I slept like a log and got up late at 8:30. I rolled out an hour later. Still down hill on a deserted back highway. No shoulder but no traffic and I had my Varia keeping watch when a car did appear.
I was so excited. Today I would make it to Bannak State park and officially join the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. that is if I complete another 65 miles and 2500 vertical. It was broken up and all rideable grade.
I have dropped out of the forest and into barren scrub brush country. After a longer and more difficult day than anticipated I turned off the road and headed into the park. Turns out Bannak is a preserved old abandoned ghost town. Straight out of a spaghetti western. As I rolled into the camp area I was greated by several people on bikes. This was the first time I was with bike packers. They were grumbling about the price of the place and the host. I wandered over to the host and he was great. Later I figured out he was not that keen on foreigners and was happy to see “a real American on the trail” his words not mine. So maybe not a great host. Turns out the bunch of bikers were from all over. France, New Zealand, Spain, England, and Australia. They were not all together but had been seeing each other along the trail since Canada.
Oh, they had cold soda at the visitor center and the ranger had gone to CSU so we chatted about Fort Collins as I threw back three gatorades and two Dr Peppers. Did I mention that the heat was back. High today was 95.
I made my way back with my bike-only camp pass $7! And found a spot next to a couple from New Zealand, Sue and Andy.
They were awesome and I regaled them with my stories and they did the same. As I made my way over to check out the other bikers the conversation had turned to tomorrow’s plan. I remember this part of the evening from the Appalachian trail. Everyone has opinions and ego seems to play a bigger role than it should but it is good fun. Doing it in three languages made it even more hilarious.
I had looked the route over and felt that the best plan was 80 miles over a massive pass that brought the vertical total to near 4000 feet. It seemed out of reach but water looked scarce and the camping may or may not be great. It was all BLM land but it had all the hallmarks of leased cattle land not public access. I decided I had food for several days so I could make a game day decision to make it a one or two day section. To be honest I was caught up in the excitement of being on the trail and around my people so the real plan was one day.
