Catch up day in Breck

Towards noon today Grace’s gang broke up for points known to them: Grace & Mike back to a small TN hamlet and Grace to Huntsville, John & his partner to Albuquerque, me, a rest day hanging around Breck. John & Mike ea have Sportsmobile van 4X4 conversions. While they sight get a person back into trouble further, they are not comfortable to live in. My Sprinter solution works best for me. Took some group shots.

I rolled into town seeking Squirt chain lube as the offer from the local distributor fell apart. Checked back in @ Elevation Sports looking for local rider ride info. Spent time in deserted shop talking riding. Strolled up main st seeki9ng used book store. Lots of tourist traffic on streets & many more on the road returning to the grind. Found used book store. Wonder how he stays ahead of fire code. I asked about book Massacre @ Mountain Meadows, he searched his mental data file of almost 20,000 books. Then checked his computer ; yes he had a copy but sold it back in March. What a depressing time in the store: So many books to read and benefit from and little time. I have not read like I thought I would. Computer gets my time.

Stopped to visit w/ gelatto guy again learning about medical marijuana and pot environment. He said prescription price is $15 less than street. I think I might have a pain that a prescription will treat. More research.

Sun was the Breck Firecracker 50 race that attracted Grace’s gang. They went their way to the start. Tom, a non racing member, and I attempted my misnavigation ride on Sat. This time I read w/ glasses and studied intent of route. We nailed it. A bit of a climb on CO trail lead us to marvelous descent on almost buffed hiking trails. My Turner Spot w/ PUSH tuned suspension kept a sweet smile on my face all the way down. Not like fall line skiing in powder put close. My line is determined by line in a narrow trail. Could drift a corner just a bit. Straight line over small roots and rocks, the bike was rock solid. The climb up had it’s rewards as I finally rode slower and kept up w/ altitude affected air. We rode to 11,700. Except a rider on an Ellsworth caught up and passed me. I heard him and took several big spins that put me into gasping mode and he passed me as i grabbed a tree for recovery. Tom dug it.

Back into town for groceries, a shower, and catch up @ race finish. Tom & I each drove into town & parked @ rec center for shower. The rec center is down canyon from uptown. I convinced him to take bus. We arrived @ stand to learn we missed bus by several minutes. We started walking up river and saw the bus pass us. More walking to another bus line stop to catch bus that took us to outlying areas of Breck that I never would have looked for. Dropped off many blocks from finish. Good exercise walking city streets @ 9,600′. Racers were still crossing finish line. Free beer line was long. As I moved towards the beer Grace arrived. She said that is was a tough course, she missed the cut off and was officially DNFd. She said she might have had the stuff to  beat cutoff but not for rest of race.

Back @ camp @ Peak One XG on Dillon lake outside Frisco. Fireworks for entertainment. XG is a popular palce to watch such that XG is closed to non campers. Very windy, concern fireworks would be canceled. Into the wind the exploding star shells climbed into the sky for a spectacular light show. The best show seen so far. Advantage was the lake to capture the hot debris.

Chilly last night that needed the down blanket finally doubled over.

Grace’s gang members were all on vacation. I am living on the road w/ life chores. My living is different than vacationing. I fell behind on my solo time.

Software is driving me nuts typing this.

Breckenridge is tourist summer time and ski season. Back in ’97 or ’98 I spent 2 week christmas vaca in Summit county. I spent the first week camped on a traffic island betwen the east & west bound lanes of I-70. I learned about Summit Stage which is a free bus service among mtn communities. I skied Breck 1 day then in low snow. Old buddy from Puget Sound joined me for 2nd week and we skied back and climbed Snowmass Peak, a 14,000, in winter, a worthy accomplishment. Big mtn to ski.

Riding is OK. Will be back here perhaps later this week to join Dave & Rebecca @ Keystone and later in Gramby w/ Todd.

I’m done. This software won.