Tires, tubes, Bents Old Fort

Nice AM at the resevoir, later start than expected but acceptable (totally).

The campsite is a long way from the highway, over gravel, so it was either the long walk or risk a flat. You know me, always up for a bit of a risk, so we rode out. Had the first flat just after hitting the main road (which was far better than deserved). Two failed patches, ripped valve stem, then finally got it right. Had a snack at a little grocery, total mileage for the morning was 2. While we were at the store we met another rider, Rupert Dale, who had begun his ride in Washington, DC headed for SF. He is a Brit, lives in Denmark, works as a teacher. Great to talk with and would have been fun to continue on together for a while, but he was on to a location further than ours for the day.

Made 16 more miles before stopping for lunch at a Best Western in Las Animas. Cool inside and the food was good. Met a couple of really nice folks from the area while there. Each day is filled with that sort of thing, and everyone we have met has been very nice. They confirmed that Bents Old Fort was well worth the visit, so that was the next stop.

We got about 100 yards down the road before Karina got her flat and it was the AM redux. The ride to the fort was very beautiful, taking us higher into the hills. Gorgeous views of the plains. We passed a farm that raised emus, antelope, zebra, be more; had not expected to see any zebra. Spotted our first rattle snake, the car flattened variety.

The fort was really great a d we could have easilly spent many more hours there. It is a reconstruction (a very good reconstruction) of a private fort that was used as a trading post in the mid 1800's. Just no the edge of the Arkansas River, at that time the boarder with Mexico! Very cool place.

Got to our campsite in La Junta, swam, ate, did laundry, watched two episodes of The Nanny. Sleep.

Today it is on to Pueblo, maybe a first sight of the Rocky Mtns!