May 22, 2025 to May 25, 2025
Abiquiu - Wild Camps x 2 - Platoro
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It was quite hard to leave our very comfortable room at the Inn and pedal away into unknown-to-us wilds of Carson National Forest.
Our dinner the evening before was at Cafe Sierra Negra and was outstanding, without doubt the best Mexican food we'd had in NM (or was that the cider talking?) This cafe was 1.5km down the road from our Inn, opposite the 2nd grocery store in Abiquiu, where we'd gone in search of gas.
We'd done a detailed plan of how to slice up the next 200 km into 3 days while avoiding camping at over 3000m. A scientist and a project manager - what a great set of complementary skills.
The plan had us aiming for Vallecitos, then Lagunitas, and then Platoro for a cabin, balancing all the variables of distance, elevation, water supply, and the big unknown, the riding surface.
At our first break in the shade at El Rito, I'd had to put air in my rear tyre and this was the start of an annoying/worrying pedal and repeat pumping situation. I was blaming the valve core for the leak, but postponing putting in the spare core incase this lead to a more significant failure.
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The only water marked on the app was at Vallee Grande Springs, and when we arrived there was no spring, just a muddy puddle the cattle had been in. Now we had 2 problems, a slowly failing tyre valve and no water for our overnight camp.
We pedalled on to Vallecitos, knowing the trail app showed no services, but hoping to beg some water. We spotted Gene in his back yard, and he solved both our problems quite easily, what a win!
Turns out the main air leak was from the tyre not being seated on the rim again, and possibly insufficient sealant to plug or even indicate the problem. I'd had new tyres put on 4 weeks before and fully expected there to be enough sealant to ooze and indicate the leak.
With Gene and his dogs contributing advice and a squirt bottle of soapy water and drinking water, we swapped the valve core, reseated the tyre, added more sealant, and headed off to our wild camp above Canon Plaza. FYI there is a post office in Vallecitos, so not a "no services" town.
It had been a hot and stressful day and we were pleased to find a great little spot to camp on.
Friday started cool but quickly warmed as we climbed toward Hopewell Lake. We passed this lovely wee cabin:
Approaching Hopewell Lake it became clear the Memorial Day weekend had started early with many campsites occupied and a fleet of ATV'S stirring up the dust.
We found the water off at the campground so stole some from an unattended camp set up.
Varied terrain took us through forest, prairie, and windswept grazing land. The tailwind turned into a side wind and knocked Karo off her bike, resulting in some gravel rash and bruises.
The afternoon turned into a serious grovel at this point, pushing up 15% into the headwind. I think I barely registered the scenery, although it seemed there were many very nice camping spots we could have stopped at. When I finally arrived at the spot Karo had set up camp I was having a significant humour failure!
After setting up the tents and eating dinner, Karo confessed she had been so focussed on getting to the planned camp site, she completely lost track of how tried she was, and just kept pedalling!
Next morning, 8km from our camp we came on the Lagunitas camp sites and stopped to chat to a CDT hiker. He had woken at 0300 too cold to sleep, so started walking instead.
We climbed up to Brazos Ridge on a steep and rocky trail, then down the other side on a steep and rocky trail. We met 2 cars coming up, and they seemed equally surprised to see us.
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Cumbres Pass was followed by La Manga Pass, and then a huge downhill on pavement and we were in Horca, Colorado, a world away from New Mexico just 4 hours before!
We stopped in the Red Bear Centre and scoffed burgers and fizzy drink, which may have influenced me to say, at 4pm, "of course we can ride another 35km to Platoro".
Slow Learner !!
The road was a great surface, slightly uphill, a headwind, and lots of cars and dust. Another death march!
Arrived into Platoro and our "cabin" in reasonable humour but only running on one channel.
The cabin was basic, faulty hot water, but it had a heater and 2 comfy beds. Our hostess was very helpful having only opened the day before for the summer season. I must have looked pretty rough because she put together 2 dinners of roast potato and ribs and the most delicious veges - what her family were having right then. So generous.
We were asked what we thought of Trump, and so ensued a dance where Karo and I didn't say much, but our host's brother told us of the many great things Trump is initiating, and all with the best interests of the USA as his driving force. Trump is a very clever man. A pity we were so tired, or it could have been an interesting chat.
We were both pretty shattered so decided to stay another night in Platoro before tackling the 45 km climb over Indiana Pass, and 30km down into Del Norte on Monday.
We moved to a new cabin, at Sky Line Lodge, cleaned bikes, bags, clothes and generally reduced the dust payload.
During our cleaning spree we met two teachers who were the opposite on the political spectrum to our hosts from the night before. This couple were concerned about the possibility of the reintroduction of the draft, and were clearly reeling from the removal of the Education Department, there one day, gone the next.
Today's ride: 218 km (135 miles)
Total: 1,183 km (735 miles)
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