You've got to love a town that takes enough pride in it's community to invest in making it a little special.
After dinner last night I took a cab downtown with Chuck and Bob to check out Main Street. They had whimsical and fun public sculptures and plantings everywhere. Including a big bicycle you could climb on. Lots of bike and outdoor shops - this was clearly a center for outdoor recreation. A brew pub with a mighty tasty Stout on tap. And a gelateria that made their gelato daily using a recipe handed down from a fourth generation Venetian gelato maker. Yum.
When we were riding into Colorado yesterday we were greeted by Grand Junction resident and 7 time cross country rider Sue who met us under an overpass with frozen ices . She also showed us a network of trails leading through town that led by the Colorado River and even marked them with indicator signs .... A real luxury and a wonderful host.
So that's how our 72 mile ride today started, winding around 15 miles through a maze of bike paths to the main road that led to Montrose to the South East. We then joined the 1600 plus cyclists riding the Tour de Colorado - a 7 day event that is on the same route as we are following today and tomorrow. It was pretty fun to ride with other cyclists ... They were very curious about us and it was fun to chat. Their ride is pretty intense - 100+ miles days and 8000+ feet of climbing ... Tomorrow we get to stop in Gunnison and they go on over another mountain pass and for another 40 miles to Crested Butte. But then they haven't been riding for 17 days either. Does make me think it could be fun to come back and do this ride or Ride the Rockies one year down the road.
Today we did some long gradual climbs and passed through range lands and dirt roads leading off to places called Rattlesnake Gulch complete with rattlesnake road kill within 50 yards of the road. You could look down and open canyons snaking below. Cyclists stretched for miles in front and behind us. We noticed we were passing a lot more often than we were passed.
It also turns out that Colorado has wineries ... Who knew. We biked past several wineries ... Tasted a little of the local vino tonight which was pretty good. Hopefully can try some more in the next few days. Finally this afternoon we headed up to the rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. In the van - although Brian biked up there - what's another 2000 feet and 20 miles? He got style points for that. The Canyon is impressive - 2700 feet deep and narrow walls. I'd never been and was glad to see it.
Tomorrow we head on to Gunnison - some real climbing and around 65 miles. I'm looking forward to it, even though I've noticed it takes me longer and longer to warm up and my legs protest as I get going again after a stop. On the other hand I'm riding a lot stronger now ... Holding 19 and 20 mph is very doable and climbing is faster. Probably because I've been chasing faster riders for a couple of weeks now. So that's encouraging ... Wonder how fast we'll be going by the end of this trip?
Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!!
10 years ago
