Sept. 30 – Climbing Passes, Meeting People and Eating Burgers

My little camping spot was probably at 9,000 + feet and I felt it in the morning! It was cold! I stayed snuggled in my sleeping bag as long as I could and then got up to make a big mug of hot coffee to get me going. Nothing against the front range of Colorado, but the beauty of the SW Corner is hard to beat. The climb up to Lizard Head Pass was incredible. The photos don’t do it justice!

Lizard Head was one of two passes I crossed – the other was Dallas Divide, which was a pretty challenging climb.

I cruised by Telluride – was thinking about going into town, but there was so much traffic that I just kept going on down the road. At the Dallas Divide I could see weather coming in and the wind started blowing hard.

As I cruised down the pass towards Ridgway I just hoped that I wouldn’t get soaked. Luckily just a few raindrops fell and I was still fairly dry when I rolled into town. I was planning on going a few miles past Ridgway as there was a campground by the reservoir – but first I had some things to do. I went to a camping/biking store and got a new air mattress (mine had sprung a leak) some freeze dried meals, some new socks…etc. The guy at the shop was super friendly and helpful and was also able to assist with the next thing I needed, which was a meal. He recommended a place right across the street where he loved the burgers. The restaurant, Eatery 66, didn’t open for about 15 minutes, but already a line was forming. Always a good sign. I started talking to the woman in line behind me, who was also traveling (by camper van) and our conversation led us to sit at the bar and eat and talk. Brie was from California, but after a 25 year accounting career she was selling her business to her partner, had sold her house, and had hit the road in search of her fortune…. Or at least a new place to call home. She had already done a lot of exploring and it was fun to swap stories from the road. You do meet the most interesting people by introducing yourself to the person next to you! She will be stopping by La Reforma this month when she comes through Albuquerque to meet her brother there to view the solar eclipse.

In the meantime the burger and salad and fries and beer were all really good – I can see why Eatery 66 is a popular place. The wind and rain had calmed down around sunset as I cycled out to the campground – but then whipped up with a fury right as I struggled to set up my tent. It was a scene reminiscent of a Chevy Chase vacation film…..but it all worked out in the end.