CTR: A journey of subtle and not so subtle mistakes

Day 5:

In the early morning the push up Fooses Creek seemed humorous.  This is a trail that people shuttle and ride downhill and here I am trying to drag myself and a fully loaded bike up the narrow trail. At one point I even put my pack on my front and heaved my bike onto my back.  That didn't last real long either.  Then bliss! Monarch Crest Trail is one of my favorites and I found my legs working, climbing and chasing day tripping tourists.  After lunch at the Silver Creek trailhead I left the trails that anyone would want to ride on a bike.  Marshall pass is clearly favored by dirt bikers and there were huge ruts and rocks to contend with. And then the bad got worse. Sargents Mesa- it starts with these open fields cows that look at you distrustfully and refuse to move daring you to get between them and their calf.  And then it becomes the "summit trail" a series of endless ridges with trails to the top of each for some treed, unrealized view. It doesn't help when someone coming the other way "kindly" tells you that it is still 4 days until Silverton and your mind starts to calculate and freak out. But he also offered that it was unlikely that I would reach the end of this trail until after dark which lit a fire under me and I rolled in at dusk.  And to my surprise at the trail angel tent there was Andy! He is feeling bad- food not sitting well with him. I want to use the dark to tackle some of the upcoming road detours. So we set off. Through the next section of good trail (though scary forest that I never would have attempted alone) and we are on the dirt roads of the Cochetopa flying.  We are wearing all of our clothes and still fighting off the cold (note to self bring shoe covers next time!) We fly by a car parked on the side of the road and it isn't until after we pass that I realize it is Dan's car. It's midnight, I'm tired and can't make sense of the situation.  I hoot, ring my bell and call his name.  I keep looking back for headlights, but he is fast asleep in the back waiting for me to come by at some reasonable hour of the morning.  I'm kicking myself for not going back but road has continued to slip away and I don't want to loose my companion or his GPS.  But my spirits are bolstered. We collapse into our sleeping bags just off the road and are not disturbed by any passing cars that night.