As we were leaving a local mountain biker rolled by – Kurt Wilson, an engineer for the railroad who works three days on and then has four days off. Kurt used to have a bike shop in Rawlins, WY and still mountain bikes all around the area. At 56 he’s in excellent shape, knows all the single track around, and even helped map out the Great Divide Route. He told us about a recent incident where he went down on a gnarly descent and dislocated his shoulder; fortunately there was a fisherman nearby who Kurt convinced to pull on his arm to put his shoulder back in place. Ouch!
Riding today was long with lots of climbs – lucky to have some shade from the aspen/pine forests without Wyoming headwinds. In the afternoon we ran into a cattle drive which turned out to be quite an experience. There were two Mexican cowboys, two city-slicker-looking young women, and three very smart dogs. The 200 cows didn’t sound too happy – snorting and mooing their way reluctantly to some distant new pasture (”…though they’re disapprovin’…keep them doggies movin’…) A car coming our way made its way through the herd by slowly inching along which cause to cattle to flow around. But we weren’t about to try that on bikes – there were horns and asses everywhere!
Then luckily a jeep came up behind us and we asked the driver if he’d go slowly enough so we could fall in right behind him, so we did and got through. However we were so close the jeep that we couldn’t’ see where we were stepping, and we ended up with cow poo all over our tires, shoes and pedals. Nasty! But we got through ok…only to face a hill so steep it should be illegal! More pushing to get to the top.
The route today was tougher than we thought, and after an awesome 3-mile downhill on pavement we came to Steamboat Lake State Park. Asked around a bit and found the walk-in tent camping, scored a site, and while Phil got water and set up the tent, Shannon cooked, and I make the perfect fire from scavenged wood. Another great day – we were dead tired but went to sleep happy and content.
