail (the hiking trail). The trail crosses the road here. Note that this is not a Continental Divide crossing.

Above: Cairn Markers for the Continental Divide Trail.

Above: Big Lava Tubes Area. We will return here and hike a 3-4 mile Lava Tube Trail - See Lava Tube Trail. This road, Lava Tubes Road, loops back to the road pictured about 4 rows up, we did not know at the time that they were the same road.

Above Left: He's a Frenchman riding the complete GDMBR. We shared information. He told us of another rider that he recently met who is sick, the Frenchman was concerned. We met that rider about 20 minutes later, he was horse but was recovering from whatever illness that he suffered.

Above Right: We are approaching a Continental Divide crossing. The Continental Divide had been on our left side within one to five miles for the last 15 miles and we are gaining in elevation.

We can now see Mount Taylor (an extinct or still Volcano Cone) across the valley to the northwest (the root source of all of the lava).

Above: One of a few gravel road segments, this segment was older and motor vehicles had worn-in some good tracks for bicycles.

The Lava rock on the right side is black and about 1200 years old. The Lava rock on the left side is brown and is about a 12,000 years old.

Above: We had been traveling next to the 1200 year old lava bed (on our right-hand side/east-side) for about 3 miles and maybe for the next 3 miles.

Above Left: The edge of the 1200 year old lava bed.

Above Right: A Murder of Crows was riding a thermal rise.

Above Left: Northbound on CR-42, the Continental Divide on the left side, and the Malpais Lava Bed on the right side.

Above Right: Old lava pileup and blocking hill on the right side.

Above Left: We're climbing to our crossing of the Continental Divide.

Above Right: This is probably Continental Divide Crossing #19 of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR).

Above Left: The final pile-up of the Lava Flow in this Malpais area, blocked by the higher terrain that formed the Continental Divide. We were about a mile from NM-53, the road end and the end of today's bike ride.

Above Right: We made it to the Chain of Craters' Back Country Byway's trail end (at New Mexico Highway 53).

We are about a mile from the Malpais/Bandera Ice Cave, a year round ice cave (lava tube) that is frozen below ground level. We will visit the Ice Cave in a few days - See Bandera Ice Cave.