We started out to get to hanglider port road. We took exit 271 off the I25 north. The day was beautiful when we started out. However, we could see dark clouds off in the distance to the West. We stopped and looked at the valley below us when we reached the La Bajada volcanic rock. We could see the valley below us sprawling out before us. Off in the distance we could see Cochiti Lake. While we we stood there gazing what lay before us Jonathan opened a box of fresh Krispy Kreme donuts. Then we felt the first few chillled drops of what was to make a muddy mess down the trail.
We began the trip back up Hang glider road to the Cajada Del Rio Trail. We turned North to to start the Del Rio Trail. WE traveled down the usual kind of trails with ruts, sand and rocks. The trail was still dry since the rain hadn't yet started. We could see to the west the mist of rain working it's way towards us. We had our wipers on intermittent because it was just really a mist at this time. Then we noticed that instead of dust our tires began to through up clumps of mud from the cleats.
After some time took a turn toward the east and we could see a hill I dubbed "little Round Top". About three quarters up the hil there was a lone Pine tree with a little narrow road going up to it that rounded the tree before making the decent. Without hesitation, we turned up the little "lane" that went up to and around the tree, As we approached the crest of the road going around the tree we could feel the tires slipping like we were drifting around a curve. Then the was a little squeeze that that we had to maneuver between the tree and several large boulders and then back down. Each of us took going up and around the tree.
Then it was on again to the trail and the rain was really making a mess of it. We ran into ruts in the road. The once loose sandy trail was now a muddy mess as were the ruts. The ruts grabbed our tires as they spun and we slid back and forth like driving on ice. By the time we reached the end of the trail to air back up we had massive quantities of ooey goey chocolate pudding in, on and all over our trusty metal steeds to drive home in. Dennis was our tail gunner today and he did a great job. He was rewarded with Payday.
All in all, it was a fun day and and good conversations and a good time on the trail.
