Cora's granola started the morning for us. Less than an hour later we we in Cotopoxi and ready for second breakfast. After a light breakfast of hashbrowns, eggs, and ham We turned off of hiway 50 which would have continued to follow the Arkansas river down hill to Pueblo. Our route of course turned uphill so that we could climb from our current 6500 feet to over 9200. The road for awhile paralleled the rockies so the view of snow capped mountains across wide mountain pastures was really scenic. The road was quiet and the lunch stop town of Westcliffe was very prosperous
looking without having the feel of a tourist town. And the tacos were very tasty.
From there the road turned east and continued up hill to an unnamed summit. Just before to top we chatted with a German rider who was 34 days out of New York. Here I was on the last pass of the Rockies talking to a rider who had just climbed almost 4500 feet of grades up to 9% and he comments that Missouri was harder. Talk about being crushed. The future is not all flat like Kansas. Oh well "It is what it is".
Soon we were on a 50 mile descent to Peublo. It really would have been sweet riding except for the strong headwind. Oh that reminds me, the German also mentioned the strong tailwinds he had coming into Colorado.
The prevailing winds are supposed to be from the west. We were counting on making some serious distance days in the flatlands. The weather has been unusual since the beginning so why should it be normal now?
We rolled into Pueblo around 5:30 and stopped for dinner. We both had the Pork and avocado burritos which were outstanding. We're camping in the bushes next to the Arkansas river.
39/88/11.6/2802
A big breakfast of pancakes and eggs got us started this morning. It was close to 8 when we started rolling. Monarch pass at 11,312 feet at the continental divided waited for us. The first 33 miles was a gentle climb with a tailwind so we averaged close to 15 mph. The 10 mile climb to the top was at a steady 6% but the tailwind and views made it go by fast. A little over two hours later we were at the top talking the pass photo. Fresh legs from my 2 day rest really made a difference. We pulled up to a guardrail to put on our jackets for the long steep descent. As I was getting ready to leave I happened to glance down and see a 2 inch tear in my rear tires sidewall with the tube bulging out. There is no doubt that if I had not noticed it it would have blown on the descent. A rear tire blowout doing 35 - 40 mph would not have been pretty. A quick tire change and we flew the next 23 miles to Salida where I purchased a new spare tire. 13 more miles and we camped at an RV park.
Smiling and feeling very lucky.
38/82/12.9/2713
Day 32
I left Pete at 2pm in Hanksville with 2 gallons of water and food for 2 days. Headwinds blew the rest of the day. Dinner at Hog springs was sardines, yogurt, and an orange. I rode another 20 miles before camping at slick rock 5 miles east of the Colorado river.
100 miles
Day 33
Headwinds in White canyon and all the way to Blanding. Ate dinner in Blanding then camped at Devils canyon campground 8 miles down the road.
84 miles
Day 34
Rode 96 miles to campsite along Delores river.
Day 35
Up the Delores river to Rico where the coffee shop served up a great breakfast burrito. A quick climb over Lizard head pass and I arrived at Telluride around 1pm.
44 miles
Day 36
Rest day in Telluride. Repaired bike rack, napped, and hiked on Clay way with Kathy, Amy, and Ron.
Day 37
Rode over Dallas divide to Montrose then over Cerro summit. Decided that I could make it to Gunnison before dark. Arrived at Mark and Cora's just in time for dinner.
134 miles
Ahh, I was ready for a rest day. I'm at the home of Mark and Cora for the next 2 or 3 days. I kicked back all day mostly alternating between the hot sun out on the deck to half snoozing inside were it was cooler. My niece Heidi her husband and 2 little ones joined us for dinner. I caught up on any calorie deficit I may have had. A restful day.
The next morning while Cora tended the horses Mark and I walked around the neighborhood. Sunshine, pastures and mountain views with no chance of over exertion. A short drive up to the ski town of Crested Butte with a tour of the mountain was next. The area had record snowfall and the town still had snow in shady places as can be seen in the picture of Mark and Cora above.
At around 12:30 Hugh called, he was already in Montrose. It sounded like he was going to climb the first pass and then camp. I mentioned that if he had tailwinds he could make it to Gunnison by dinner time. Around 6:45 I told Cora that Hugh probably had decided to camp and we should go ahead and have dinner and that I was happy to be spending a 3rd rest day with them. Hugh showed up at 7:15 and I lost my extra rest day.
Mark and Cora - it was great to see you. Thanks again lets hope we see you again soon.
Yesterday when I reached Montrose US 50 turned east toward the Rockies and the head/crosswind that was my nemesis all day changed into a friend and pushed me the last mile to my motel. I looked forward to seeing this friend for a long push up the mountain in the morning.
I was at breakfast by 7:00 and when I rolled out to start my first climb my expected tailwind was gone. It was a down canyon headwind that greeted me. A headwind while climbing a pass is not my favorite way to start the morning. The sun had just cleared the mountains and the road looked quiet so it wasn't too difficult to recite Hugh and I'd often quoted mantra: "It is what it is" Up I rolled only to realize that the road had a lot of truck traffic after all. "It is what it is"
During the uphill headwind climb, with big trucks passing close by, I started to fantasize that it was all about me and I was a character in a show like Jim Carey was in the movie Truman. These challenges were to make it more interesting for the audience. Before long these rambling thoughts had incorporated part of a short story that I had started and not finished a few years ago.
On day 32's comments both Bill and Tatyana referenced " A woman awoke from an unexpected sleep...". A few years ago Tatyana held an after swimming writing workshop for a group of us. We'd get together at Starbucks and she would use different aids to get us writing. The "A woman awoke..." was the first sentence of a lead paragraph that she gave us as a story starting point. Good times - thanks again Tatyana.
Anyway, It must have been those comments that reminded me of another story started during those writing exercises. Some how I merged my frustration of the days climbing challenges into a Truman/Matrix prequel story. Now all I have to do is find the uncompleted original story about the "all mind" and combine it with the biking and I'll have a completed short story.
Rarely so do I have so many thoughts while riding. Normally while riding it seems like my mind is thought free and I'm in the moment enjoying the exercise and my surroundings. I hardly noticed that 2 hours plus had gone by and I was at the top of the first summit.
It was easy to be more aware of my surroundings upon reaching Cerro summit. Sunshine though still cool, green grassland, aspen and some snow higher up across the valley. Somehow I had not noticed but now the headwind had shifted to a slight tailwind. A quick descent and I was at the Cimarron store and gas station. An ice-cream sandwich and a warm sunny rocker outside this country store was a pleasant rest stop.
The road soon started to follow a cottonwood lined stream up to blue mesa summit. A narrow curvy canyon road with with no shoulder; the trucks could be heard but not seen until they turned the corner. I stopped to rest and refuel with the slim Jim. A few bites and I just could not finish it. It tasted like what I'd imagine a spicy
stick of lard to taste like. Thank goodness I had a Payday.
Soon Blue Mesa resevor was visible, the road leveled, and the now strong tailwind blew me to Gunnison at 24 mph. I arrived at Mark and Cora's around 3. A couple of days rest with family before Hugh arrives will be much appreciated.
35/66/10.3/2631
Today's ride was short on distance but long on wind. It was headwinds all the way all day. There we many gentle rollers which even on the downsides the best I could do was 16 mph because of the wind.
Grand Junction has beautiful red rock cliffs on the west side but after so many days of great rock formations I found the road side prairie dogs more interesting. The guard dogs would stand tall and chirp. And down the road scrambling dogs would dive Into their holes. The down the road guards would stand tall by their holes and pass the alarm down the line. Lots of scrambling and chirping all day.
Only the one picture today. The rockies as seen from just before Montrose. Tomorrow I'll be climbing up to Gunnison somewhere up there.
Not many services on tomorrows climb so I stopped by the mini market for supplies. They didn't have sardines but I thought of Tonya as I reached for a Slim Jim.
34/70/12.7/2564
I spent the night in a 35 dollar motel. The campground across the street was 20 and it didn't come with air-conditioning.
It was the first morning without Hugh and I could not help but think of him when the waitress brought my breakfast. I was at a truck stop and the plate was mounded with what must have been a 4 egg omelet and a pound of hash browns. I could not finish it, and I would have liked to see Hugh go at it. The odds are that he would have the main course but I'm not sure he could have finished the always ordered extra side of hash browns.
The cross winds were strong, but I sure enjoyed rolling down I 70. Yeah it is a major freeway but with 12 to 15 foot shoulders and light traffic it is easier riding than back roads.
After 30 miles the road turned toward the north and now I had a tailwind. The road was continuous rollers but the miles seemed to fly by. I did stop for more road side flower photos. I regret that I have not been taking pictures of roadside grasses as they are so varied in shape and color. The roadside microclimate is probably due to water runoff from the pavement which makes the first 10 to 20 feet next to the hiway have a different plant community than further out.
I rolled into Grand Junction about 6 and grabbed a motel.
33/103/14.1/2494
