The day started out normal- we spoke to some cows. After about 15 miles, though, things got weird. A government truck pulls up, and a man in military fatigues lets us know there is a drill going on ahead, so we may see some men dressed as Afghans with fake weapons up ahead. "Nothing for you to worry about!" he said, "I just don't want you to be alarmed!"
Somewhat alarmed, we continued biking.
Next a game warden stops to talk to us. At this point, we are wondering if everyone thinks that we are stopped, as we are moving so slowly. Literally no one stopped to talk to us for 4 days before today! The game warden already talked to the UPS lady and heard all about the "Arabs" and put his bulletproof vest on for the occasion. He was tracking a wolf in the area, he said very proudly.
About ten miles along, the state police pulls up. He asks us if we saw anything "unusual" that day. We told him the whole story- why the military wouldn't tell the state police about this is beyond us. He asked for directions, explaining that he was not from around here, and we, feeling like experts of the area as we had literally talked to EVERYONE that passed us that day, explained where to find the VERY WEIRD situation.
That evening, the night before going to Pie Town (our first town), we arrived at a campsite with picnic tables and another camper! The other camper offered us cold Deschutes Organic Ale! We spent a night trying to remember English and playing cards with Eric, who works mapping the Continental Divide Hiking Trail for the CDTA. It snowed on us.
Next a UPS truck stops as we are looking at our maps. "Lost?" she asked, friendly enough. We assure her that we are fine, and she lets us know that something VERY WEIRD is going on ahead. We asked her if it had anything to do with the military, and she said yeah! there are three Arabs ahead, just walkin down the road! She had already called the neighbors and the marshal. We let her know what the government vehicle told us. She appeared relieved, and wondered if she should call the marshall back.
We passed the three "Arabs" with large weapons another mile down the road. They were walking towards us, and we passed without feeling too alarmed.
Next a game warden stops to talk to us. At this point, we are wondering if everyone thinks that we are stopped, as we are moving so slowly. Literally no one stopped to talk to us for 4 days before today! The game warden already talked to the UPS lady and heard all about the "Arabs" and put his bulletproof vest on for the occasion. He was tracking a wolf in the area, he said very proudly.
About ten miles along, the state police pulls up. He asks us if we saw anything "unusual" that day. We told him the whole story- why the military wouldn't tell the state police about this is beyond us. He asked for directions, explaining that he was not from around here, and we, feeling like experts of the area as we had literally talked to EVERYONE that passed us that day, explained where to find the VERY WEIRD situation.
We never found out whether the State Police arrested the military, or the military declared war on the UPS, or what. We could only hope we were not invaded by "Afghans" and no one had told us.
That evening, the night before going to Pie Town (our first town), we arrived at a campsite with picnic tables and another camper! The other camper offered us cold Deschutes Organic Ale! We spent a night trying to remember English and playing cards with Eric, who works mapping the Continental Divide Hiking Trail for the CDTA. It snowed on us.
-Cate
Cate, I laughed myself silly over this. Love,
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