A day of twists on a straight road

My ride out of San Antonio, NM began before dawn. By mid-morning I was overlooking the Trinity Site where the world's first atomic bomb detonated in 1945. Memories of my visit to Hiroshima last November flashed before me and I paused to reflect how the world must have been like then.

Entering Carrizozo, I took a spin around The Street to see old buildings and colorfully painted burros. The visitors center was inside a caboose and I dropped into Elsie's for a quick bite. The owner was a proud Airborne vet during the Vietnam War and trained the special forces how to use unique flat bows (and arrows) that smartly tuck inside a small pack.

In Capitan, I planned to get some food and continue. However after learning from a local Buddhist that Tibetan Monks VenoDhondup Tsering and Yeshi Choedup were in town and were holding a special ceremony a few hours later, I decided to stick around. While I waited I managed to do a load of laundry and take a much needed shower at the local RV park.

After the ceremony, the half moon allowed me to fit in an additional 16 miles and I set up camp late just past Encinoso.