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It was a long day today, mileage-wise, but I managed to get into camp at a decent time, as in before sunset! Knowing that others are waiting in camp helps to keep a municyclist pedaling. We rode through lots of beautiful country today but again played the afternoon thunderstorm game.

I managed to slip between most of the storms. It rained just enough towards the end to break out my rain jacket, but I took it off five minutes later. The others weren’t so lucky. They got caught in the super dark cloud I’d been watching as they crested today’s pass. When I topped the pass, I saw the piles of white hail that had pummeled them several hours earlier. I had to deal with the energy-sapping mud that was left behind.

Tomorrow, I will try for another big day into Del Norte. That means I should get to sleep now so I can get up early. We’re also trying to get up early because this campground is closed for cleaning in preparation for Labor Day. We think it’s probably a good idea to be out of here by 8:00 when they reopen the area.