The wind finally died down last night and my tent was able to be put up without it being blown across the reservoir. I slept really close to the water and could hear the fishing rolling on top trying to catch the small flies and other insects landing on the water. If only I had a fly rod.

We had four riders at the reservoir when we all retired for the evening and shortly after while laying in my tent, I heard another cyclist join our little caravan. I was the first one up and out of camp this morning and it was an absolutely beautiful setting to wake up to this morning with a nice predawn sky.

The local pronghorns were out and running together in small packs this morning. The picture below may be the best shot I get of these quick and paranoid creatures.

I had a short stretch of dirt roads left to officially get me out of the Great Basin and I was thanking the cycling gods for allowing me to make it through the basin without incident. Soon, I found myself on a paved road eastbound to intercept the major road into Rawlins.

Just before the intersection with Highway 287, it was nice to see someone enjoying the Van Life. It is just so damn easy to travel with these recreational bundles of joy.

Having taken the same highway into Rawlins last summer, I knew there would be a few miles of climbing to pass over the continental divide just prior to Rawlins with a couple false summits along the way. What I was not prepared for was the best damn lemonade stand ever.

I soon passed a sign for “Lemonade 1/2 Mile” and a little later a sign for “Ice Cream” and then a sign for “Homemade Cookies.” Is this real? Is this freaking happening? This little dude had a soft serve ice cream maker inside of his container turned lemonade stand people! I actually had the fruit punch and ordered two cookies. I gave one cookie to the two Continental Divide Trail hikers to share that had made the stop also.

With a cookie and some sweet fruit punch in the belly, I cruised into Rawlins. I made it in time for the breakfast menu at McDonalds, made some reservations for Steamboat Springs, coordinated with a bike shop in Steamboat Springs to make sure I am good for the second half of this adventure and stopped by a grocery store to resupply. Productive day to say the least! All before the winds started blowing and the sun started baking.