Over The Top In Colorado

Sunday 6-27 day 54, layover day in Breckenridge. Adventure Cycling Association buys lunch!

Frank, ACA board member and guide in center wearing blue jeans.

Saturday 6-26 day 53 - 25 miles, 2448 total, Fairplay to Breckenridge. Hoosier Pass is the continental divide and the highest point on the tour at 11,542. From Fairplay it is a 12 mile climb, but only the last 4 miles are very difficult. Making it to this point is a milestone of the tour. Everyone made it and we all gathered for a group photo. To Breckenridge it was a 12 mile downhill blast, steep, but not so steep that I had to ride the brakes. It took me 2 1/2 hours to make the climb, but only 40 minuets to get down.

The whole dang gang!

BetterBill is over the top!

Mort and James reach the top

Bryn and Amber are winners!

It's Olaf - The Germans are coming!

Alma - a neat town at the base of Hoosier Pass.

Friday 6-25 day 52 - 68 miles 2423 total miles, Royal Gorge to Fairplay. One of if not the toughest day of the trip. Lots of climbing especially the first 35 miles over Current Creek pass at 9,404 feet. Long stretch of no services and a difficult headwind the last 20 miles. In Fairplay we again found a wonderful Italian restaurant, Millonzi's, in a very unexpected place.

Current Creek Pass 9404 feet

Thursday 6-24 day 51 - 18 miles 2355 total Canon City to Royal Gorge. This was supposed to be a rest day, but the group needed to get closer to Fairplay to avoid an ugly 75 mile day on Friday. It being only an 8 mile ride I went the wrong way out of Canon City and turned 8 miles into 18. My friend Dave Moshner came to visit me. We had a very nice lunch and a trip to the Gorge. I enjoyed the visit even though Royal Gorge is a tacky tourist trap.

Dave on the bridge

Wednesday 6-23 day 50 - 54 miles 2337 total miles, Pueblo to Canon City. Before leaving Pueblo we participated in their Bike To Work Day with a breakfast downtown and a police escorted 2 mile ride through their beautiful downtown. They have a great cycling community and I am looking forward to a return visit to this city.

The route to Canon City was a scenic byway and a very nice ride. After a nice downhill we lunched in Florence at the Aspen Leaf Bakery. It was a real treat. I am beginning to believe there are lots of wonderful places in this country if we would just slow down we will find them. This was another good day on the bike.

Tuesday 6-22 day 49 - 62 miles 2283 total. Ordway to Pueblo. Well tailwinds don't last forever and today we paid for them. Headwinds most of the day, worse still was the 8 miles we rode on busy highway 50 into Pueblo. It was 101 degrees and way to hot to camp so we stayed in a motel. Close to the motel was the Great Divide Bike Store. Most of us stopped there for supplies or services and were very happy with the service and expertise we received. In fact we were all very impressed with the entire town.


Monday 6-21 day 48 - 62 miles 2232 total, Eads to Ordway. A great day to be cycling, mostly flat, cool morning and a great tailwind. Stayed at the Ordway Hotel, one of the big surprises of the trip. It was clean, neat, charming, quaint and tastefully decorated in southwestern style. Owned by Tom and Carol Campos, Tom is a trained chief and fixed diner and breakfast for all of us. We ate like kings!

Relaxing in the Ordway Hotel: Lee, Bryn, Jack and Amber

Sunday 6-20 day 47 - 58 miles 2170 total, Tribune to Eads, Colorado. Entered Colorado, s new state day is always a milestone. The day was unremarkable with a long stretch of no services. Left Tribune in the cool of the morning and arrived in Eads shortly after noon with 99 degree high. It's good to get the cycling in in the morning.