Day 45: Fort Collins, CO to Rustic, CO (57.9 miles)
Left the Solarium Hostel around 7:30am and rode 13 miles along the Mason and Poudre Trails and through a section of Fort Collins. Once reaching Route 14 (Poudre Canyon Rd) we suddenly saw the mountains and the Cache la Poudre River. This view lasted for 30 miles to Rustic, CO.
Bruce and I ate our lunch at a campsite by the river and waved to several rafters. Today’s scenery was just outstanding, one of the most scenic days yet. We passed through the town of Stove Prairie Landing before getting to Rustic. Campsite is Bellaire Lake Campground, about 9 miles from Rustic on a dirt road. (We load our bikes on the van for transport)
After dinner I walked to the lake and saw many fish rising to tiny insects. After a few tries, I found they will take a tiny brown parachute-style dry fly. I caught fish until the wind picked up. Then it died down, and the fish continued to feed. Add a beautiful sunset in, to make it a magical evening!
Image above: Barn outside Fort Collins
Along the Cache la Poudre River
So much beauty
High water makes rafters happy
Campsite lunch spot
Beautiful river
Glamour shot…of the scenery
Campsite outside of Rustic, CO
Campsite friend
Sunset on Bellaire Lake
Spunky rainbow trout willing to sip tiny dry flies - what a blast!
