I cut out from work at 3pm on Saturday to get a head start on my trip. Swung by the house to get Lucy and load up the cooler. 2 hours to Durango, then into the desert. I find the dry landscape quite interesting, but it seems I have a primal hatred for such barren land. I'm always grateful when I get back into greenery. I passed through some tiny, poor villages and turned onto County Rd 126 in Cuba, NM. I had no clue what I was getting into. I saw signs prohibiting large trucks and trailers and warning that the road was impassable during inclement weather. I didn't think much of it, but soon the road turned to dirt. Then, I hit a stretch that was under construction, and it had apparently just rained earlier that day. Needless to say it was muddy for several miles. Fortunately the mud was only slick and not deep. My 2wd Tacoma got sideways a couple of times, but I had gone too far to turn back. I pressed on hoping to make it passed the construction. The thought of getting stuck in BFE New Mexico at night was terrifying. Finally I made it to dry rocky dirt again, then pavement. I continued on to find a campsite in the national forest near the caldera. That night we heard a large pack of coyotes howling, and I think it scared Lucy. She didn't make a sound, just sat attentively pressed against me.
The race on Sunday morning was fun, and I had a great time. But the trails could use some work as they were basically nonexistent. The route started off with an 8 mile climb up a dirt road that turned into double track. After that it was 10 miles mostly downhill, but there was no trail. There was a large bench cut in the hill where there used to be a road, but it was completely covered in grass. At the start of the race, I got the hole shot, but I couldn't hold it for long. Two riders passed me when the climb steepened. Cross country races are won and lost on the climbs, especially in the single speed class. So, when I reached the descent I was pretty sure I had 3rd place locked down. My time was 1:32. 1st and 2nd place were around 1:26 and 4th was 1:39. That's what I love and hate about the single speed class. There are no age groups or categories for ability levels.
It was 2pm when I hit the road again. I decided to check out the Taos-Angel Fire area as I had heard good things about it. The drive was interesting but nothing noteworthy. The New Mexican mountains are kind of unspectacular after living in the San Juans. I found a nice campsite in the Carson National Forest between the two cities. It started raining just as my brats were finishing cooking, but I didn't mind. I ate dinner, curled up in my sleeping bag under the Softopper, and read a few chapters in a book about a road trip. Coincidentally, Steinbeck was getting rained on too. The next day I rode some decent trails with Lucy around Angel Fire. I headed back to Taos to ride the South Boundary Trail, but a few minutes after I got to the trailhead, it started raining with no signs of letting up. I weighed my options and decided to drive to Pagosa Springs, CO.
On this drive I got to pass over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and passed by the Earthships - a neighborhood of self-sustaining homes built from recycled materials. Of course it was raining in Pagosa too. I got some camping and trail advice from a local guide shop and proceeded to find a campsite in the rain. I ended up finding a nice spot by the creek just after the road got too rough for fifth wheels. The rain took a break around dusk just long enough for Lucy and I to stretch our legs. It continued off and on all night, and I found out my Softopper isn't completely water tight. I still got a good night's sleep, but parts of my sleeping bag were wet when I woke up. This was the first night Lucy got a good sleep too with the rain and rushing water drowning out wildlife noises. After letting things dry out the next morning, we hit the trails. The ride was great, though I got lost for a little while - left the map in the truck.
Overall it was a great trip, but I'm glad to be showered and in a real bed. This was kind of a shakedown run in preparation for a 3 week road trip at the end of October. Next time I'll do more trail research, but still keep a loose schedule. I may be trading the Tacoma in before then for something with 4wd, but most of what I learned will carry over like the necessity of baby wipes, remembering to pack warm socks and a hat, how to find campsites, and the importance of a good book.
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