13-Jul-2021 -- I left Fort Collins, Colorado around 9am, driving northwest through Laramie, Wyoming and eventually turning north onto Marshall Road, which had been recently regraded and was strewn with fist-sized chunks of shale. Needless to say, I got a flat tire about eight miles in from the turn, the front right, and was fortunate to 1) have cell service, and 2) be within a couple miles of the confluence.

Tow truck called (I wasn't going to attempt to put the spare on and drive off along that road) I departed the deflated Mazda on foot at 11:45am and headed due east along a small hunting/access road for a little over a mile before reaching 106W and turning north to cross the creek bed. From satellite imagery I knew I might find it mucky, but the lack of rain along the Front Range in June and July made it dry as a bone and I had no problem crossing and zeroing out on the other side.

Temperature was 73F with partly overcast skies. New, ugly "ranch" houses on sprawling, desolate parcels of land dotted the horizon to the east. Anticipating the tow truck's arrival I didn't linger long; I was back at the car by 12:30pm and the flatbed came at 1:30pm. Ed had moved out here in 2017 from Connecticut seeking cheap land, and he pointed out his new house along Nine Mile Road as we drove the 10 miles into Medicine Bow. He and his son Bryan attempted to patch my leak, but to no avail. I learned a ton about tire maintenance. Ed put the spare on for me and after some calls I drove the 95 miles north to Casper, arriving at Casper Tire at 4:55pm, 5 minutes before close. They were the only shop within 100 miles that stocked 19" tires.

Tomorrow: onward to 42N, 105W.