Ovando to Barbara’s Alpaca Ranch My night in the jail in Ovando was uneventful. I had a cell mate—Marcos from Switzerland—and as far as I know we both slept well and completed our sentence and are ready to contribute to society once again. Marcos was to do a different route than me, so we said our goodbyes in front of the jail and he hit the road. I had a few texts to send, and emails to check so I didnt get on the road until after 10. The weather was once again perfect. Perhaps a little warm, but I’m not complaining! I met my first cyclist about 10 miles in—Billy from Atlanta—and we rode together for a few miles until I stopped to take some pictures, and he pedaled on. I saw 4 motorcycles loaded with adventure gear on the same road I was on, and we traded smiles and waves. On the first climb of the day, I was passed by 3 jeeps and an SUV. I found them a short time later stopped along the road enjoying the view. I talked with them for a while, and they gave me some water. Turns out they were a group of family members doing the off-road version of the great divide. We leap frogged for a while, and they finally passed me for good a few miles out of Lincoln. I stopped in Lincoln for a snack and soda—and to rest a little before the final climb of the day, which looked very steep on the profile. Coming out of Lincoln, the roads were great; smooth, flat and fast. This continued for a few miles, and then I caught up with 2 other cyclists. We chatted for a while, and I learned their names were Ben and Chris, 2 young men just out of college. They planned on going to the alpaca ranch as well. Ben wasn’t feeling too well, so I rolled ahead, destination Barbara’s Alpaca ranch. I met 3 CDT hikers on the rocky road toward the Alpaca ranch. I talked with them as well—they had stayed at the ranch and had nothing but great reviews of it. I finished the climb, grateful I had mountain bike gearing. It was a steep, rocky, unrelenting climb that seemed it would never end! I was very happy to finally see the top and begin to use gravity to my advantage. After cresting this brutal hill, the miles to the Alpaca ranch ticked by quickly and easily. My arrival at the Alpaca Ranch was entering a true adventurer shangri-la. Barbara and her husband John met me by the road in front of their home, and directed me to the “magic fridge” fully stocked with all manner of frosty beverages. Salty snacks and water were available as well. The generosity of these people left me awestruck, really. John showed me around the rest of the property, and it had everything a tired, dirty cyclist could want or need. Barbara and John simply seem to love to serve others, and their only request is for those that have been served to “pay it forward “. A remarkable place. As I write this, I am reflecting on my day and people I met and talked to. It struck me that we are all doing the same thing: enjoying this place of wonder and beauty and wide open spaces. No matter the tool of choice—a bicycle, motorcycle, jeep or your own 2 feet—we’re out here in big sky country soaking it in. May we all be fortunate enough to see a Barbara and John at the end of it. Now go pay it forward in whatever way you can…