We didn't start today until 9 o'clock, waiting for the post office in Walden to open, in the hope that a tire sent to us there had arrived- it hadn't. The only problem with the late start is the likelihood of more wind and heat later in the day.
We saw our first prarie dog towns this morning, also colonies of what we later learned were Robertson's squirrels.
The landscape early was still in the mostly level area called North Park. We were climbing gradually all along, but when we reached the mountains, we climbed for real through pine and aspen forest toward Willow Creek Pass, 9670' at 30 miles, another continental divide crossing, back into the Pacific watershed. At the top we ate a picnic lunch and congratulated ourselves for a good ascent.
We had a long gentle descent from the pass, in lush green scenery along a descending stream. At one point we passed a remarkable rock formation (see pic). The vertical rock wall was about 20' thick, and extended all the way up the mountainside out of sight.
The downhill extended about 20 miles, and another 10 or so took us to Hot Sulphur Springs, one more western town clinging precariously to life.
Although Denver is reportedly hot today, up here it remained cool all day and although thunderstorms threatened, we only actually got a few drops of rain as our ride ended.
A good day's ride, and a good day.
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