Pie Town, NM to Grants, NM

Photos - click here

Day 1
Our Pie Town mail drop not arriving was a major set back. But despite that and despite leaving at 1 pm, we still managed to pump out sixteen miles. And on the road we met the Thomas family. We were just walking along and a big white truck pulled up to us. The man inside said, “Hey, my wife and I would like to invite you to dinner.” Leslie warned them of how bad we smell and he said that he had a vat of peanut butter that we could rub under our armpits. His wife, Anzi, whined, "John!" and whacked him on the arm.

The whole family- John, Anzi, their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson, was at dinner. John was in his seventies and pastored at a church. The people were an outgoing, fun-loving bunch and not only did they offer us dinner and dessert, but a place to stay that night, a big breakfast in the morning and a lunch to go. Everything seemed so surreal. They had an amazing campfire and their house was full of character and spirit- just like they were. They were so welcoming, that we weren't in any rush to leave the next day, but we finally left at around ten in the morning and went back to the road after many hugs, and good lucks.

Day 2
This day was highly uneventful, except for the delicious fried chicken lunch that the Thomas's sent with us. In the second part of the day we entered El Malpais National Monument lands and Acoma Indian Reservation lands. Because no camping was allowed in either area, we used our mad stealth skills to sneak onto the National Monument land and set up our tents behind bushes. This isn't customary for us- we try to respect the rules, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.

Day 3
The next day water was scarce so we went for 17 miles on two quarts, finally refilling at the El Malpais Visitor Center. The lady there told us that there was a gas station/store nine miles away so we made that a goal for camping. At 25 miles, that was far enough. The heat really got to all of us- the first sign being that after about five miles, I puked. I kept going anyway, motoring ahead of my partners, only to find that the gas station was closed. After 30 minutes of waiting, we regrouped and decided to go straight to Grants making a long 31 mile day. Maybe not the wisest choice, but when town food beckons, it's hard not to get sucked into it all.

Barely alive, we got to a restaurant called Blake’s Lottaburger. It was an interesting place and the staff wasn't too friendly. Turns out they have trouble with transients in this town and I'm sure they thought we were transients or junkies or some scourge of society. Well, we did smell really bad.... We all stuffed our faces and then dad left the two of us to find a place to sleep while Leslie and I kept eating. While he was gone, Leslie got a glazed over look on her face. “Hey Leslie, do you need to go to the bathroom?” She nodded and stumbled over. Naturally the door was locked. It wasn’t occupied, just being cleaned. I told the manager to open the door, but then Leslie said she needed help sitting down. She sat, lowered her head, and then passed out for about 30 seconds. "OH NO!" I thought. I tried to revive her and hold her arms, which were twitching for some reason, and then she snapped out of it and sat up. She said she was fine but needed some fresh air. We sat outside and then dad came. I explained what happened, and as expected, he was a bit frantic. We grabbed her pack, walked a half block, and got into our hotel room for the night. After a 31 mile day (our biggest mileage yet), I slept better than I had the entire trail that night as I assume we all did.
 
          ~David
 
Info on Pie Town from: http://www.pietown.com/

"Welcome to Americas greatest, little town! In Americas southwest on the Continental Divide, Pie Town New Mexico is located in west central New Mexico.

In the early 1920's Mr. Clyde Norman a tall Texan and a WW1 veteran who "liked to bake" began making dried apple pies and began making them at his at his upstart business on a piece of ground that lay along a little rocky ridge and the "Coast to Coast Highway" later to become U.S. 60. The word got around that the best pies anywhere were to be found at "Pie Town".

Pie Town has been featured in various television programs and publications, most recently in February 2005 issue of Smithsonian Magazine.

Close enough to Albuquerque but far enough away to find peace and quiet in an increasingly, noisy and fast paced world, Pie Town on U.S. Hwy 60 is visited by a myriad of travelers seeking a more relaxed route as well as hikers and bicyclist's from around the world traveling the "Great Divide" from Mexico to Canada.

At nearly 8000'above sea level this western town has a Post Office, The Wood Hue Galleria, A VLA (Very Large Array radio telescope), The Lightning Field, and "Lester Jackson Park" which hosts the Pie Town Festival in early September. It is also home to the Daily Pie Cafe.

The main activities are cowboying, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking pie baking & eating and enjoying a life. Life out here is a step back in the past where neighbors look out for one another and would not drive past without waving.

The landscape is covered in ancient Juniper and Pinon trees. The Pinon produces pine cones bearing pine nuts, a valuable delicacy. The wild flowers and grasses are amazing in the cooling monsoons of summer. The trees provide privacy and the deadwood aromatic fuel for the fireplace."