{"id":513,"date":"1988-07-26T22:31:00","date_gmt":"1988-07-26T22:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/?p=513"},"modified":"2026-08-10T04:10:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:10:00","slug":"cow-creek-campground-co","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/cow-creek-campground-co\/","title":{"rendered":"Cow Creek Campground, CO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>At dawn, I woke up, rolled over, and went back to sleep. About an hour later, at 6 am, I finally packed up camp. Stephanie was just getting up, herself, across the street. After we had packed up, she asked what I had planned to do for breakfast. Remembering her budget, I said I would probably just eat some of the bread in my pack. She said that she was going to try the local diner. So, we had breakfast together. We filled our water bottles there, as it was a long way until the next water stop.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"713\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-713x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-517\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-713x1024.jpg 713w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-209x300.jpg 209w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-768x1103.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-1070x1536.jpg 1070w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-1426x2048.jpg 1426w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_003-2-scaled.jpg 1783w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">If Stephanie had known I had gotten up to take a picture, she probably wouldn&#8217;t be cleaning her ear.  Note the water bottles on the counter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"701\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_004-2-1024x701.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-518\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_004-2-1024x701.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_004-2-300x205.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_004-2-768x525.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_004-2-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_004-2-2048x1401.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Here&#8217;s a better picture, taken outside the diner just before we left.  The angle suggests that I used the self-timer on the camera, and the little tripod I carried with me.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>Steph had mentioned that she didn&#8217;t feel comfortable riding with people, so I pedaled at my normal pace. Although we had started out together that morning, we were separated within ten minutes. I looked back for her at the top of the first summit, but she was nowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The road was clean, the air cool, and there wasn&#8217;t much traffic. No steep climbs. But I was still riding solo. I reached Kremmling at 1:30 in the afternoon. A full hour later, I saw Steph pull into town. I didn&#8217;t even go back to say hello. I don&#8217;t know why. Altitude affecting my judgment? I hit the road again, aiming for a campground a few miles down the road.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"719\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-719x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-520\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-719x1024.jpg 719w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-211x300.jpg 211w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-768x1094.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-1078x1536.jpg 1078w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-1438x2048.jpg 1438w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_005-2-scaled.jpg 1797w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">These lupines were all over.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_006rodent.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-521\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_006rodent.jpg 800w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_006rodent-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_006rodent-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">That&#8217;s about the best picture I could get from a distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"690\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-690x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-522\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-690x1024.jpg 690w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-202x300.jpg 202w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-768x1140.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-1035x1536.jpg 1035w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-1380x2048.jpg 1380w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_007-2-scaled.jpg 1724w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Looks like I put on my Kung Fu Shoes (slippers) to walk over for this picture.  Another self-timer shot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>I then climbed what seemed an endless extra thousand feet up to the campground. Somehow, I had thought that it would be closer. There was no charge for staying at Cow Creek Campground. Of course, there wasn&#8217;t any running water, either.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_010-7-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-523\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_010-7-1024x685.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_010-7-300x201.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_010-7-768x514.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_010-7-1536x1027.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_010-7-2048x1370.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Free &#8220;unimproved&#8221; campsite.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"861\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_008rules-1024x861.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-524\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_008rules-1024x861.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_008rules-300x252.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_008rules-768x646.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_008rules-1536x1292.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_008rules.jpg 1918w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">No trash cans, pack out your trash.  No showers.  Pit toilet, fortunately.  I guess if that wasn&#8217;t there, people would just go on the ground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>There was a reservoir there, but the water didn&#8217;t look too potable. Spaghetti was out. My only water was in my bottles. For dinner, I had a can of peaches, and drank the syrup. I also had some bread and cookies. No one else was at the campground. There were no tables, either. I found an old car mat that someone had thrown away, and sat on that while eating.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"689\" src=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_009-7-1024x689.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-525\" srcset=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_009-7-1024x689.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_009-7-300x202.jpg 300w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_009-7-768x517.jpg 768w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_009-7-1536x1033.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/files\/2026\/08\/10-28-2014_009-7-2048x1378.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I was the only person at the campground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At dawn, I woke up, rolled over, and went back to sleep. About an hour later, at 6 am, I finally packed up camp. Stephanie was just getting up, herself, across the street. After we had packed up, she asked what I had planned to do for breakfast. Remembering her budget, I said I would &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/cow-creek-campground-co\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Cow Creek Campground, CO<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=513"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":528,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/513\/revisions\/528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/pididu.com\/wordpress\/bike1988\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}