Trip #138 (69): Bandaid Biking at McGaffey + Bluewater Lake Bug Fest
September 11 – 15, 2024
Wed, Sept. 11 – Still a/c warm in Santa Fe (low 80s) as we head to slightly cooler Gallup area for our third visit to McGaffey for some biking. Stopped for a Laguna burger in Laguna, is was pretty good, but not the bestest ever. Near empty campground as usual, that’s good, but some will come along eventually. Arrived after 3. No power or anything, about a 1 or 2 signal bar with the booster good for getting headlines. Took a drive to the lake which was full. He won the Kibbie rounds.
Thursday, Sept. 12 – Starting slow with a ride on the known Strawberry Trail, which is down the road off the other campground. And we did ride the road to get there, great ride, not a lot of traffic but very windy today. Almost blew us both off the road! Rode up to the fire lookout and back, crossing the meadow and took Torreon rocky trail back. Bill caught a tire in the gully and took a dive with a blow to the chest on the handlebars. Took the logging road back to the highway for return. She won the Kibbie rounds.
Friday, Sept. 13 – Still warm but very nice in the shade. Did two rides today, trying Burma Trail to the north for the first time. UGH! Nothing but an uphill rock ride 98% of the time, gradual uphill but the rocks were very annoying. Clipping the pedal over and over. The map showed you can pick up a gravel road after the fenceline, so we did, what a relief. That took us back to Hilso, then connecting Quaking Aspen back to camp. Took an hour’s rest then went back out for a milder ride on Y2K out toward the tanks and a beautiful meadow with cows. Heading back the same way, I managed to perfectly ram by pedal stem into a stickup rock which stopped the bike sending me down after jamming my knee into the booster, breaking that off. All was fine otherwise, except that now my pedal is wonky. And it was such a beautiful day otherwise. I will say that I am the park kibbie champion cuz we can’t remember. I am losing my memory this trip, uh-oh.
Saturday, Sept. 14 – Time I learned how to hookup the trailer by myself judging by the way we ride bikes, so we did a training course for departure. I went through the motions all by myself with some coaching, for a PERFECT procedure! Makes me feel better about things just in case. Moved on over to Bluewater Lake SP site 15 about 11:30, with a stop at Prewett Family Dollar for Advil. The place is where the reservation shopping action is. Arrived here with high hopes for this place which we haven’t visited since first moving to Durango, and sadly things went downhill quickly. After dumping and filling up with water, we had problems finding our reserved site, lousy signage. Then when we did find it, it was closed off with yellow tape. Where to go? No host, no ranger no nothing here. Talked to some campers who told me where the last #15 campers went so that’s where we headed, and confirmed it with a park guy who happened along. Great, we get the host spot – with water and dump. Sunny day, even warmer, many campers but not much area to ride other than the CG so we hung out and charged the batteries. The BEST part is that we have a good signal and electric so we are running the a/c. Could probably live without it, but hey, it’s nice to have. Took a short walk, then a short ride then a ride outside the gates – what a lovely neighborhood. Scary. Demographics say 95% native American, but the yards say otherwise. This park must be the big draw for the area, lots of camping & fishing down by the lake, party town but not loud or anything.
Sunday, Sept. 15 – Rainy day and much cooler. Weather report says more of the same so we decide to depart a day early. Don’t feel like hiking or fishing in the rain. Got home around 4pm.
