No Internet so expect this to be a delayed post.

Today I ended ~2850ft higher than I started – particularly the last 44 miles up the Poudre Canyon. Cameron Pass is 5000ft higher than Fort Collins and I split this climb into two days and also made a cabin reservation. It is a Saturday and campgrounds in the lower canyon had “full” signs and there were also signs for “no camping outside the campgrounds” so my reservation gave me certainty of a bed and a shower.

I appreciate being able to stay with my friend Paul. This definitely helped. Yesterday I dropped off my rental car and just past sunrise I was on the road. Photo above is in front of my duplex.

After five miles I took the Poudre trail.

The trail ended in Laporte. Vern’s is known for sweet rolls. It also burned down and was rebuilt at least once.

Ted’s Place is at intersection of US 287 and CO 14. I was at 5200ft and starting the climb up the canyon.

92 miles to Walden…

I stopped briefly at Mishawaka for an expensive coke. It was getting warm.

Weekend traffic was well-behaved. I had one jerk who honked in a perfectly flat and open road but otherwise vehicles gave me plenty of room.

Lunch in Rustic.

Sleeping Elephant mountain

9600 feet.

It was a long slow day of riding, but having a reservation at the cabin worked well. Campgrounds lower in the canyon all had “full” signs and looks like there was some room in the upper canyon. However, the cabin was nice. The bathroom and shower was a separate building. There was a bed and electricity and a coffee maker. I used the coffee maker to make hot water for oatmeal.