sammyjava posted a photo:

After some unphotographed meandering, including the discovery that the road I wanted was a pasture full of cattle, I unintentionally wound up back at 106.

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sammyjava posted a photo:

We've had some rain recently, which fills in these mud holes.

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sammyjava posted a photo:

Guess how I got past this tree. (Not too difficult.)

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sammyjava posted a photo:

Nice view of the Sangre de Christo range to the south.

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4235/34295312573_8375fa30fd_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4225/34974605861_314c331459_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

Don't know what the story is with this house. It's on NF land where FR 44 and 106 meet, marked with a shelter symbol on the map. Maybe it can be rented? Or squatted in? Sweet spot if so!

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4252/35105180505_04863f7fc0_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

After more shenanigans involving a road that vanished, resulting in a more manageable climb over the rocky hill (not very far from where I had dropped the bike earlier), I finally reached FR 793 and got back to FR 106. From there, smooth sailing home.

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sammyjava posted a photo:

...leaving behind this rut in the rather soft ground.

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4199/34295394163_048f025d35_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

In my brilliant wisdom, I had a pair of Rok-Straps in my tail bag, so I hooked them together to make a tight line between a young tree and the right fork leg. This gave enough extra pull that when I pushed on the bars with gas, the bike popped over the ledge...

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4233/35105224115_2a8db0767c_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

So then to get back around that big tree, I had to climb OUT of the creek bed, and I couldn't get enough traction on the rear while pushing the handlebars and giving it clutch and gas. (A run-up wasn't possible with the terrain out of view to the left.)

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4270/35065595406_cb47e3b397_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

Remaining undaunted by my lack of actual NF road, I decided that I should find my goal, FR 793, just a ways up this fairly steep hill. Except I'm not good at slippery hills, or the bike doesn't have enough torque, because I stalled and fell. Not the first time.

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4250/34261304524_a8fa35b823_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

I thought I was still on a NF road when I hit this impediment. Not to be deterred, although it would have been better if I had been, I managed to cross a creek bed to the right and get past the tree. We'll return to this soon....

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4243/34261322174_fd50762b5c_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

FR 719 sprouts a FR 796, which crosses the Rio Vallecitas in drier conditions. It's raging full now, and I wonder if there are significant trout swimming up. But I don't have fishing gear and turn around.

image/jpeg: http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4270/35105306205_a58e294f19_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

View to the opposite direction: I'm actually on the "main" FR 719, which you can see signed in the background. (Click picture to zoom.)

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sammyjava posted a photo:

If the minor NF roads are marked, it's with these vertical brown posts. This one looks brand new. If the road number has letters attached it's usually a pretty rough road, although this one is excellent right here.

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sammyjava posted a photo:

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sammyjava posted a photo:

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sammyjava posted a photo:

image/jpeg: http://farm1.staticflickr.com/603/32093807766_3c29d8c146_b.jpg

sammyjava posted a photo:

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sammyjava posted a photo:

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