We have been feeling rather cocky this year. We have ridden our tandem bicycle a couple thousand miles any without flat tires. Well the odds caught up with us today in Deming, New Mexico.
We pulled into our campground, The Dream Catcher SKP Park, and got Path out of the trailer for the first ride in three days. It was a nice sunny day, temperature about 58 degrees and a light wind blowing. That is a bit unusual for here. We rode three miles into town and spent some time admiring a Southern Pacific Steam Engine, no 1221, an 060 for those who care. We then rode on to the county courthouse and admired the 1912 vintage architecture. As we rode back up the street, Path started acting kind of drunk. We pulled up with a flat front tire. We changed the tube for a new one. The old one had a half dozen goat head thorns in it. After getting that back together I checked the rear tire and plucked another half dozen from that tire also. We put in our back-up spare tube and rode back to the park. We stopped in the club-house to enjoy the social hour with other RV’ers. As we were getting ready to leave someone walked in and announced that our bicycle had flat tires. Both tires were flat again.
We carried poor limping Path back to the trailer. After supper we hitched a ride with some new friends, Ron and Lee. We joined them for a trip out to Rockhound State Park about 10 miles out of Deming for a Holiday Luminaries event. The museum grounds, building and parking lot were illuminated with paper bags with candles burning inside. If you check below there is a photo from the park and also one of the SP 1221. The Luminaries thing is apparently a big southwest tradition. The paper bags have perhaps a pound of gravel in the bottom and then a chafing dish candle is set on the gravel and lit. These bags are placed about every three feet to outline the sidewalks, top of the courtyard walls and the parapet of the building. It gives a very mystical feeling to the scene.
The girl scouts were caroling in the courtyard, but every time I came by they were singing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” in at least three different keys. It’s the thought that counts, right?
After the Luminaries event we returned to civilization and we all went to Wally World. We tried to buy some new 20 inch inner tubes to restock our spares, but alas that seems to be a popular size to pick up goat head thorns with. There were none in stock. Looks like I will be patching tubes tomorrow.
We still have time for more adventures, but we will take this opportunity to wish every one the best of the season’s greetings. “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”
Gary and Judy Dinsmore
