Last week I rode from Pueblo, Colorado, USA to La Junta, going south into northern New Mexico and taking gravel roads as much as I could. I had planned to go through the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, which is an army facility that's usually open to travel. But the gates were closed (perhaps related to some stupid war the US government is pursuing), so I had to detour mostly on pavement west towards Trinidad.
I crossed over into New Mexico and followed the Dry Cimarron Canyon down, then hit a gravel road I could take over the mesas through the tiny town of Kim. Then I followed Plum Creek on more gravel down to the Purgatoire River, and then pavement up to La Junta.
Water was my biggest concern. I went through two towns: Branson, CO, and Kim, CO, and was able to get water both places. I filtered water out of two streams, a ditch, and a stock tank. I could carry about 5.5 liters.
Total was about 500km over 4 1/2 days.
by HackberryHank
1 Comment
Great photos and report – thanks for sharing this!