Bobcat Camp to Silver City I laid in my cozy sleeping bag on my cozy sleeping pad in my cozy tent last night and it hit me: this will very likely be my last night in this tent on this trip. I’m going to Silver City tomorrow, where I will spend 2 nights, then just one more night to the border, and I plan to stay in a community center that night. I was kind of sad about it. I’ve grown to love my little tent—it’s like a fort or a nest you would make as a kid. I’ve had some of the best wild camps of my life in that little tent, and I’ll miss it. Having the bobcat visit was extra special. Of course a comfy bed in a hotel is pretty nice too! I woke up to a very wet tent fly. I dont know if it was just really heavy dew, or if it rained a little and I didn’t wake up. Anyway, my decision to not camp in the bottom of a little canyon was validated, as I found sunny spot to hang my tent fly while I packed up and had oatmeal. Again. I gotta come up with something else! My plan for the day was to make it to Silver City, a mere 50 miles with some decent climbing ahead. I hoped to get to Silver City in time for a late lunch and some wandering about town. I hit the road about 9, and rolled along the same ridge top road from the day before. The views were amazing on both sides of the ridge, and the miles rolled on quickly. After a long descent, I took a right on a paved highway. I would ride pavement the rest of the way to Silver City. The paved road was still effectively downhill, so I rolled along at a pretty decent pace, knowing I had a pretty robust climb coming up. I started seeing a few homes, then a reservoir called lake Robert’s. There was some vacation infrastructure there like a store and a small hotel, but it was all closed for the season. I didn’t need anything, so I rolled along to an intersection that marked the start of the biggest climb of the day. At the intersection, left took me to Silver City and Right to the Gila Cliff Dwellings and hot springs. I was tempted to go check it out, but the cliff dwellings were 12 miles in the wrong direction. Silver City won, so I started up the climb. I actually felt pretty good on the climb, got into a good rhythm and before I knew it I was topping out. The road was a smooth, single lane paved road with little traffic. It was likely the most beautiful, enjoyable paved road I have ever ridden. It twisted and turned down ridges and dropped through beautiful ponderosa forests and through steep ravines. For about 15 miles I rolled along this epic road and not a single car passed me. To be fair, several were going the other way—to the cliff dwellings, I assumed. The road finally ended at a (very) small town named Pinos Altos, where the road became a more normal—and busier—2 lane highway. I didn’t find anything I wanted in Pinos Altos, so I turned onto the highway for the 8 mile downhill into Silver City. I followed the ACA route into downtown and stopped at the first Mexican restaurant I saw. It was 2:00; just as I hoped, I had gotten there early enough to check out the town. While having my late lunch, I booked a place to stay, and it felt good to have the ride done and lodging secured. I relaxed and had another coke! I then made my way to the hotel, unpacked, and took a shower. I had a meal out and it felt so nice to relax and have no timeframe for anything, really. I was ready for my rest day tomorrow, as I had put in some pretty hard miles since my last one. I turned in to my comfy hotel bed and I think fell asleep almost immediately. The only thing I remember thinking was “2 more days”…yes, it was a good day!