FED across the U.S.

Roper Lake State Park to Leasburg Dam State Park: 255 miles

Highway 191 continues northeast and connects with Highway 78 through the Gila mountains to cross into New Mexico. If you're into hairpin turns and amazing vistas, this is the road for you. Takes longer than the interstate, but it's a lot more interesting.

Speaking of interesting... We're traveling by FED over roads across the country. I've also done it on a bicycle. 125 years ago, travel was done overland by horseback or horse-drawn wagon. Rolling down Highway 78, the past and the present passed each other, when we encountered a man on horseback heading slowly along the side the road towards the mountains we had just come from.

From Highway 78, we headed southeast on Highway 180 to Silver City and had lunch. Just outside of town is the Santa Rita copper mine, which has been in operation continuously since 1910. This the biggest man-made hole in the ground I have ever seen, with the biggest trucks... even from a distance.

We then headed east on Highway 152, another twisty road that takes you over Emory Pass at 8,228 feet. 152 ends at Interstate 25... which we paralleled south on Highways 187 and 185 before securing a campsite at Leasburg Dam State Park.

Oh, and can't forget about the rattlesnake in the road coming down from Emory Pass...