Disclaimer: I try to voice dictate notes during my rides. Then at the end of the day I do some very basic editing before I post here. I do all this on my phone. So, please forgive the bad grammar, spelling, mechanics, etc. My general rule is if its understandable then its good enough for now. after my trip is over then I may go back and clean things up a bit.
Up at 3:50 this morning on the road at 4:45. Dark and cool outside.
5:26 AM 5.3 miles in climbing at 8,253 feet. It’s a nice cold morning and as I’m riding up the mountain I can hear a river running over to my left and see a small gauge railroad track going up into the mountains. looks like a lot of cloud cover in the mountains I’m riding too. I have aspen trees to my left and right so I’m getting a high.
6:04 AM 8.4 miles and still climbing at 8,849 feet. Stopped for some water and saw an elk with a calf over to the left. she took off over the hill before I could snap a picture. not having much luck getting those on camera. Nice cool morning clouds in the mountains it’s beautiful up here—should hit Colorado pretty soon.
6:31 AM left New Mexico crossed into Colorado at 9,157 feet and still climbing. 9.8 miles for today nice cool breeze, a bit chilly but feels good.
7:03 AM 11.6 miles in 9,606 feet in thick Aspen trees. Still very cool nice morning.
7:33 AM 13.6 miles in. Reached Cumbres Pass summit at 10,022 feet. Zipping up my jacket putting on my gloves and get ready for a fun ride down the other side.
8:40 just decended back down to 8,700 feet, sun is shining and it feels nice, I’m at 27 miles in for the day. And I’m finally back on gravel again after the last two or three days primarily on pavement detouring around the forest fires. it’s gonna feel good to be back in the forest on gravel roads. it’s slower but nicer to be away from cars and back in nature. I’ve got 22 miles to Platoro. I’ll be climbing back up over 9,500 feet so hopefully I can get there in time for a good lunch.
9:42 AM 32.5 Miles in on a washboard gravel road riding along a river With mountains and tall pine trees on each side of me. Peaceful out here. Only bad thing, other than the washboard, is a strong wind right in my face. Stopped at spectacle lake campsite for a break. Had a couple plumbs and a pop tart. I’m gonna need some energy to get through all this washboard and wind today.
11am met Tom Collins and Jasmin T, heading south. First southbounders I’ve met. Said they had a cold couple of days—got hypothermia and still have numb fingers. I can understand. After Platoro is Stunner Pass at 10,541 feet then on up to Indiana Pass at 11,910 feet before a big drop into Del Norte. Will be up high for over 21 miles before dropping back down…need to time that right…don’t want to get stuck up there this time of year. The Adventure Cycling Association recommends not riding this section until early July—Oooops 🙂
11:33 AM 39.8 miles in and I’m back at 9,500 feet. I just finished a big climb saw three mountain goats and fell off my bike trying to take a video of them with my iPhone. Ok kids…..no biking and playing around with your phone. 🙂
Got to Platoro at 1:15pm. The last 22 miles were brutal. Strong gusty headwind all the way here over washboard gravel road and continuous up and down. Got to the Skyline lodge here and sitting by the fire—yes it’s cold and the fire feels good—waiting on the 2 cheeseburgers and fries I ordered.
I’m at 50.1 miles for the day and really want to do more, but after thinking about over lunch, I’ve decided to stay here and get an early start in the morning to get over Indiana pass. I think I could do it today, but if I had any bad luck—flat, mechanical problem, etc, and got stuck up there tonight it would not be good. Hypothermia does not sound pleasant to me.
Pics:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6e7gy8zfgk5ewcl/AABqpMADGOjkcUKqvixk24X3a?dl=0
