Lynx Pass Camp. Day, 10. CDT.

Leaving Sage Creek.

We met Dennis and Cheryl at the road at 9:30 and headed south on WY-71.

Bikers and Hikers.

As we rolled along we encountered some Bikers

and a Hiker.

A change in Scenery.

The road just keeps climbing and as we go along the vegetation changes.

We started out in the high desert.

We climb until we start get to Aspen Groves.

This is called Aspen Alley.

Did you notice the two bikers?

We pass through the Aspens and are back in the Sage country.

More Antelope.

We noticed this large group of Antelope a ways off the road. This is the largest group of antelope we have yet to see.

Nice Barns.

As we rode along we noticed several nice barns.

This one was particularly interesting.

Here is your standard Dutch style.

Here is another nice couple of barns.

It Must Be a Dude Ranch.

We were driving through private land and came upon the “3 Forks Ranch”

What we initially thought as the main house…

must be the main lodge for the ranch. This ranch went on for miles on both sides of the road.

Here is another big building.

This ranch went for several miles along the road.

Colorado.

Eventually we crossed into Colorado.

Columbine.

We were driving down this dirt road when we came to this small general store and some cabins.

This is Columbine, Colorado. Not the high school.
We stopped here for lunch.

After lunch we continued our ride and passed some beautiful horses on a hill.

This is probably the narrowest road we have been on so far.

By late afternoon we came into Steamboat Springs, CO.

There was a lot of road work and detours so we missed the trail and had to drive around a while to get back on track.
Eventually we found the road that we wanted and headed back into the mountains.

Lynx Pass.

Eventually we made it to Lynx Pass, 7200ft. There is a campground there with good  toilets.

We were fortunate in that there was no one there when we arrived and no one showed up while we were there.

Once we got set up Dennis started a campfire and after supper we sat around it until about 8:30.

Then Patti and I retired.

There were no flashy sunsets tonight. Just a little thunder and some rain.

A good camp.

Sage Creek Camp. 23 miles South of Rawlins, WY. Day,9 CDT

Antelope and Sheep.

Woke up to a bright clear morning. After breakfast I sat around enjoying the scenery. I spotted a couple of antelope off in the distance but nothing close enough to get a picture of.

About the time we were ready to go we were visited by a few   domestic sheep.

We left the camp at 9:04 and headed down the dirt road for Rawlins, Wyoming.

Horses, Antelope and More Sheep.

We were cruising down this nice dirt road and Cheryl gets on the radio and says “Horses”.
We come around the corner and there they are, the prettiest bunch of horses you are likely to see.

There were more scattered around the area but this was a nice grouping..

All morning as we drove along we saw animals.
We saw several antelope

and even another flock of sheep.

We continued our drive through this wide open country, seeing many antelope and occasionally getting a picture of one.

Back on Pavement.

After many mile of nice dirt road we eventually turned onto a paved county road.

We were on this road for twenty miles until it came to highway 287.

British Cyclists.

At the intersection were several Cyclists from Britain. All members of the RAF. They were also heading south on the bike trail.

Rawlins, WY.

We turned right and headed for Rawlins. When we got to Rawlins we went straight to the closest laundromat.

While Patti was taking care of the laundry I finished Day 8’s post and published it.

Walmart.

Once the laundry was done we next went to Walmart where we did some resupply.

Mexican Food.

Patti and I decided that we wanted to have our big meal of the day in the afternoon.
After we finished shopping at Walmart it was around 1:30.
Patti asked a couple of  local where there was a good Mexican restaurant. They both said “Su Casa” in (Sinclair) about 4 miles east of Rawlins. 
We got on I-80 and drove to the restaurant.
The food was pretty good and the price was reasonable.

We Split up For the Night.

Cheryl and Dennis were getting a motel room for the night.
We wanted to camp so Patti,  Bob and I left Cheryl and Dennis with plans to meet them on the trail at 9:30 in the morning. We decided on a place to meet in the morning.

Sage Creek Camp.

From Rawlins we drove south 23 miles on Wyoming 71, to Sage Creek. Here we turned left onto a nice big flat by the creek. We were only a couple hundred yards from the road but it was enough to enjoy a nice quiet evening.

We were treated to another nice sunset.

We were also serenaded by some Coyotes in the evening and again early in the morning.

It was a nice peaceful camp.

Camped on the Divide Between Pinedale and Rawlins, Wyoming. Day 8, CDT

Broken Bunk.

When we arrived at the motel in Pinedale, we opened the side doors on the van and saw that the top bunk had partially fallen off the wall.
I checked it out and found that all the screws that were holding the bunk against the wall at the back had fallen out.

This morning early I walked to the hardware store a couple blocks away and bought some new screws. I came back and reattached the bunk to the wall.

Getting out of Pinedale.

We still had to get a few things at the market and gas up the van.

I didn’t have time for a real breakfast so when we were at the market, I got two Apple Fritters, one for Patti and a six pack of Mountain Dew. Ah, yes the breakfast of champions; sugar and caffeine.

On the Road.

By 9:40, we were on the road heading south on 191.
A ways south of Pinedale we turned left onto Wyoming 353.

353 is a nice blacktop two lane that goes east through the ranch land.

After a while we turned left onto county road 118 a good wide gravel road.

We noticed some Lemon Sage along the road.

Of course as we travel along we are blown away by the scenery.

You can see the grader that has been working on this part of the road. It was like driving on velvet.
Unfortunately it didn’t last  for long and we were back to washboard. Fortunately the roads today are better than yesterday's.

Here are a couple pictures that will give you an idea of the grandeur of this country.

Okay, just one more.

Antelope.

As we were driving along we saw one lone Antelope moving away from us.

South Pass City.

South Pass City State Historical Site is a well preserved old gold mining town from 1800’s.

We first realized that we were nearing the place was when we saw the cemetery.

From the cemetery the road drops steeply into the town.

We stopped in the parking area to have lunch.
We didn’t feel like going through the place so I just took a picture of the entrance.

As you climb up out of South Pass City you go by the old gold mine. The buildings of the mine and mill are very well preserve.

I have come across a lot of mines in the desert but they are mostly just foundations and piles of rubble. It’s nice to see one intact.

Atlantic City.

About three miles down the road is another town called Atlantic City.  This is not a ghost town although it looks like it may be heading that way.

There are some neat old buildings in Atlantic City.

This is the Mercantile.

Here is an interesting out house.

I like this old place.

We left Atlantic City and continued our trek on the CDT.

Crossing the Divide again.

After a few miles we crossed the Divide. There was even a marker there.

I think that’s number 12.

Oil Field.

We drove up hill for a ways and came to an oil field.

High Prairie.

Eventually we got on to the High Prairie.

This country goes on forever.

Camp on the Divide.

Around 4:30 we found a good camp spot with a view.

The Coming Storm.

We spent the afternoon watching a thunder storm approach our camp spot.

The storm took a long time to get to us and by the time it did it was mostly rained out. We only got a few sprinkles.

Sunset.

As is always the case when you have some good clouds, the sun sets are great.

We had a nice restful sleep and woke up to another beautiful morning.