Lagunitas Campground, NM

37 miles, 5:32/8:15

We ride through the town of Horca this morning, hoping for groceries, but the one building that seems to constitute town besides cabins is closed. We’re definitely well into the off season. We ride on and climb La Manga Pass on pavement, and elevation of 10,230. There’s a restaurant symbol on our map just over the pass, but when we get there it’s a bar and saloon that is only open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 4:00 PM. We’d been hoping for some french fries or something yummy after a few days eating our same camp food. Oh well.

We keep riding and see the Cumbres & Toltec narrow-gauge steam-powered train rumble by. It appears to be working on its track during this off-season, as it’s carrying only cars full of gravel. It’s a coal-powered steam engine that puffs out plenty of smoke and has that nifty old whistle. We wave and the conductor waves back. As we climb further we see it come around to fill up with water from the big tank along the track.

We climb back into aspens and pines to find our campground late in the afternoon. There is only one other family there, hunters out looking for elk. The dad tells Dave that the “Little Guy is out shooting squirrel,” and that he’ll “make sure he doesn’t screw up,” meaning he’ll tell him not to shoot in our direction.

Uh, that’s nice. Thank you.