Trekker's Log, 4-19 through 4-25

4/19/07 – 4/25/07, on the way to the southern portal of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

We had a good trip to the southern end of the CDT. It started with our Rotary District Conference in Colorado Springs. After leaving there on Sunday noon, we arrived in Santa Fe in time to have dinner with our trail angel, Marcia DeChadenedes and her husband, and Jessica Terrell, Trails Coordinator with New Mexico State Parks.

On Monday, Pem and I were guests at the Rotary Club of Albuquerque. We were called forward for an introduction from the podium, and a club banner exchange.
Tuesday morning found Audrey, Pem and I at the Rotary Club of Santa Fe Centro, where our presentation was the program. After a long, no-stops-allowed trip to Truth or Consequences, Audrey driving at the limit and carefully, our presentation was the program at the Rotary Club meeting there as well. Banners were also exchanged with both of these clubs. That evening we were with our dear friends, Jon and Julie, in Las Cruces.

We had the privilege of sharing breakfast with Nate Cote on Wednesday morning. Nate is a CDTA Trail Volunteer who is in the New Mexico State Legislature. He was instrumental in getting a Memorial passed in the Legislature urging funding for the completion of the CDT in New Mexico. That is the first, and only, such legislative resolution in any of the states containing the Trail. At noon, Pem and I attended the Rotary Club of Las Cruces, where we had a podium introduction again, and had several members wanting to visit with us after the meeting. That evening found us at The Pink Store in Palomas, Mexico, for a kickoff of the hiking part of the Challenge. Rotarians from Deming and several people from Columbus, New Mexico shared that time with us. There were seventeen people gathered, and yes, the celebration did include photos beside or under the statue of Generals Pancho Villa and "Black Jack" Pershing shaking hands after a treaty signing. (Pink Store Photos LINK)

We camped at Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus that night, anxious for an end to talking the talk, and a beginning to walking the walk the next morning.