I slept great despite a scary thunderstorm that popped up and came blazing through at 2am. Complete with an intense lightning show. To say I was freaking out would be underestimating my reaction. I debated whether I should grab my stuff and shelter by the toilet. I decided I didn't have enough time so I just made sure my tent was staked down well. I picked a good spot, pretty well sheltered from the wind with a large mound on one side of me and my concrete picnic table on the other. It rained really hard but the wind wasn't that bad. I broke camp at a leisurely pace and was eager to see the upcoming sights nearby, the trail markers and Point of Rocks. I ventured off into the grass a bit to see a stone marker for the Santa Fe trail. In the process I must have hit something because now my derailleur was hitting my spokes when in the easiest gear. I examined it and barely moved it at all and it snapped. The bike fell over a couple times the previous two days as well, due to wind. Weakening it. No problem, just have to replace it with a spare. I knew it wasn't in my frame pack where I keep my tools since I just went through and dried all that out the other day at the hotel. So I figured it must be with my tubes deep in my saddle bag. My heart really sank once I got to the back of it and realized that it wasn't there. I somehow had forgotten to pack it. I always carry a spare, even on short rides on my road bike. Careless. I quickly jumped into damage control mode however to attempt an unlikely to be successful bike surgery. I pulled out my pliers and broke the chain at the master link. I needed to bypass the derailleur and wrap the chain directly around the chainring and cog like a single speed. By trial and error I tried different cogs to find one that would line up well and result in acceptable tension. I marked and broke the chain to shorten it. The first attempt was a bit loose, and I gingerly tested it on the flat road in front of me. It stayed on for about two seconds and then spontaneously upshifted, and locked down the drivetrain in the process. I first tried unscrewing the thru axle so the cassette and wheel would pop out, thus relieving the tension. But it was too tight and the end turned but the axle did not. One more thing that needs to be replaced. I had to push out another pin in the chain to break it free, and in the process bent the two end links. Thankfully I had been carrying a few extra links. So I installed that with another master link, and sized up my chances at the perfect cog again. I did basically the same thing only I erred more on the side of less tension. I rode away and it upshifted again but this time it was pretty much as perfect as it could get. It stayed well under light power and didn't jump when backpedaled. I gathered all my stuff up and got ready to leave. Just as I did two motorcycle riders pulled up with camping gear. We introduced ourselves and while they weren't doing the entire TAT, they were preparing for an attempt some time in the future. I explained my conundrum and they offered words of encouragement and offered help. But as I told them, unless they had a Lynskey thru axle derailleur hanger handy.... We laughed because what else is there to do. We parted ways and they rode on to head in the same direction I was going, up the hill to Point of Rocks. I very carefully pedaled up the little grade of about 4% and to my astonishment the chain stayed on and didn't make a sound. I spent some more time chatting with the two riders and admiring the view off the cliff. You could see for dozens of miles in each direction. And nearly two hundred year old wagon ruts were visible off in the distance. They left and soon I was chatting with a fireman who was from Colorado, filling in to help the forest service with short staff. The sun came out and I pedaled off again towards town. I still didn't know what I wanted to do. Physically I felt perfectly capable of pushing on with only one gear. But I didn't trust it. In the end, I decided on staying put since the camping is free and so good, and so close to town. And Elkhart is more than adequate, with several stores, a few restaurants, and a couple of nice parks. And most importantly, a post office. I pedaled the rest of the way in to town carefully and resolved to grab some food to get me by at least a full day. I ended up staying in town for the day in various parks doing research and reading and talking on the phone with my family. I've never had use what I now know is called General Delivery before but I'd heard the process described before. It shouldn't be a big deal, I just order my parts and have them shipped to the post office in Elkhart marked General Delivery. Bad timing though as today is the Fourth and tomorrow a lot of businesses are closed as well. So it might take a few days. But I think it's the right thing to wait. And not try to push on and have the chain explode or something leaving me truly stranded. I barely had to pedal on the 11 miles back "home" as I had a 20+mph tailwind and it's downhill basically the whole way. I arrived just in time to witness an evening thunderstorm gathering. I was prepared to shelter under the toilet porch but it somehow has just barely missed me. So far. It will probably start pouring now that I've written this.