CDT 2024 - Day 16, Transit to Pie Town, NM

More Driving, West than South through Grants, NM and then south on a mostly loose dirt, bumpy, and dusty road.

Gnarly cloud roiling above the mountain just east of us. Reminded me of a scene from "Ghost Busters". Above the KOA, Albuquerque, NM.

It was a wild night with heavy winds blowing into the morning. The little T@B was doing some rocking. We skipped first coffees today and rigged for departure from Albuquerque.

The traffic was fairly heavy as we worked our way over to a very busy Starbucks. The drivethrough was so crammed that it wrapped all the way around and was actually blocking the exit line so nobody was going anywhere. It was comical as we did walk-in and were entertained by the confusion. Inside everyone was chatting about the wind storm and the line backup. So, we got back on our way and on to I-40 and rolled West sipping our coffee and enjoyed not being in a hurry.

Our first stop was a gas station near Grants, NM for a second coffee before taking a frontage road that the CDT uses to get into town before continuing on. It was nice for Runningbird to get the lay of the land and where we would be meeting up. From there we moved south on 117 along the Malpais Lava Fields and El Malpais National Conservation Area. From there we traversed onto a very long and dusty road of about 40 miles. We saw several hikers along the way stopping to offer them water, peanuts, and anything else they might need that we had. We switched dirt roads a couple more times and eventually arrived in Pie Town, New Mexico. Yep, Pie Town, another well known stop on the CDT. There we found a free camping spot on the border of BLM land just a few minutes from the main street.

The long road south to Pie Town, NM.

We designated a spot on the maze of dirt roads which they called the free city campground and we called it our home for the night. A shortcut across the city park and across the main road and we were at the "Gatherin' Place II" and ordered lunch and a lemon chees blueberry pie. I did eat the whole thing but it was only a 6". There were several other hikers inside enjoying food as well. Folks were quite nice and supportive of the CDT hikers. I heard the young man from the kitchen ask his "Ma" (the owner) if he could give a few of the hikers a ride up to the next town (only place to go for beer). She told him sure and I'm sure he was happy to get a break from his kitchen work.

Gatherin' Pace II, Pie Town, NM.

After lunch we walked back to our spot and Runningbird did a bit of backpack inventory adjustment and we both enjoyed some reading time and listening to the wind whispering through the trees before dinner. The winds are suppose to pick up again even here and all through the night.

As far as I could see, there were two pie cafes, a park, a volunteer fire department and medical unit, and a post office. Nearest gas stations are 21 miles to the east and another 21 miles to the west. One of them will be my target for the next morning after hiker girl hits the trail. Sure with I had another one of those pies.

Our little spot off the roadway in Pie Town, NM.