Farewell Rocky Mountains

Day 32 - 7/5/17 - Breckenridge, CO to 10 Miles West of Canon City - 87 Miles

Average Speed - I'm too tired to look it up

Lodging - Prospectors RV Resort - $44 (for a tent sight - how ridiculous is that!!)

I started early this morning in hopes of beating the traffic and having the climb up Hoosier Pass to myself.  That was not to be.  The road started upward immediately upon leaving Breckenridge and it only got steeper the higher I climbed.  But the toughest part of that climb was by far the insane amount of traffic, with minimal to no shoulder on the road.  By the time I got to the top, I was mentally drained.  I spent more time looking in my mirror, than I did looking forward or around.

A little over 2 hours after starting this morning, I topped the tallest pass on the Transamerica Trail. 

With that, I pointed my bike downhill and bid farewell to the Rocky Mountains.  It was a bittersweet departure.

 

View from Hoosier Pass

 

Downhill from Hoosier Pass

 

The Rockies Fading in Distance

As you can see by my mileage, today was my longest day yet.  Trust me, I didn't want to ride that far.  Around 11:30 AM, I stopped in Hartsel to grab a bite to eat.  I met an older couple that was out for a day ride.  I was discussing with them whether to stop there for the evening or push on to the next campground which was an additional 50 miles.  They casually mentioned that I had a lot of climbing ahead of me.  I pointed out that I thought it was mostly downhill.  They said it was, except for the climbs.  Trusting the map that it was all downhill and since it was so early in the day, I pushed on.  I counted no less than 5 significant climbs...couple that with strong headwinds and it was a formula for 50 miles of suffering!

Note to self:  The locals know better than the maps!!

I'm in the Thick of it Now

Day 31 - 7/4/17 - Kremmling, CO to Breckenridge, CO - 55 Miles

Average Speed - Think low...real low

Lodging - The Fireside Inn Hostel Room - $39

I started the day at 7500 ft. elevation.  I ended the day at 9600 ft.  Tomorrow morning I still have another 11.5 miles and 2000 ft. to climb to summit Hoosier Pass.  I am surrounded by snow covered mountains.

This was a hard day.  It was steady climbing all day.  I was glad to pull up to the hostel this afternoon and tuck that bike away in the garage.

I rode out of Kremmling this morning and could immediately see the mountains in the distance that I was bound for.  I made it to Silverthorne shortly before lunch and was excited to jump on a bike path that went from there all the way to Breckenridge.  That excitement was crushed when not even a mile into it I was faced with this...

Dats what you call switchbacks!!!  I started climbing to the top of Dillon Dam.  The view from the top made the climb worth it.

I followed this bike path as it wound around Dillon Reservoir and onward to Breckenridge...

Breckenridge is a pretty cool town and it was bustling with activity this 4th of July...

I met a west bound cyclist, Charley, and we went to Breckenridge Brewery for a couple beers and a burger.

I'll leave you with one final pic.

 

Sunset Over Breckenridge

Aspens and BIG Mountains

Day 30 - 7/3/17 - Walden, CO to Kremmling, CO - 79 Miles

Average Speed - I've been meaning to track that

Lodging - Hotel Eastin Hostel Room - $25

That's when you know you're in Colorado.

I started early this morning accompanied by nothing but my shadow...

...and roughly 4 hours later, this is where I stood!!

 Another big pass down and only one more to go and I will be done with the mountains out west.

On the downhill, I was met with a whopping headwind.  It slowed me down a lot, but that just gave me more time to enjoy the view...

Lori (my wife) criticized me for always taking pictures of mountains in the distance, so I decided to mix it up and take one of wild flowers...

The downhill actually ended at the headwaters of the Colorado River and it was my companion most of the afternoon.

I'm staying in the Hotel Eastin that has hostel rooms.  I have one to myself.  The hotel was first established in 1906.  Walt and his wife are restoring it.  This is a really nice place.

I'll leave you with a view from downtown Kremmling...

Do a Little Dance

Day 29 - 7/2/17 - Riverside, WY to Walden, CO - 49 Miles

Average Speed - I wonder if Gatorade would make me faster

Lodging - City Park - free

In case you are wondering, that's me dancing.  While I have enjoyed Wyoming, it has worn me out physically and mentally.  I'm  ready for something new.

Today was a short day, but don't mistake that for an easy one.  It was uphill all the way and I had a headwind for the first half.  It was stop in Walden or ride an additional 60 miles to the next town.  That's 110 miles with a major climb to boot - not happening.

Given the winds and terrain, I realized early in the day that this was gonna be a long slog.  There were no services the entire route, so I began to worry about my water supply.  I started doing the math in my head and rationed my water based on distance.  I was getting really thirsty.  Just as I was approaching the Colorado line an SUV coming in the other direction slowed and the man driving stuck out his arm holding 2 bottles of water.  I excitedly nodded yes and he stopped.  Water problem solved, I drank heartily.  Is that cool or what?

It's good being in Colorado, but all I need to do is look around and the mountains that await me in the not too distant future make their presence known.  Oh well, that's a problem for tomorrow's Paul.

Interstate Travel

Day 28 - 7/1/17 - Rawlings, WY to Riverside, WY - 65 Miles

Average Speed - I was the slowest thing on the Interstate

Lodging - Lazy Acres Campground - $10

Yesterday I was worn out, so I climbed in the tent early.  Then it dawned on me.  The campground was right next to Interstate 80...the noise!!  I got to where I could tune out the steady drone of traffic and then it dawned on me that the campground is right by train tracks as well.  Every train (alot of them) that passed delighted itself in blowing their horn in repeated, long, relentless blast.  AAAAHHHHH!!!

This morning I woke up,  eager to get away from this treeless campground and the noisy interstate.  It turns out I wasn't done with the interstate quite yet.  A scant 7 miles into my route, the map had me turning left onto the entrance ramp to I-80.   I've been on this earth 55 years and riding on an Interstate is a first...

It was certainly efficient.  No curving around, an easy grade and a nice wide shoulder...BUT...the debri on the shoulder was a veritable mind field.  I was dodging broken glass, metal, car parts and...most of all...the shredded truck tire treads in which fine steel wire was entwined.  Luckily I navigated succesfully and suffered no flats.  Toward the end of my 13 mile stint in I-80, I ran into a construction zone where all the traffic was directed onto one of the west bound lanes.  I had the entire I-80 east bound to myself for a couple miles, but you had to be careful on the bridges.

I exited the interstate and headed due south.  For 20 miles this was my view...

 

Looking Forward

 

Looking Back

 

Looking Right

 

Looking Left

Toward the end of the day the scenery started to change to more trees and more green.  Check out my campsite.  

What a difference a day makes.  Don't worry, I already scouted the area...no interstate...no train tracks...sweet dreams.