It was an easy climb through clear weather on good roads to Cochetopa Pass (10,000’/3,058m) – nothing to complain about! I stopped in USFS Luder’s Creek Campground, met Chris Ivich and his dog Rufus (both escaping the heat at home in Oklahoma). Chris pointed out the spring at the end of the campground, and a few mushrooms that I should avoid stepping on as he was planning on having them for supper. Chris also invited me to lunch – we dined on some locally made bread and I supplemented my normal tuna with some relish, horseradish sauce, and mayonnaise, things you usually don’t get while on the trial. Tasty!
The normal afternoon thunderstorms were gathering and it started to rain, so I decided to forgo the GDR roads and detour through Saguache where there was in interesting little museum, highlighting the notorious Alferd E. Packer, the “Colorado Cannibal” who was out with some companions, got into a fight and either were killed by Packer or killed each other, then Packer ate them. Here you can read more about it: http://museumtrail.org/AlferdPacker.asp
At the museum I met Kenny and Bernie – two dirt bikers who stayed at the hostel in Salida…small world! Turned out the dirt bike rally they were attending was right down the road at the RV park, so I headed down there and paid my $8.00 for a tent site. I met Gary and Kay in their 5th wheel trailer – they offered me a sumptuous dinner of homemade chicken soup and homemade peach cobbler.
