6 Mar 2010, Camping - Van Horn

6 Mar 2010, Camping - Van Horn 102 km (64 miles)
Followed 192 about half an hour got at the junction of 192 and 34. it is longer than I-10 but it is a really neat road for biking. Met a border patrol, he told me every month they could catch about 200 illigal Mexican crossed the border, and they could catch 70% of them. I wonder how they know how many they did not catch? He said do not go to Mexico now, there is very dangerous, the other side everyday dead 12 people just because of the drug deal. This is more than Iraq war! but just happening at the border of America, it is so radiculous!
It was a windy day, headwind, but yesterday was tailwind, how it changed? Slowly uphill to Sierra Blanca, just before Sierra Blance there is sign "INSPECTION", but it does not make any sence to me :(
The border patrol asked me "are you American citizen?" I said "No". then they becomes seriously. "where are you from?", "Do you have visa?", "How much money do you left?", "Do you have credit card?" I crossed a lot of borders, I have some experieces about how to deal with the border patrol. Firstly you should respect them, and then you should pretend you can not speak very good English because some questions if you do not want to answer, you could say "sorry sir, I do not understand what you said." The best way is speak with a strong Japanese accent, mix "R" and "L", then the border patrol will be boring, and you could pass the check point.
"How much money do you have?" answer this question you must be careful, you can not tell the truth to them! the right answer is about 1000 dollars even you do not have enough cash. they do not check, but you must let them satisfied about your answer.
"Do you have credit card?". the right answer is "yes sir, I do!" but I do not have, haha.
Sierra Blanca is a small town, the shops almost closed. found one open and bought something to eat. From Sierra Blanca to Van Horn, the headwind became stronger, I rode very slow. and before Van Horn I entered into the Central Time Zone, today I rode almost 7 hours, but in fact it is 8 HOURS!
Maybe because of the headwind, I felt sick, so I went to Super 8, An Indian guy Vipul told me it is about 55 dollars one night, althought I have their member card of Super 8 from China, but he has another motel at Days Inn, charged me 35 Dollors! it is a good deal! so tonight I slept at his motel. At night Vipul gave me an Indian food! thanks! but there is no folk or spon, then I thought Indian they eat without folk? So I tried to use my hand, it is not too bad! haha

5 Mar 2010, El Paso - out of Mcnary

5 Mar 2010, El Paso - out of Mcnary 87 km (55 miles)
At noon Charley and Kamala rode their tandem sent me to the road to Sierra Blanca, thanks and see you next time!
Today is sunny and with a tailwind, all the way is flat, pretty fast, but I started at noon, so almost dark I got McNary and there is farm countryside, the landscape for me is really similar the road in Laos where I have been 3 years ago.

Followed 192, there are so many abandoned houses, I choose one of them, and tonight stayed there, there is not cold any more, I did not put up my tent, but at night, a couple of mouses so noisy, one jumped to my sleepingbag!!! lol . Last time I slept out side is on the way from Peeples Valley to Prescott,AZ at 25 Jan. more than one month I did not camp! haha

4 Mar 2010. El Paso

4 Mar 2010. El Paso
Lazy again, stayed one more night. Charley and Kamala have three different tandems, they are so beautiful! haha

3 Mar 2010, Las Cruces - El Paso

3 Mar 2010, Las Cruces - El Paso 99 km (62 miles)
Out of Las Cruces a couple of miles the road is so bad, but there is a sideroad goes to the border of NM and TX.

In the afternoon I got into TX, this is the forth state of my trip in America. in the other three state all the people I met they told me do not go to Texas, they are redneck, they do not like Chinese, if you are not white you are dangerous, this is Bush's home!

Follow the I-10 I got into El Paso, a cop pull me over, and he is really angry, asked me why you are ridding on I-10?? Get fucking off!!!!!! I have no idea why I can not, I DID do not see any sign of I can not ride, but I know get into the big city, the interstate you can not ride any more, BUT where is the sign?!

Anyway I got off from I-10. A little bit longer but I do like the sideroad, I can see the other side of Texas, Mexico! a long distance of huge fence, so many border control's cars. El Paso is a border city to Mexico, The other side's want to come to this side, but they can not, except the birds. they do not need passport or permit.

At night I found my host's home, Charley and Kamala. Charley with a accent sometimes I can not understand, is this Taxan accent? YAOOO Chinese!

They gave me a wonderful dinner thanks!

28 Feb - 2 Mar 2010 Hatch, NM

28th at noon I was ready to leave, but started to rain and wind. so I decided to stay one more night, but as before, not only one more night~~
I helped Gilly to make Chile sauce and painted the wall for Carlo, such of fun!
Hatch is the capital of chile in the world, every year the Labor Day of sepetember there hold the big chile festival!
At the night of 2ed, March, Gilly drove me to Las Cruces and I stayed at my host John's home, his friend Hossa tread me a dinner, thanks!