The Sandia Mountains, seen from Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Jan. 5, 2025, by John Fleck
We took the New Mexico Rail Runner train north for yesterday’s bike ride to Bernalillo, crossed over the Rio Grande, and worked our way down through the weird neighborhoods of Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The homes in that part of Rio Rancho are scattered one-offs, with a lot of unpaved roads wrapping their way up and down, in and out of arroyos where water has sculpted a desert mesa.
On every one of the ups – every one – were were gifted with these amazing views of a desert valley and the Sandia mountains and their alluvial fans.
Kyle Paoletta has a marvelous description in his terrific new book American Oasis of what it’s like being a westerner living on the east coast.
The only setting I’ve found that can approximate the sensation of vastness bestowed by cresting a ridge in the desert and then watching the titanic bowl of an arid valley extend out the other side is the Cape Cod National Seashore.
We felt that “sensation of vastness” approximately umpty times yesterday as we topped one rise after another. It never gets old.
(Kyle’s book will be out next week, I strongly recommend it, I’ve got an advance reader copy, and I’ll be having a conversation with Kyle Jan. 23 at Bookworks in Albuquerque if you’re in this particular town.)
I appreciate your recounting of your cycling adventures as much as your explicit water worries postings.
Having spent some time in el Norte in my long past youth, your photos and words bring back some of the feeling of those adventures a half century ago. Thank you!