Today I am sweating in FT Collins, CO not in the shade. 5167′ elevation compared to less than 1000′ but so far only annoying biting black house flies.
Spent most of week out of internet or not making time to record adventures.
Crosby, MN down to Rapid City, SD at the edge of the Black Hills. Hot, dry, and higher elevation. The first day I rode the trails above town known as the M trails for the SD mining and Tech University. System machine built trails full on out in the sun. fORECAST CALLED FOR SEVERe rain which freaked me out as back in IN @ Phi’s during a heavy downpour 2 leaks let gushers of water inside. Fearing the same thing I hunted feverishly for roof sealant traveling horrible traffic and train jams on the GPS route roads. First place wasn’t where it was supposed to be. Drove back thru the traffic while watching the darkening clouds. Blocked roads from construction and downtown street fair tied me up. I found an ACE store and bought sealant then asked if I could use a ladder, great clerk put the ladder outside the door and I crawled up and slathered sealant. And the hard rain never fell. The trails were well signed and mapped, loose tread. I topped out @ 3,500′ in 92 degrees full sun.
I drove out passed Rockerville then up into the mtns and found a camp spot. Rain fell during the night while the roof did its job. Just enough rain fell to dampen the dirt but not make puddles: Hero dirt. drove back down to the Coon Hollow TH. The shop gave me a color printed map that showed squiggles of the route: no signs because the trails are not USFS official and can’t be signed but they did have a directional arrow along the way to keep me found. 2 days in the mountainous Black Hills of South Dakota.
I left Rapid City and headed South towards Cheyenne, WY. I drove rt 71 down thru Nebraska. Yesterday afternoon I arrived @ Curt Gowdy SP. Full on sun @ 7,000′ Full sun. All campgrounds were full which was OK as I did not want to camp in full sun. I rode trails on the western end like Stone Temple. I encountered a local bike patrol person and I asked for camping ideas. Sure, he said, 2 miles up the hwy turn left on rd 700 and there are all kinds of places. I finished my ride.
My bike has suspension issues that I hope are just worn bushings and not journal bearings, I have PUSH bushings i never installed. I found a Turner dealer in Denver and called them. I scored an appointment Monday AM to attend to issues.
I drove way out rd 700 passing one occupied camp spot after another, I drove almost 5 miles of washboard dirt road until I found a vacant spot. No mosquitoes but the bothersome flies. 52 degrees when I woke up.
Today I drove back to the park and paid the $6.00 entry fee and took off riding the eastern trails that are more burley.
Battery is almost gone.
Tonight I will camp somewhere west of FT Collins after a shower here @ Anytime.
More to say but I am hot, dirty, and really pissed @ this computer. maybe I will post pics later.
Quite a view change to see big mountains to the west and being able to see everywhere.
Tomorrow is cousin Susan and Don’s house for a visit then off Tues to cousin Debbie in Carbondale, then Thurs drive to Stteamboat for the IMBA summit. I treated myself to a posh 3 nights in the resort.