Today we rode from Tomichi Creek Trading Post (Sargents), Colorado, US to informal campground 8km before the to of Canero Pass, Colorado, US. Sunny weather with some clouds. Road conditions included paved roads and lots of gravel roads. Highlights of the day include climbing Cochetopa Pass and the ride up to our informal campground.

Riding statistics: on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, day 31 on the route, it took 09:02h (07:04h moving time), between 07:52 and 16:55, to cover 112 km (70 miles), including 1260 m (4134 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 16 km/h (10 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 27 °C (81 °F) with a minimum of 11 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 38 °C (100 °F).

Totals: So far, it took 9 days, 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 32 seconds of cycling time to cover 3218 km (2000 miles), including 37717 m (123749 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.9 km/h (9.3 mph).

After two shorter days, we’ll have a longer one again. We’ve set the alarm at 6am again. Today the outside of the tents were all wet again from the morning damp. After cleaning up and getting the bikes ready, we went to the shop for some snacks and water. We bought 1 gallon (4l liter) which should be enough for today, combined with the left-over water from yesterday. We left Sargents on a paved road with little traffic and a wide shoulder, which we had to follow for about 20km (12.5 miles).

We had a good pace and within the hour we already took a turnoff onto a gravel road. Soon thereafter our first climb of the day started. Almost 6km (3.5 miles) in distance, and about 200+ meters (656 ft) of elevation gain. We enjoyed it in the beautiful weather. The landscape was a mixture of what we have seen in Wyoming (soft hills with sagebrush), combined with the beautiful hard rocks and pine/aspen forests from Colorado. The climb took not long, and soon we continued on a road that went up- and downhill all the time.

Around 1pm we reached the first formal campground. It was located at a water reservoir and had several pit toilets. We stopped to use the toilet and decided to have lunch as well. The sun was still bright and shining so we decided to dry out our tents. The sun combined with the wind dried out our tents very quickly. After our lunch break, we continued. Next stop, Luthers Campground, a formal campground that we might use as our destination for today. Before getting to the campground, we had to climb Cochetopa Pass. This climb was much longer, and we took it easy (also because of the knee which was getting better each and every day). At the top of the pass, we were back in a big forest, and enjoyed all the scenery. It did not take long before we reached Luthers Campground. Since it was still early in the afternoon, both Anna and myself agreed to move on. We did not even stop to check things out because the main section of the campground was slightly off route. We continued our downhill until we reached a paved road again.

We had to follow the paved road for almost 10km (6 miles). Fortunately, there was not much traffic because the shoulder was small and sometimes non-existing. Cycling required quite some effort since the road went uphill and there was a brutal headwind.

Eventually we turned off again on a gravel road which would take us to Canero Pass. The climb to the pass would take 17km (10.5 miles). We aimed for an informal campground 8km (5 miles) before the top of the pass. There was hardly any traffic, a guy in a pickup truck with a big RV is the only traffic that we saw. When arriving we saw that the informal campground was nothing more than an open area in the forest. The guy that passed us with his RV was there as well. He explained that he was there for the start of the hunting season, which is coming Friday on September 2nd. He would stay there until the 11th. The season starts with bow hunting, later in the season guns are allowed. He was doing this already for 30 years.

We setup our tents on a small patch of gravel (in case there would be rain). We enjoyed a dinner away from the tent (we’re still in bear country). After cleaning up, hanging our food and toiletries, we went into our tents early.

Today we have been on the route for a month, August 1st - August 31st. Time flies when you are enjoying each and every day!

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