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Day 20
I Can Breathe!!!

ROUTE: Salida to Pueblo CO DISTANCE: 90 Miles WINDS: Nice tailwinds until Canon City, then gentle headwinds across the high desert to Pueblo...last 40 miles
WEATHER: Sunny and hot after Canon City TERRAIN: Rolling, but mostly downhill TOTAL CLIMBING: 2530 feet

DAILY DOINGS: It's day 20!  That means, get to the motel and we'll have a day off tomorrow!  But first, we've got to get safely to Pueblo...that's our goal today.  When we started out, it looked like that may not be as easy as it should be.  There were 2000 Ride The Rockies (RTR) riders riding on our same route...they were everywhere (below right).  Yes, we were in sight of a continuous line of bicycles for over half our ride today and I was really proud of our riders for handling themselves with aplomb while working themselves through the maze of riders all day. 

Our route today was one of the most beautiful rides I've ever seen.  We left Salida on highway 50 along the Arkansas River while dropping a couple thousand feet...and we had a nice tailwind too...could it be better.  The only thing that would have made it any better would have been about 2000 less cyclists.  It was hard to really enjoy the scenery most of the day while dealing with all the bike traffic.  But that aside, pedaling was easy for the first 45 miles between the high canyon walls along the river (left).  To our left, tour groups were floating the river.  It looked exciting and much cooler than what we were doing, but no time for diversions...we had a long day ahead.

After flying down the canyon, most of the riders took a side trip to view the Royal Gorge which supports the world's highest suspension bridge over 1000 feet over the river below.  The riders are getting stronger and more daring because there was a pretty stiff climb off route to get to the Gorge in the first place.  But folks were feeling a bit fresh after the easy first half of the ride so who's scared of a little climb.

After viewing the Gorge, they had to climb back to highway 50 and then they were met with a 1000 foot descent into Canon City.  As I was driving the van down the incline, the RTR cyclists were staying right with me at 50 MPH...hard to enjoy the breath taking views going that fast but who's looking?

In Canon City the RTR riders finished their week so we were able to ride the last 40 miles uninterrupted.  It didn't take but a couple miles before it looked like a different planet.  Gone were the mountains and the rushing river along side...now all we saw was high desert the rest of the way to Pueblo...hot and barren (below right).  It's hard to believe in so few miles the topography could change so drastically...but it did.  We're going to see more changes in the next few days as we enter the rich farm land of Kansas...but that's still ahead.

The final couple of miles in Pueblo were pretty busy.  Seems like it was much busier than the last time I rode this ride...signs of progress I guess.  But in spite of the thick traffic, the riders got in safely and are looking forward to a rest day tomorrow.  When I got in, I jumped in and boxed Rich's rental bike he got in Price...had to ship it back to the shop.  Also had to run a couple departing riders to bike shops to have bikes shipped.  We say good bye to 8 riders (the 6 riders we picked up in SLC plus Lisa and Rick)...pick up 2 tomorrow...and continue our ride come Sunday.  We've covered over 1400 miles in just 19 days...it's time for a break.  Plus, most of us have noticed it's much easier to breathe down here.  Now that we've been in high altitudes for a few days and up to 11,000 two days ago, we're getting accustomed to the thin air...plus, we're about 3000 feet lower than yesterday...that helps a bunch.  It's nice to finally take a normal breath and feel refreshed, but we're still lots of feet above Alabama.

For all of you who follow us everyday; take a deep breath.  Sorry, no report tomorrow.  Check back on Sunday evening for our longest day in the saddle on this trip...122 to Lamar.  We'll still be going down a bit and hopefully, we'll have a tail wind to boost our progress; however, it's forecast to be dead out of the east...better rest today.  See you Sunday. 

DAILY DISCERNING DIALOGUE: 

Jeff was all ready to go this morning when Barbara noticed he didn't have his helmet on...OOPS!!  "I left it in my room," He said.  Larry was standing by and commented, "That's not so bad, I forgot my bike once."

"What a beautiful day!"

"We were on a different planet after Canon City."

"How would you like to ride in that everyday?"  Comments about the 2000+ riders this morning on the Ride The Rockies Ride.

"How can anything be so beautiful?"  Comment on the Arkansas River Canyon.

 

DAILY DUH: I guess today we'll pick on Bruce...it's his last day so we might as well.  He missed the second SAG...now how could that happen you might ask.  Well, the route sheet said, "Handi Mart @ Sinclair Station @ 293 mile post on Right."  When Barb got there, someone had moved it across the street to the left side of the road...imagine that!  Undaunted, we marked the change with lots of arrows and I even put down one last directional arrow saying, "The other right."   When he rode by, we all yelled and got him turned around.  When he came in, I asked him if he saw the arrows and "The other right" paint.

 

"Yes, I saw it, but didn't understand it," He said.  I can understand that I guess.  But 4 different directional arrows painted on the ground, the big "Handi Mart" sign, the Sinclair station, Barb sitting in plain view under the Handi Mart sign, and the 293 mile post all indicated he was in the right spot and they all indicated a left turn...but I'll give him a little credit (but very little) the route sheet did say right.  That's OK Bruce, this is only day 8 for you...it took much longer than that for the rest of the group to even see the arrows we painted on the road, let alone follow them. 

DAILY DIGITAL DELIGHTS

Everyone is supposed to clean their hands first thing when they get to the SAG...Tim takes it a step farther...one must be groomed.  Helmet head is a thing of the past.

Aside from needing a front wheel, pedals, and a seat, this bike is all ready to go.

Somebody had a lot of horseshoes and too much time on their hands.

Clarence and Johnny pose at the Alabama flag in Royal Gorge. 

The high canyon walls made a nice wind tunnel in our favor...spectacular views, descending terrain, and a tailwind...biker's dream.

Can't be the same planet!  Wasn't there a river just a few miles behind us.

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