Cross Country In Mountain Country

We made our own campsite

It was getting late, near dark, the sun had fallen from the sky.  We needed a place to camp, and quick.  

We stopped at the large RV park now gutting the landscape between Gypsum and Dotsero.  They call the park River Dance.  

Despite arriving late, near 7:00, on bicycle, the rate was $28.00.  Ouch!  Just to pitch a tent for a few hours sleep!  Well, they have to make a buck, I suppose.  But that price is far over what many bike tourist are willing to pay for a "short night" of camping.  

The manager gave us instructions on how to navigate through the  Goliath million dollar RV's.  

"Turn right 3 RV's down from the office, find row such and such, go left and look for a spot to pitch your tent!  The manager said he would collect the fee in the morning.  

We moved on.

Camping by the Colorado River

It was getting cold.  The cover of darkness was beginning to cloak us.  Only our small headlights brightened the countryside before us.  The Colorado River looked beautiful, as far as we could see, but there were hordes of mosquito's enjoying the river, and us, too!

 Finally, we found a small 20X20 space next to a path-bench on the Eagle Valley Regional Trail that seemed made for a tent!  On the one side was the Colorado River, and on the other...the bike path.  We pitched the tent, using the rain fly to protect us from an intermittent, though brutal, shower.  

Bike Wanderer Iohan told us, if it does not work out the way you planned it, then it happened exactly as it was supposed to happen. Iohan was right.

We woke to a spectacular scene, with the Colorado River flowing gently by, and a few old timers walking the path not far from our tent!