I said Good Bye to Susan and Don and got back on the road heading west. I 70 weather was snow as prolly were the towns along the way I could have ridden and people to visit. I chose to go over Monarch Pass, US 50 stopping to ride Canon City, Salida, and Fruita.
First up was Oil well Flats at Canon City on the east side of Monarch. BLM land. Well developed and signed trails. Nice mix of challenging chunk and pedaling. I rode this system last year and is well worth riding again and then once more. Cholla cactus with small prickly pear.
12.4 miles climbing 1348′. Good hump. I fell off my bike, sort of a side dismount, not over the bar when I think when both my front wheel and back wheel were on respective front faces of rocks. I went sideways right into a patch of scrub oak which slowed my fall.
back at van put bike back on van and made ready to get underway, next stop Salida.
Made Salida. I met Mark who does my web programming. We walked from his city house to downtown for dinner, on our way we followed a 4 point mule deer walking the sidewalk. Deer are prevalent in town.
Temp is getting chilly. I switched to a Patagonia puff jacket. I walked into the local brew pub and took a seat at the bar. 2 guys broke away from their boisterous group of buds to almost confront me to figure out my contrast dress with the puffy and my cowboy hat. Seems the conflict between old (cowboys resource extractors) and new (outdoor recreationists) exists and I was a mix of both. One guy lived in Arkansas so we shared common places. No harm no foul. Just beer induced talk from them.
Earlier I checked out the only laundromat in town which I had used in the past. A park RV here sign was hung on their fence. Cool, legal sleep spot in town. The brewery shut down at 9, I drove to the laundromat positioning myself for early morning clothes cleaning. A rig with a utility trailer was parked behind the building. Hmm. I believe that asking permission when possible is better than being asked to leave. I walked in the door which was partially blocked by washers. I met the young couple who had just bought the business. They permitted my stay. Chilly night.
I have been antsy about crossing the Rockies on snow covered road. I needed to get over Monarch Pass at 11,311′. First was a short ride on Fruita’s S Hill trails. New trail is Chicken Dinner. I rode this system last year.
Different type of rock: loose and embedded sharp edged hard rock. Hard hump for 9.46 miles climbing only 889′ but at like 7,000′ above sea level. Nice day.
Now comes the crux of this route: Monarch Pass. Road was bare and dry. Whew. Dropped into Gunnison which is like living in a deep freezer. Just too cold to want to ride Hartman rocks. Spent the night in Bill and Susan’s driveway. At 7 AM it was 3 degrees outside and only 42 inside. I replaced my sacked down blanket with my 20 degree down bag opened as a comforter and wore my wool hat with the furnace heating the cooling air. Chilly night, well maybe really just cold.
I bid Gunnison adieu heading to Fruita which is out of the freezer. I needed to be in Fruita before Sunday to enjoy Hot Tomato. I checked in to Over the Edge and picked up my replacement worn out Sun race 11-46T cassette which I installed while parked on the curb. Dinner at Tomato. Visited with Ann a co-owner.
Yesterday I rode 18 miles climbing 1962′ of the Kokopeli trails outside of town. Chilly day. Trailhead was crowded upon my return by hardly a shared trail.
Wearing long underwear top for warmth even as sleep wear. Dandruff from my bald head.
Last night at the Tomato a young couple addressed me at the bar. Turns out they read an article about me and took my example and sold their house and launched their own living on the road now several months along. Their travels will be similar to mine which migh allow for a longer visit.
It’s 11:30. Chilly and windy. I could ride one more ride at Kokopeli or just drive straight to Moab. Hmm. No internet there which is why this early day writing.
I am now in the desert.
Zags won last night as did the Cougar football. I caught my first look of the Cougars at a sports bar in Fruita. Go Cougs.