Abducted in Roswell

I'm entering Roswell, New Mexico. The town that has made a cottage industry of alien encounters and government conspiracies.

I may never emerge.

Down from the mountains

I'm heading east from Ruidoso now, passing through the towns of Tinnie and Picacho. Um, I don't think they're on the Internet yet. The New Mexico Tourism Department has no entry for either of them. They do, however, have zip codes, so presumably the US Postal Service has heard of them.

Just to the north is Lincoln National Forest, the birthplace of the world-famous Smokey Bear, the living symbol of the campaign to prevent forest fires.

Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico

I've gone nearly 900 miles in my virtual cycling trip now which puts me just outside Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico. The race track is the home of the All-American Quarter Horse Futurity, the richest quarter mile in sports, plus an excellent small Museum of the Horse.