We left Madrid and drove back to Santa Fe for more Arnold Palmers and some office time. We’ll be sleeping at 10500 feet tonight, the highest either of us have ever been.

What makes a good travel team? We’ve all seen duos, whether at that moment or in general, who are not suited for the inevitable difficult decisions, challenging weather, mistakes, fatigue and whatever else rubs our ornery side raw. Leaving aside those people who simply don’t ever work well together, I’ve noticed that we practice a few tenants well, and, IMHO, Mme Awesome and I are a phenomenal team, even in tough spots. Remember, sharing is caring!!!!

Firstly, we like the idea of there being a Squad Leader. This person is in charge of the typically limited task at hand. The Squad Leader is whoever has obviously more experience or is less tired or is just plain ok accepting responsibility. Examples include making a meal, packing or unpacking, shopping, and so on. Meals can be a powder keg, right? Where to put the stove, who walks back to the truck to get another thing or stirs the whatever…. many mines along the path to completion.

Secondly, second guessing is a no-no. We strive to avoid the shoulda-coulda-woulda trap. No wins ever reported there.

Honoring the other’s needs, apprehensions or concerns is a must. Being hungry, anxious, etc. means no matter how spectacular is the something or how wonderful is the whatever, it’s gonna suck. Thus, when someone is not comfortable, first priority is addressing and ameliorating what is going on. The unconditional truth that we are on the same side is powerful.

Large decisions, however defined, need mutual buy-in. If the end of that rainbow can’t be found, it is the shared commitment which keeps a new match of the no win Blame Game from starting. The Complain Game is also so tedious, right?

There are going to be times when the proposed idea is maybe not what you want, which makes knowing what is actually crucial to having a good day valuable. I’m ok as long as I’ve done some kind of bike thing, hopefully on a fun trail, unless I’m tired and then not being hungry, too hot or too cold are about it; the rest is gravy or at least passable. I am uncomfortable leaving the bikes. So I better be fine sitting around in the truck and potentially missing out on an indoor activity; and we make sure to eat at places where the truck can be monitored.

Lastly, it helps to have different tastes in chocolate.

At camp, we quickly layered up. Assuming the 5 degree Fahrenheit change per 1000′ per the ranger in Death Valley, tonight should be about freezing.

We’re in a funny campground: it is located – I don’t get tired of saying it – higher than we’ve ever been in a well forested and uneven piece of land for sure not more than 10 acres surrounded by a a ski resort parking lot with a fast running brook dividing it up about 60/40. (Was that a run on sentence? Not my intention. Note that all advice must be submitted in writing.) The Tent Clan is vastly outnumbered by the Camper Clan.