Distance - 65 miles, Av speed - 7.1 mph
He is still not 100% but at least manages to drink his coffee and eat his granola this morning. Yesterday, we had an email from Bill who made it to Del Norte from Salida in just 2 days He is overjoyed to have run into Chip at the Del Norte grocery store! That must have been an emotional reunion. Although not impressed with Del Norte, he decided to have a rest day there yesterday, before heading off into what he calls “ No Waterville” today.
Last night, we finally get to meet the group of 12 who set off from Kalispell on 1 July but who are now down to 6. Two of the group have gone ahead with Harry, 1 rode a while with Mr & Mrs Salsa across the Basin then went ahead on his own, one had to go back to work, the 75 year old (!) finished at Steamboat Springs and another guy gave up because of his knees and losing too much weight. It is nice to meet up with them finally. This group got together last September onwards through the Companions wanted forum on Adventure Cycling, so none of them knew each other beforehand. It is no mean task to put together a cycle touring group even when you do know everyone else, let alone bring together people from all over the country who have different riding speeds and expectations from the trip. It seems that the remaining 6 have settled down into a group who get along in the main. They are Gerry from New Mexico, Vicky from Montana, Steve from Colorado, Jim from Dallas, Ann from Montreal and Phil from Ohio. We debate as what should be their trail name and ponder on Gerry and the Pacemakers or The Six Pack but finally decide upon the Socialites, after they christen themselves with that nickname because they spend too much time chatting among themselves in the morning to get going early and they like to go out together when they get the chance.
All are pulling BOB trailers except for Steve and Phil who jave panniers. Ann bought her BOB trailer in Canada but it didn’t come with a bag as she expected. She was so mad, that she decided to do without the bag and just put her stuff in the trailer and covered it with a tarp (photo). This does mean that the trailer is much more unstable than with the purpose built bag, but so far, she has only fallen off once, funny enough in exactly the same place as Dirtbaby.
It is nice to have a chat with someone new and compare experiences to while away the miles while climbing up the Cochetopa Pass, (Continental Divide Crossing #17) and we have a group photo at the top .
The Socialites decide to spend the night at Luders Creek campground, which is just a couple of miles down from the top. Although this is a nice campground with picnic tables and a pit toilet, there is no water or even a stream nearby. Numb Stuff and Dirtbaby decide to press on another 17 miles, through a landscape which is becoming more “Southwestern” with colorful rocky outcrops . Eventually, we find a suitable place just into the Rio Grande National Forest, and right next to a stream – perfect! The Mountain House dinner tastes much better than the double fried grease and bacteria we have had for the past 2 days at Sargents!
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