The cinnamon colored black bear looked at us with a frozen shock. It was strolling down the Capulin Volcano road looking for whatever, sort of goofy and cartoonish, unaware and slow. The 20 yard face off lasted 45 seconds, then the cinnamon colored black bear took a dive off the road and ran down the steep elevation fast and reckless. We stared it down, we stared it off, we couldn't hardly believe what we were staring at. According to my wife, Capulin Volcano averages one bear sighting per year.
With renewed adrenaline we pedeled on, eventually reaching the Capulin volcano rim, eventually taking in the 4th Of July sunset from 8,182 feet. Each rock in the distance was an ancient spark from the largest firecracker of the past 60,000 years. Volcanoes do what they want, when they want, kinda like Americans. The dark ride back to the Capulin RV Park was fast and free, 5 miles of coasting. It was a cool night, we slept deep and easy.
We departed early the next morning, no reason to hang around Capulin RV Park. The hot water don't work, the laundry room isn't a laundry room, and the caretakers of the place own loud dogs. It was for sale and it showed. With no news on the status of the Silver Rush MTB50, we headed west and hit the Colorado state line at 9am, Leadville was near. We could smell it.
