Day 8: Pie Town to Grants - Sweet Tailwinds!

We woke up feeling pretty spry today, fueled by the memory of that incredible breakfast and pie from the Gathering Place II. Seriously, if you ever find yourself in Pie Town, do yourself a favor and stop there. We had our fill of hearty breakfast burritos that could probably win awards, and the pie? Well, let’s just say we’re still dreaming about it.

Today’s ride was a smooth 73 miles from Pie Town to Grants, and we were blessed with tailwinds that felt like they were pushing us along. The first half of the route was gravel, which we tackled without too much fuss. Lynette, being the stronger rider, was ahead of me most of the time but I was grateful for that. It gave me a chance to catch my breath—and pick up the random gear she dropped while speeding downhill. I swear, she could leave a breadcrumb trail of water bottles and snacks if she wanted to.

The terrain was mostly rolling hills that trended downhill, which was a nice break after our previous climbs. We only had about 1200 feet of ascent today, so we felt like champions cruising along. The weather was cooler, about 10 to 15 degrees less than what we’ve been used to, which was a welcome relief. I could finally stop sweating like I just jumped into a pool at every climb.

After about eight hours of pedaling, we rolled into Grants, tired but content. A comfortable room, cold drinks, fresh food, Knicks vs Spurs NBA final game on television and wi fi feel like luxury. There’s something about the end of a long, rugged day of bikepacking in the wilderness that makes everything seem like a treat.

Tomorrow, northward bound.