The Experience of a Lifetime: Overview of Day One Durango to Ouray!

Of course, I have meant to update this blog for more than a week now. But after being gone for so long on our trip, there was a lot to do.

Now that the wounds on my bottom have healed and all that is left are the wonderful memories, I can honestly say that the ride through the San Juan Skyway was one of the best experiences of my life. Obviously we had the great advantage of being with some of the best people in the world - Scott and Kellie Coe and Manny and Suzanne De La Paz. All the conversation, encouragement, and laughter definitely helped fuel my engines. But the scenery - wow! It was the most beautiful I have experienced in this lovely state of Colorado. And no better way to see it than from my bike!

Let me back up a bit and give you a brief synopsis of our trip:

On Sunday night we all arrived at the Strater Hotel in Durango. Unfortunately, Jason and I got in too late to join the group for dinner. We rolled in just in time to collapse in bed for a good night's sleep. But I hear the hotel was nice! We enjoyed the continental breakfast around 6:30am and by 7am we were taking our first photos outside the hotel on our bikes. The weather was perfect and we were so excited for the 73 mile trip ahead of us. It was a pretty easy and beautiful ride to the top of Coal Bank Pass. On our way to Molas pass the sky clouded up and just as we were summiting, it started to rain and hail. Lots of motorcyclists joined us under cover and one of them said that she has never been to the top of Molas pass when it wasn't raining. So if you are planning on riding your bike there - make sure you bring rain gear. We really needed it on the way down into Silverton. But nothing could stop our shoes from filling with puddles of water from our tires and our bottoms from getting soaked. We were a wet mess as we ate lunch at the Brown Bear Cafe in Silverton. We literally had to wring out!

The weather cleared a bit on our way up Red Mountain Pass to Ouray, but we did hit some rain again along the way. The road was a bit narrow, and the drop offs quite steep, but the scenery was just so amazing. Jason started to get a little tired on this third pass as we neared the top, but little did we know the Coe's and the De La Paz's had hidden a cooler at the top with a six pack of beer! So as we dragged to the top, they were waiting for us with a refreshing toast! What fun.

It was all down hill from there! And I mean fast...The road was recently paved so it was nice riding and we did have to stop for a little more road construction, but it was a fast descent into Ouray. The views are amazing. And the town of Ouray could not be cuter. We were so delighted to be there and to check into our luxurious hotel - The Beaumont. They were kind enough to store our bikes in their boiler room while we spent the night. And I must say that the Tundra Restaurant is phenomenal! Great sophisticated atmosphere and wonderful food and service. We truly enjoyed our meal. It was an incredible day.

Stay tuned for Overview of Day Two: The Ride from Ouray to Telluride...

We're half way there!

Sorry for the delay for all of you who are checking the blog! We've traveled 120 miles, seen beautiful country and laughed and laughed...not all at the same time. We have taken a million photos and will update the blog and share them with you when we return home. Today we are headed to Dolores, CO. We have about 65 miles today and Lizard Head Pass. Our bodies are tired, but we look forward to beautiful scenery and new experiences. Thursday will be our last leg of the trip heading back to Durango and then jumping in the car for the 7 hour ride home. We miss our kids!! Thank you to the grandparents for helping us accomplish this by loving and caring for our children!

but it's a DRY heat

As our final training days wrap up and the trip comes into focus on the calendar, I think God is starting to tempt us with the promise of crisp mountain air of the San Juan Mountains.  It seems like only a few weeks ago that we were looking for reasons to stay out on the flats rather than abuse our legs on 5- to 12-percent grades in the foothills.  Now, the mountains beckon whenever we leave the house.  And, while our legs are definitely getting to the point that a sustained grade is something we can do and still hold a brief conversation, I think the real reason for our quest for elevation is the searing heat we're desperately trying to escape down in Boulder. 

Yesterday, Manny, Suz, Kel and I rolled out of the driveway a little after 7:30 to make a final run up to Ward.  We hit Jay Road in the middle of the Boulder Peak Triathlon, so as we spun our way toward the foothills, were were passed by an endless stream of aero bikes and speedos. (Not scenery for the faint of heart, mind you).  The temperature was already bumping up on 90 as we started our climb up Lee Hill Road.  By the time we dropped back down to Lefthand Canyon we were weaving across the road looking for patches of shade.  Since I sweat like a lawn sprinkler, I grabbed a seat at the back of the pace bus and tried to stay on someone's wheel. As we neared Ward, I peeled off next to a new beaver pond to find some shade and soak my head while the others ground their way on up to Ward proper.  

As I sat under a large pine tree, marveling at how much a single beaver had accomplished in exfoliation and tunnel craft, I thought about the difference between a training ride and a vacation ride. The former had become a damn-the-torpedoes march toward an objective on the map. A test of stamina, patience, etiquette, equipment and food-portaging ability.  And, here I was, failing, while the others soldiered on.  Then I thought about the true elements of a vacation ride, where the objective is to taste the local color, see the scenery, relax, and stop to smell the beavers, if you will.  And I realized that maybe this was the training ride I needed most.  A last-minute reminder that, while we have many miles to travel, and many passes to crest, the truly memorable experiences will also include the times we'll have out of the saddle. Of course, when it's a dry and sunny 78 degrees and the views of snow capped peaks cover the horizon in every direction, that should be our easiest objective yet. 

The hottest day on Flagstaff Mtn.

So it was a "lonely" Wednesday for Keely and me as Kellie and Manny were unable to ride today. We thought we'd do Gross Reservoir via Flagstaff Mtn. from home and back. The morning started off a little rough. I (Suzanne) had a rear tube that I needed to change since my tire was not inflating correctly this am. Clearly I haven't done enough of these, but the practice was good and 45 minutes later, I was ready to go.
It was an extremely hot day today. Upper 90's for sure. 2 bottles of water were not enough for our long trip. Thankfully on the way down we could stop at Chautauqua Park for more. The ride beyond Super Flagstaff (the true summit) is fun going to the reservoir because it is mostly downhill, but the way back is a bear!
Anyway, after 3 hours and 22 minutes of riding time, 34.17 miles and 4075 feet of elevation gain, I am happily showered and home. Another good ride for our training. Only 10 more days until we leave for Durango!

When Previously Hard Things Get Easier

Our first real training ride began on Wednesday, June 4. On that day, Kellie, Suzanne, Manny and I headed up Lee Hill Road early in the morning and rode all the way to Ward. That was my first Ward ride and it felt long and hard. I remember thinking I might never make it. Then on the downhill it started to rain and hail. It was freezing! It took the rest of the day for me to recover from the experience. I had to have a long hot bath and a long nap while my kids watched a movie. I was useless for the rest of the day.

Sunday the six of us, and a couple of Scott's friends, went to Ward again. It was a completely different experience. Yes, still a long hard ride, but when we got to the top I knew that I could keep going if we had the time. The downhill was lovely because the weather was nice and warm. And when I got home, a short shower was all I really needed.

I guess this is when you realize that the training really has paid off. I think I might be as ready as I will ever be for this 4 day ride. I am not saying it will be easy, because I know it won't be. But I am not sure that any more training will really prepare me more. Besides, I am starting to get a little tired of my bike - and I really love my bike. I guess that just shows how much I have been sitting on it. How do those Tour De France riders do it?!

On a final note, I am beginning to feel lonely on my group blog. I am hoping that one or two of my friends will post something soon....:)

Cottonwood Pass - The Full Meal Deal

This story has two parts: the first is the guys' story because they rode on Saturday morning and the second is the gals' story because we rode on Sunday morning.

Guys' Story: Scott, Manny and Jason started out from Mt. Princeton Hot Springs along CR 321 on Saturday morning at 7am. It was a beautiful morning and they had a great quick ride up to Rainbow Lake Resort - about 17 miles. Then Manny's tire got a flat and the tire was ripped open. Scott - who is really McGyver - somehow used a piece of the guard rail to temporarily fix the tire so they could all get back down the hill. (Us gals didn't ask too many questions about this because it just sounded dangerous and better to not have details.)

In Buena Vista's bike shop, they got the tired replaced and crazily decided to head back up the pass. Jason left me a very cryptic message about this which we didn't get until hours later and never really understood. Anyway, about 10:30 they began their ascent again. Each of them still had a little less than 2 bottles of water and a couple power bars and shots. Evidently, 2 miles from the top of the pass Jason bonked hard because of dehydration (note to self: lots of alcohol and no water the day before doesn't make for a good ride the next day). He had completely run out of water and with a foaming mouth and a cramped leg muscle couldn't go any further - believe me - he tried! Scott and Manny did make it to the top around 12:30 where they hustled some unsuspecting visitors for a bit of water to give to their dehydrated friend a few miles down the road.

I finally got in touch with Jason by cell at 1:30 while they were on their descent near Rainbow Lakes. I met them at the bottom of the hill with the rescue vehicle. Jason was beat. Scott and Manny tried to convince me they were going to ride the 11 miles back to Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, but a big bolt of lightening striking at just the right moment made them shut up and get in the car. (Thanks for the display of power God!)

The gals' trip the next day was wonderfully uneventful! We all learned our lesson and took extra water, food, and tools. It was another beautiful morning and the road was clear most of the way up. We saw a herd of mountain goats hanging out on the cliffs near Cottonwood Hot Springs and gave an inner tube to another rider whose tube had exploded beyond repair. (Us riders have to stick together.) But otherwise the ride was peaceful, beautiful and uneventful. The summit was a bit cold, especially after sweating our way up that last 5 miles to the top. The descent was cold, fast and fun! I love our Pearl Izumi rain jackets because they definitely kept us warm on the way down and protected us from the little bit of rain we went through around Cottonwood Hot Springs. All in all, it was a great ride and I can't wait to go back. The view from the top looking down over the mountain range on the back side into Gunnison is well worth the climb. Get on your bike and go!

Cottonwood Pass Appetizer

We spent a lovely weekend camping with friends and family in Buena Vista. Did I mention that I love Buena Vista? There is a sign as you enter Chaffee County that says "Now this is Colorado" and it truly is. The Collegiate Peaks, the Arkansas river, and the wide open spaces. It was so beautiful. We stayed at the Ruby Mountain Campground right on the Arkansas. The river was running very high and fast so we were extremely careful to keep the kids away from the water. That was a bummer, but the river was very fun to look at and listen to. We spent Saturday visiting Cottonwood Lake where we took the kids fishing - we scared them all away with six noisy kids. Only two small trout were silly enough to stick around and get caught on our line.

On Sunday morning, Jason and I broke away for an early morning ride. We didn't want to be gone too long because my mom and stepdad were watching the kids. So we drove to the bottom of West Main in Bueny and parked our car at the local park. We started our ascent at 7am. There is a nice 4 mile warm up with a very gradual incline. By mile 5 (near Cottonwood Hot Springs) the road begins to go up. The scenery is so beautiful - you hardly notice that your legs are pushing. Rainbow Lake Resort is off to the left around mile 8 - breathtaking. At mile 12, when you go through the gate that closes the pass for the winter, the road really gets serious. Unfortunately, we only had time to climb for about another mile before we needed to turn back. A little disappointing because it just seemed to get better and better and I am sure the view from the top is magnificent. But we are really looking forward to making it to there with our friends the Coe's and the De La Paz's this weekend as we all head to BV for fourth of July.

Overall the ride was wonderful. It was a nice little appetizer.