DISTANCE TRAVELED: 46.13 Miles
AVERAGE SPEED: 10.20 MPH

          We woke up at 7:15, ate oatmeal with hot chocolate for breakfast, and used up the last of our water that I had been carrying for the past three days. We packed and were even able to dry out our tents in the sun. We left at around 8:30 and rode for five miles along good roads to Beehive Springs where we got water. (Picture200,Picture201) I was able to fill up with enough to last me the rest of the day without even filtering. Within view of the pavement the road turned back to mud and Lou and Mike got caught in it. Scott and I pushed our bikes on the tracks of cars and managed to stay relatively clean. At the end of this obstacle, we reached a good road and planned on making it to El Rita as we returned to the original designated route. At the road, we began talking to a fish and game official who told us not to go since they had pulled three people with 4-wheel drive cars out of the mud. So because of this, we rode on pavement for the rest of the day to Tierra Armarilla. After a long uphill, a short downhill, and another long uphill, we came to an overlook of the valley in front of us and a set of cliffs over 2,000 feet high. After a short lunch break, we began a 20-mile descent where I held up speeds of 20 mph for almost the entire way. By the time we got into town, it was 4:30 so I bought lots of candy and ate it all within a very short time. Soon everyone else arrived and after they ate, we discovered that there were no cafes, motels, or campgrounds within 10 miles of us. Therefore, we then asked about Bed and Breakfasts and began calling. Every place was over $280 per night so it would not work. We then found out about one that was only a mile away. We called and found that it was only $80. We rode down to it to find an old stucco building. We paid the fee at the Tierra Wools Weaving Shop that had beautiful hand-made carpets, many of which were over $1500. The wool is from churro sheep that have 4 horns and very soft wool. There are only 2500 of these sheep in the entire country! One pound of this wool costs $30. We walked to our room, not expecting much, only to find a huge suite with two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, direct TV, wooden floors and $500+ of carpets on the walls! (Picture202,Picture203) I was hoping to take a rest but ended up riding back to the store to buy ingredients for a spaghetti dinner and lots of extra snacks. When we got back, I watched TV, ate dinner, and then took a long shower. After getting clean, we took advantage of the TV and couches. I went to sleep on a sofa at 11:00.