Rawlins is an interesting little town. It's got about 8,000 people in it, and it's a junction point for the Trans Am Bike route as well as the Continental Divide Trail (hiking), and of course The Divide. As such at the Walmart and later at the laundromat (no, I'm not washing things, just using the power) I've met three trans am riders and three CDT Hikers. We're taking the place over!
I got here about 1:30 - 15 miles of dirt, 25 miles of desolate pavement, and then 17 miles of busy pavement (does that add up to around 55miles? It should-ish.) It was only about 4 hours on bike. This has been a nice change from the last two super long days. The wind was inconsequential, but there was a decent climb as I climbed out of the basin.
Being in Rawlins is like being on a road tour. I got in early enough to resupply and relax, and then I started exploring the town. Of course, step 1 was figuring out where to stay (for free). Rolling in I identified two different baseball diamonds, so my plan is to stealth sleep in a dugout. If that doesn't work I'll head over and camp next to the Walmart, where bikers occasionally camp. I'd like to avoid that though, as I don't like putting up my tent if I don't have to.
Until then I'll be hanging out in a different park that I found that is having music and food venders until 9. Way to go, Rawlins. This is way more fun than hiding in my tent from storms! Also, I'm drinking the first water I haven't had to filter out of a stream, lake, or well in three days.
After today I have three more day until I'm in a town of any size again, and then a few more and I'm in the Denver area for RAGBRAI. I'm still not sure if I'll continue on after RAGBRAI or not. I'm not minding the ride anymore (I'm loving it), but I'm also not sure if this is how I want to spend my *entire* summer. I'm realizing that 1-month bike tours may be more the thing now that I can do it every summer. That allows me to use my other month of summer doing other fun things.
New Mexico is calling me, however. A strong, powerful call of adventure. I've never done anything like it. But, maybe doing it next year is just fine, and that way I can come back and do things like, say, buy a house. *shrug* The downside is that I'm trained up as a quick, mile-eating, touring machine right now. It would certainly be easier to do it this year. ;)
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