Day Off in Silver City
Sometimes the best adventures are the ones we take off the bike.
Last night I didn’t sleep well and by morning it was clear my right knee needed a break. So we decided to take a rest day in Silver City.
We shipped a few items back home to lighten our load on the steep inclines as we pedal the rolling, mostly uphill roads to crest Indiana Pass at 11,910 feet over the next several weeks.
Silver City is a diverse and colorful little town to explore for a few days. Lots of independent art shops, a museum, family restaurants, and several bike shops. We spent several hours in the Gila Hike and Bike shop. We picked up a few supplies and got a quick bike fitting that I think will help relieve the stress on my knee.
Tomorrow we’ll hit the road again with lighter bikes and happier knees.
Chihuahua Hill - the oldest Mexican American neighborhood in the United States. Starting as as tent camp in the late 19th century, the community flourished with mining booms. The apricots laying the shadow of its bountiful tree were delicious. One of the many interesting and memorable people we met, Jack Smith, a retired marine and Freeport McMoran mineworker who grew up in the area shared the interesting history of his life and community.
La Capilla perched on the crest of Chihuahua Hill was originally built from adobe in 1887 by sisters Beatrix and Hipolita Manquero who immigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico. The original structure was demolished in 1915 and a replica rebuilt through community fundraising and efforts in 2004.
