My Morning with the Congresswoman

Every time I get annoyed by politicians (and that's pretty easy to do), Congresswoman Heather Wilson does something that makes me think that perhaps our political system can work.

This time, she has managed to get $300K to support an addition to the DIRT Bosque trail!! The deal needs to go through on the final Transportation Appropriations bill, but if it does, we're getting some new trail! This will be an extension to the very very cool little Bosque trail network that you can zip around in within 2 hrs. Heather would like to see the trail extended all the way to Corrales at least--this is great!

We got a brief chance to discuss Otero Canyon as well. Heather feels that the current Air Force folks in charge (those much further up the chain of command than anyone at KAFB) understand the "common sense" issues about the fence. She believes that there are a few areas that should be protected/secured, but feels that if a fence goes up, most of the trails will be saved. She still seems to be leaning toward no fence, especially since DOE isn't interested in building a fence around their part of the land, which is the only way the KAFB/DoD fence can be a real fence. Without DOE cooperation, KAFB would essentially be erecting a fence that secures and contains nothing. It just stops, allowing anyone to continue beyond it if they felt like it. We have another base commander coming to KAFB too...that will make #4 since this issue first started in 2003.

• Colonel Kathleen D. Close, January 25, 2002 - July 10, 2003
• Colonel Henry L. Andrews, Jr., July 10, 2003 - July 7, 2005
• Colonel Terrence A. Feehan, July 7, 2005 - Present

Heather said that the new BC could make things easy and decide not to have a fence at all, which she would prefer. If he decides to listen to the current civilian employees at KAFB rather than his Congresswoman, she will still ensure the final decision goes to the Secretary of the AF rather than the locals.

So, today, I biked from the house to the Bosque trail to meet Heather and others who were invited to go on a short ride/walk. Turns out the press was there (Channel 4 and 13). Heather gave a quick press conference, then she had Diane Scena, Trails Planner for the Mid-Regin Council of Governments; Tom Baltes (in the pic above), president of the Double Eagle Hike and Bike Club; and me, representing IMBA and FooMTB speak to the press as well.

It started raining by the time we were ready to head out, so we split up. Heather and family went home, Tom and his wife Louise continued for a 6-mile walk, and I took off for Bernalillo on NM313. It kept raining as I biked, but I thought it might turn to a light drizzle...no such luck, so I eventually headed home, did a spin on the flat Tramway to Elena, then headed up and back to the house. I think I got about 35 miles in, although the bike computer stopped while I was with Heather and it didn't restart on its own like it's supposed to.

Tomorrow I'm doing a ride with Paige and Sue. We had wanted to go to Santa Fe, but the rain is just too much! I'm thrilled we have it, so I won't complain. We're going to ride Juan Tabo and all the Foothills instead...the soil should be great with all the rain we've had.