G.A.S.P.

(Great Adventures to Scenic Places)

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July 8, 1999

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Having come down from my high (in more ways than one), I rode from Grand Lake to Kremmling on July 8. It was mostly downhill, and a very easy day, which I really needed after the previous day. The road followed the Colorado River that has its origins in Grand Lake. The scenic high spot was just west of Hot Sulphur Springs. I had stopped in the town for a milkshake and a BLT, and had convinced myself that I was going to have to ride uphill to get out of town (mountains to the west, north and south). However, as I rode west and downhill out of town, I suddenly turned a corner and found myself in Byers Canyon. It’s an absolutely beautiful four-mile stretch of narrow canyon with the Colorado River in the middle, the road on one side and the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad on the other side. The only thing missing was an old D&RGW steam engine chugging and smoking up the canyon. I stopped several times to enjoy the view.

When I got to Kremmling, I stayed at the Red Mountain RV Park, owned and operated by Jeff and Sara Miller. Considering everything from cleanliness to tent camping area (newly sodded) to cost (only $6 for a single bicyclist) to ownership (I really liked these people), this was the nicest campground I have stayed in during my seven weeks on the road.

I also met Wayne and Peg McLane, two touring bicyclists from Fort Collins, at the campground. They had started in Rawlins, Wyoming a few days before as backcountry (forest service roads and such) cyclists and now were road biking to Dillion, Colorado. They hope to retire in about three years and take a much longer bicycle trip – something like mine. We exchanged war stories and discussed biking and camping equipment, then headed off in different directions in the morning. Nice people.