Section 5, Platoro CO to Pie Town, NM - D23

07/02 Day 23 Colorado  Del Norte, Platora, Chama (99 miles)

So, so grateful to be off of FR 250, leaving Horca on pavement, we climbed La Manga Pass (10, 230ft) then turned off for the detour.  Just a couple of miles on the Hwy 17 detour, we crossed into New Mexico.  We were on a new map, one that said Pie Town, and our last state.  What an exciting moment tempered only by the very sad condition of the New Mexico state sign.  

Following Hwy 17, we topped Cumbres Pass (10,020ft) our 4^th pass of the day and were rewarded with a fantastic 30mph smooth, paved descent into Chama. 

We stopped at the funky historic Fosters Hotel (1881) and likely got the last room in town.  The really sweet girl working the bar gave us her personal coffee maker since we were leaving so early in the morning.  We got settled into our room and had a pretty good dinner with pie, then rode or bikes farther than we would have liked to the other side of town to the grocery. 

A hot shower and a bed are not a bad thing.