June 10, 2014

6/10/14 Cuchara to Walsenburg - 30 miles

Woke up after a great night's sleep to another stunning day in Colorado. The temps overnight were supposed to be in the 30's - low 40's and Alison already had the fire going when I got up. The coffee wasn't far behind. Goody (Alison's Dad), LaDonna and I chatted in front of the fire while Alison fixed breakfast. Goody and Joyce met in Canada while he was working the oilfields and she was a teacher. They have been married 63 years, both have a great sense of humor, and both have many wonderful stories to share. 

After breakfast, LaDonna and I walked to Cuchara "proper" to find some free wi-fi at the Dog Bar and catch up on emails and the blog. It was another beautiful, clear blue sky, and perfect temperature with little or no wind. I pulled up Google maps to plan the next several days of riding and checked the weather forecast. We decided to take advantage of the perfect riding conditions and ride 30 short miles to Walsenburg to better position ourselves for the next leg to Pueblo West on Wednesday. As we were leaving the Dog Bar, Pam was arriving to do some work of her own.  We told her of our plans to bike to Walsenburg and promised to see her before we left.

Before leaving, we had lunch at the cabin and visited  a few minutes with Alison and her parents before loading up the bikes and heading out. I took a few pictures of the cabin and surroundings, but there is just no way to really capture how beautiful and serene it is there. Plus, there are so many trees you just can't get a clear view of the cabin - which is a lot of the charm. I was kicking myself for not getting any pictures the night before of the whole group. But, then again, it was nice to just enjoy the time without any "posing" disruptions. 

A special thanks to Pam & Alison for their warm hospitality. Our visit to Cuchara was a definite highlight of the Colorado bike ride.

LaDonna and I got off just around 1 pm and stopped off at the Dog Bar to tell Pam goodbye. Then, we coasted all the way to La Veta at 15-20 mph where we picked up HWY 160 again for the remaining 15 miles to Walsenburg. Had a terrific tailwind and were cruising along when I realized that my front tire was going flat - which was funny since I had just had this conversation with Alison about how few flats I had had on these bike rides. After fixing the flat, we proceeded to Walsenburg and found a motel for the night. The plan is to get out early in the morning and ride approximately 70 miles to Pueblo West. Hopefully, the weather will hold. 

June 9, 2014

6/9/14 Alamosa to Cuchara - 65 miles

Got up and out early for the 71 mile ride to Cuchara. My friends Pam & Alison from Austin have a cabin there and invited us to come by and stay. It is pretty much a straight shot from Alamosa on Hwy 160 to La Veta, then Hwy 12 over to Cuchara. What I didn't know as we started was what to expect with regard to the riding conditions on Hwy 160. Also, I wasn't sure  whether the climb to La Veta Pass, elevation 9413 feet, would be in the nature of a long slow incline or a series of steep curvy hills. 

Turns out that today's ride was one of the best of the trip. The first 30 miles on HWY 160 to Fort Garland was a straight, flat road with a 10 ft or so well-paved shoulder. Just plain fun. And the weather was perfect. Clear, blue skies and very little wind. On the way, we passed the turn off to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, which we would see off in the distance. We also saw a business establishment advertising "Cannabis" - legalized marijuana. Don't see that every day. We made good time to Fort Garland, and stopped at the local visitor's center for a sandwich, as we were already hungry. The lady volunteer manning the visitor's center came out and offered free coffee. 

We continued towards La Veta Pass on Hwy 160. Again, the riding conditions were near perfect, although the traffic was picking up a bit. That is my one complaint about biking in Colorado - the traffic. The scenery has been some of the best I have seen, and the roads themselves are pretty good. But the traffic is heavier than I prefer. About 10 miles before La Veta Pass, we began the long slow incline towards the top. At best, I was averaging approximately 6-7 mph at that point. LaDonna, to her credit, kept pedaling away, although her legs gave out just as we approached the summit. I think from the residual effects of the 81 mile ride in the wind from Saturday. However, she recovered quickly and enthusiastically executed a celebratory leap into the air.

The ride down to La Veta off the summit was nothing short of spectacular. One of the most beautiful rides ever. The two Grandote Peaks majestically perched in the distance with vast green lush grasslands as far as you could see. All while cruising down at 20-25 mph. This went on for several miles. Approximately 4 miles from La Veta, we turned onto Co Rd 450 and continued cruising the rest of the way into town. Beautiful little farms and animals along the way. The peaks still brilliant in the distance. I felt like I didn't want the feeling to end.

We stopped at a pub on the out skirts of La Veta to grab a bite to eat before continuing the last 11 miles to Cuchara. I called to update Pam on our progress and estimated time of arrival. Alison answered the phone and offered to come pick us up. Since it was going on 4:00 pm, and LaDonna's legs were pretty well shot, we took Alison up on her offer of rescue and gratefully took in scenic Hwy 12 by car. Alison filled us in on interesting tidbits about the community and some of the sites. 

The town of Cuchara consists of a couple of cute businesses and real estate offices on a short steep dirt road. Most famous is the Dog Bar, an establishment that has been there for some time and renowned for dogs that often accompany their owners for dinner. In Cuchara, there is a large Texas contingent of full and part time residents. I know probably 5-6 people from Texas that own cabins or vacation homes. Most of these are rustic cabins with loads of character. Pam & Alison's cabin is the epitome of the Cuchara rustic cabin. A large homey great room with a warm stone fireplace, which Alison expertly maintained. The outside deck is literally right next to a vibrant stream that rushes by with a roar. The cabin has enough room for up to 12-14 people to stay. There is this wonderful loft bedroom with windows that can be opened to allow in the soothing roar of the stream as you sleep. Beautiful birch trees all over the place and great grassy outdoor areas for their kids Savanna and Harrison to play. The kitchen has a large window overlooking the stream, and the kitchen table is another central area where everyone congregates to eat, talk and play board and card games. No television or electronics allowed - one of my favorite rules - and lots of sitting and visiting. Alison's parents, Joyce and Goody, were visiting as well, and some other friends and relatives who have homes in Cuchara dropped by for dinner. Alison, who is a wonderful cook, fixed a fabulous dinner for the 10-12 people there. And made it look effortless - a real gift. After dinner, we sat by the fire and were treated to a mini-concert by Alison. She played the guitar and sang a song she had just performed at friends' wedding last weekend, as well as some original compositions. She has a beautiful voice, and her mother Joyce beamed. At times Alison was enthusiastically accompanied by Harrison, who also proved to have a nice voice. There was such a warm, homey, contented feeling filling the room. Before retiring to bed, there were a couple of hands of "Foolish" - a card game that LaDonna and I were introduced to. I confess I am not much of a card player, and was pretty tired at that point. So, didn't really get it. However, it was fun to watch the others strategize and enjoy playing. 

How could I forget to mention Riley, the family dog, who is the best dog in the world? 

I retired to bed tired, very happy and contented. This is the way life is meant to be shared and lived. 

On Tuesday, we have the option of either staying over another night, or relaxing in the morning and heading for the short ride to Walsenburg in the afternoon to position ourselves for the return ride to Aurora, which should take 4-5 days.

 

LaDonna's guest post 6/10/14

Kim asked me to contribute a guest blog to our biking adventure through Colorado. I have been amazed at the scenery and beauty that has surrounded us. My biking experience has been very limited and the physical tests quite expected. What I did not realize was how much fun and feeling of exhaustive achievement I would feel at the end of the day. I have to admit, I think all of family and friends that I shared this idea with thought  I had bitten off much more than I could accomplish. But......I am the strongest person that I know. And Kim, probably the most patient. 

Each day I have gotten stronger. I have walked up many inclines, I have fallen off my bike and been confused as to how to begin the day, end it, etc....all the nerves that goes into doing something totally new, and I have not felt comfortable to suggest routes,etc and that added responsibility has fallen on Kim's shoulders . She has been a real trooper and great support. 

But what I have learned past all that planning is that the plan has to be flexible. You have to be willing to accept the unexpected and adjust. Sometimes we are too rigid and unbending in our  interaction with others.  And with ourselves, we have to be more patient and accepting. The incline I walked up one week ago, I can now slowly pedal. The windstorm we encountered riding into Alamosa  "paused" me to pace and accept resistance. The raft trip we took in Canon City introduced us to new moments of challenges and the daily rides into small towns introduced us to good people, who smile and genuinely wan t ed to know about our trip. 

I have been blessed every day with  the beauty God has surrounded us with. I close my eyes at night and I  want the  day to continue in sound and color. And I look forward to the next day and all the surprises it offers. And the food, oh, how I have enjoyed the food! 

My favorite time is now. 

I have not thought about the end, I am having too much fun today. 

And as I pedal onward, and Kim continues to wait for me ahead... I am thankful for this time ...with others or alone and I am convinced, that this crazy life of mine is a great one! 

June 8, 2014

HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY TO MY DAD JAY BASINGER

6/8/14 Rest day in Alamosa

After 2 long hard days of riding, we decided to take a rest day in Alamosa to give our bodies a chance to recover. Also, the forecast was for possible afternoon thunderstorms and strong winds. It turned out to be a wise decision. Mostly just spent the day reading, watching HGTV, talking with family, and planning for Monday's ride. At mid-afternoon, there was this unbelievable dirt storm that hovered over everything in a thick haze. You could not see beyond a few feet ahead of you. The mountains were totally hidden. Made me feel kinda weird, and LaDonna's sinuses seemed to take a hit.

The forecast for Monday is clear, cool and sunny. Perfect for the 60+ miles to La Veta and possibly Cuchara. My friend Pam and her family are in Cuchara and we hope to hook up with them either Monday or Tuesday.

Looks like part of the route will take us up 9000+ feet again, so we are preparing mentally for a climb. Just hope no strong winds. Wind has always been my biggest nemesis. Also praying for light traffic.

June 7, 2014

6/7/14 Salida to Alamosa - 80 miles

Left the motel at approximately 9:00 am and began the 10 mile climb to Poncha Pass, elevation 9012 ft. 

It took a good 2 hours to reach the top, where the view drastically changed to a vast vista of grasslands that ended at the base of the mountains. 

We coasted down for several miles before the road leveled out into a long straight stretch. For lunch, we stopped at a quaint little roadside cafe in Villa Grove and had some of the best sweet potato fries ever. They came out piping hot. 

As we prepared for the next stretch of ride, the clouds gathered ominously in the distance and I began fearing that we would get hit by the rain. On we plodded. At the 40 mile mark, we stopped at another little roadside cafe in Moffett, and I had a cup of coffee to give me a kick for the next stretch. By now it was 3:00 pm and I realized that, at best, we were looking at another 3 hours or so for the remaining 40 miles to Alamosa. Unfortunately, there were No options for stopping before Alamosa. Even more unfortunately, we began facing harsh cross winds that slowed our progress to 6-7 mph at best. It also took its toll physically as we were getting tired. What I have learned in these situations is to just keep pedaling and stop frequently. LaDonna, to her credit, kept steadily pedaling along and remained as upbeat as possible in the circumstance, though  know it had to be hard. She had walked uphill for several long stretches of the initial climb to Poncha Pass. 

One interesting sight in the distance to the east was the Great Sand Dunes National Park. Seemed a little strange to see those dunes at the base of the mountains. 

After what seemed forever, we finally reached Alamosa at approximately 7:00 pm, and checked into a really nice Comfort Inn. Ordered dinner in, took long hot showers, and settled in for (yeah!) an episode of "Property Brothers" before turning in. 

After two hard days of riding, and especially after the Salida - Alamosa adventure, we decided to  take a rest day on Sunday at the nice Comfort Inn. There is also a possible forecast of thunderstorms, so we won't have to worry about that. Monday's forecast is for clear weather. The next leg of the ride is over towards Cuchara or Walsenburg, depending on how things go.

June 6, 2014

6/6/14 Canon City to Salida - 58 miles

Got off to an early start in anticipation of a long ride to Salida and to hopefully avoid possible late afternoon thunderstorms. We had a fabulous stay at the Super 8 in Canon City, in large part to Julie, who cheerfully made us feel right at home and went out of her way to help with planning "rest day" activities and providing a place to store the bikes out of the room. The motel was in a terrific location, the rooms spacious and very clean. 

We swung by Raftmasters to again thank our guide Mark for the wonderful time we had rafting, and to take a few pictures. Both he and Julie had a way of making it seem that they were not working at a job, but doing what they enjoyed. Both had a talent for working with people. 

Our route for the day was Highway 50 (still part of the AC TRANSAMERICA route the first 20 miles ) which ran alongside the Arkansas River the entire way to Salida. The first 10 miles to Royal Gorge were a series of long, slow inclines. Not too steep, but enough to get you warmed up. At one point as I was chugging up an incline, a Raftmasters big orange school bus passed and I saw Mark stick out his head, yell and waive. He had a big smile on his face. 

At last we reached the turn off for Royal Gorge and the road flattened out, followed shortly by an exhilarating downhill coast with a gorgeous view of the valley and mountains stretched out before us. At the bottom of the hill, Hwy 50 begins its parallel course right alongside the Arkansas River. This continues all the way to Salida, and runs through gorges and stunning rock formations. The really good thing is that it is mostly flat or fairly flat with little in the way of climbs. Just easy going and with unbelievable scenery. This has to be one of the most scenic rides I have ever taken. The road was in good shape and for the most part had adequate shoulders. However, the one downside was the amount of traffic and trucks on the road. Fortunately, we had some stretches where there was little or no traffic, but overall there was more traffic than desired. 

The highlight of the day was when we reached a place called Five Points. Mark had pointed this out the day before when we were rafting as a spot where 5 gorges coincided. There are some very challenging rapids at this convergence, and a platform where folks on the shore can watch as rafters navigate through and witness "carnage," which occurs when a raft flips over spilling its occupants into the river. Of course, we had expertly rafted through the day before, but others had not been so lucky. At any rate, just after we had ridden past Five Points, I spied red rafts a ways up coming down the River. Since I had seen Mark in the bus and knew Raftmasters had red rafts, I felt there was a pretty good possibility that one of those might be Mark. so, LaDonna and I turned around and took up post at the platform. Sure enough, it was Mark and his crew. He spotted us and waived - hit the top of his helmet in the "OK" sign with a big grin and shout, and we hit the top of our bike helmets in reply. After his raft shot through the rapids, Mark waved goodbye and made the sign of a big heart with his arms, like many do with their hands. LaDonna said it was a kiss heart moment and it almost made her cry. We agreed that the timing of our arrival at that very spot at that very moment had to be a God thing. There was no way we could have planned it. Reminded me of of just happening to meet up with my friend Diane on a busy Burlington, VT street last fall during the Tour of the Leaves ride. 

We continued meandering along the Arkansas River, stopping for lunch along the way. Peanut butter sandwiches, chips, apples and fig newtons while we watched rafters float by. Delicious.

The weather was perfect. Blue skies and no rain in sight. Approximately 20 miles from Salida I spotted some rather ominous dark clouds forming, but luckily they were to the south and our route was taking a turn northward and away, so I felt we would likely skirt the storm. I was right - seemed another God thing because we had been warned all week of the rain coming. As we approached Salida, more snow-covered mountains appeared. We cruised into Salida at approximately 3:00 pm, having made good time, and found another wonderful Super 8. The owner cheerfully greeted us and upgraded us to a lovely room. They had laundry facilities, so we washed clothes and rested a bit before heading the 1 mile to town for dinner, following the Monarch Bike Trail. We had a fabulous dinner at an Italian restaurant called Ferraros that was recommended by the Super 8 owner. The lasagna was maybe the best I have ever had. LaDonna seemed mesmerized by her eggplant Parmesan. Food is a big deal when biking.

The town of Salida is quaint and filled with lots of beautiful parks. Large lush green grassy areas with huge trees. In one of the parks, there were a group of girls playing basketball - you rarely see girls on outdoor public courts. Made me happy.  The Main Street runs perpendicular to and runs into the River, along which is a lovely River walk with restaurants perched alongside. It was a beautiful evening and everyone moved at a leisurely pace obviously enjoying the moment. 

After dinner, we returned to the motel and to my delight I found that we could access HGTV. I happily watched an episode of "Love It or List It". Last year I discovered HGTV while on my ride and became hooked. However, I do not have cable at home in Austin, so it is a treat whenever I am somewhere that I get to watch "Love It or List It" or "The Property Brothers".

Tomorrow we head through Poncha Pass (elev. 9012 ft) in route towards Alamosa. Depending on how tough the pass is, we will see how far along we get. I think we are supposed to have good weather again.

 

June 5, 2014

6/5/14 Rest day in Canon City

Started "rest day" early, as we had to be at the pickup station at 8:00 am for the ride to the Royal Gorge Train depot. Along the way, our driver told us all about the wildlife we were about to see -  bighorn sheep, deer, bears, birds, etc. The suspension bridge at Royal Gorge is the highest in the world at 1053 feet above the Arkansas River. The train lady told us that the difference between a canyon and a gorge is that a canyon is wide and a gorge is deep. 

The train trip took approximately 2 hours round trip, running alongside the Arkansas River and under the Royal Gorge Bridge. The bridge itself and the park are currently closed due to a fire that occurred a year ago. We spent the entire time standing in the outside car admiring the stunning views. Due to the runoff from recent heavy snows, the Arkansas River is at the highest levels since 2011, and commercial rafting on that portion that runs under the bridge is prohibited for the time being. We chatted with a number of folks from various parts of the country, and took each others' pictures. It was a pleasant trip, and just long enough. However, the only wildlife sighting was a single mule deer and a few highflying birds. Disappointing to say the least.

We learned that Canyon City's main business is correctional institutions. They have 12 prisons, 10 of which are currently operating, and have housed many notorious past and current inmates. The UniBomber is a current resident, and former inmates include mafia figures and Timothy McVeigh. The first WTC bombers. Canyon City's other main business is tourism, and especially whitewater rafting. 

After lunch, we donned wet suits and were transported some 10 miles or so west for the whitewater rafting. As mentioned previously, we were not able to raft under the Royal Gorge Bridge; however, there was plenty of class III -IV rapids and whitewater running through gorges with stunning views. Highway 50 runs alongside, and I kept thinking what a fabulous ride it would be with that whitewater in view. The weather was perfect - bright blue skies and mid-80's. Our guide, Mark, did a superb job leading us through some very exhilarating passes and relaying all sorts of history, geologic info, and background. There were two other men in our raft that are chefs at a local restaurant, and we all coordinated really well in the raft. I have been on a few raft trips over the years, but have to say that this was probably the best overall experience. LaDonna looked like she was in Heaven.

On the way back to town, who did we pass going in the opposite direction but the now fully loaded cross-country biker on the Trek. I guess he got off to a late start on the next leg. 

After our busy day, we were starving - so what else is new? We returned to our favorite dinner spot because of the free pie that comes with the early dinner. I had the chicken stir fry with all sorts of veggies, capped off by the apple pie a la mode. Delicious. This place claims to have the best pie in the world, and while I won't go that far, it is above average. Then again, everything tastes better when you are biking and hungry. 

Canon City has been a blast, but time to move on. Looks like either Salida or Westcliffe. 

June 4, 2014

6/4/14 Colorado Springs to Canon City - 45 miles

Got off to a late start because I had an initial pretrial conference call in one of my cases. The lawyer on the other side was supposed to initiate the call with the Court, but forgot about the hearing altogether, so it took a while to get everything done. What I hated was that I could feel myself in "business" mode, and annoyed. However, it all worked out as it always does. And in the greater scheme of things, was it really all that big of a deal? At the end of the call, after the Court had hung up, the lawyer apologized again and thanked me for my professionalism. That made feel worse because I knew how childish I reacted internally to the inconvenience. One of the lessons from my bike riding trips is to better "go with the flow" and look at challenges as opportunities to be cheerful in the circumstance, rather than let them ruin my moment or day. This has often resulted in unsuspected joyful blessings.  I certainly don't do that perfectly, but I am aware. And that is the first step.

The same desk clerk was on duty when we checked out. He had barely looked at us or spoken when we checked in - a rather joyless, dour young man. Apparently, he wasn't much of a morning person either. I made the most of it by wishing him a good day, and said a little prayer of blessing for him. We skipped the equally depressing continental breakfast at the motel.

Breakfast was at Smiley's in downtown Colorado Springs and it was fabulous. Eggs, bacon, cheese grits and homemade bread with cheerful accommodating servers to boot. They graciously allowed us to fill our water bottles for the anticipated uphill climb out of Colorado Springs and cheerfully wished us a safe trip. We finally exited town with a stunning view of Pikes Peek around 10:30 am and headed south on scenic byway Hwy 115. Destination was Canon City, some 45-50 miles away.

Highway 115 was somewhat of a mixed bag. The good news was that it was quite scenic and there was a good shoulder. The bad news (especially for LaDonna) was that there were a series of gradual and fairly steep inclines for almost 15-20 miles, and the traffic was heavier than I would have preferred. Every once in a while we would get a nice downhill coast, but those were few and far between. Generally, I would climb to the top of the incline or hill and wait for LaDonna, who frequently got off the bike and pushed.  She would catch up with me at the top of the hill smiling and saying "it's all good! I am just loving this." 

One of the things I started occupying myself with was watching the playful prairie dogs. They chattered and frolicked from mound to mound. Very cute.

Finally, we reached Hwy 50 and stopped for a Subway Veggie Delite before tackling the final 10 miles to Canon City, where we had decided to take a rest day on Thursday to give the legs a rest. We found a terrific motel at a very reasonable rate (being a member of AARP has definite advantages), and before I knew it I had signed us up for a half day train ride to view the suspension bridge at Royal Gorge and half day whitewater rafting down the Arkansas River. So much for a rest day. The lady desk clerk was very friendly and made us feel special and at home. 

As we headed out to find dinner, we came across a biker chaining his bike outside a local Mexican restaurant. It was a Trek 520 touring bike like mine, and I knew immediately that he had to be on a cross-country ride. He had that look in his eye and the touring biker swagger. Plus, Hwy 50 is on the Adventure Cycling TRANSAMERICA route. I approached and he was indeed on a cross-country ride. He started 2 months ago on the east coast and said he had had fabulous tailwinds most of the way. As we parted, I realized I had chills just talking with him about his cross-country ride - he laughed when I told him. 

Dinner was especially good as it was Wednesday a/k/a free pie night. I had warmed cherry pie that was quite delicious.  

Lots to do on Thursday in addition to "rest day" activities. Need to clean the bikes and do some basic maintenance, look for laundry facilities and make a decision as to what direction to ride on Friday. There is also the forecast for possible weekend showers. I think I will procrastinate a little longer before figuring it all out.

June 2, 2014

6/2/14 - Aurora to Castle Rock - 27 miles

Started a 2-3 week bike ride within the state of Colorado today. This ride is quite different than my previous two rides (2012 cross-country and 2013 "Tour of the Leaves" from Minneapolis to Bar Harbor). Mostly because I had a hard time discerning a route. I chose Colorado for two reasons. First, I did not want to ride across the Southern Tier because of the summer heat and/or long flat stretches of limited scenery. Second, I had originally planned to ride through Colorado in 2012 as part of the cross-country ride, but altered that plan due to the wild fires as I approached from Wyoming, and because I met the guys from Arizona and started riding with them to South Dakota. So, I wanted to see the scenery from a biking perspective. I also have a number of friends who live in Colorado and thought it would be fun if the opportunity arose to see them during the ride. 

The selection of a route ultimately hinged on my riding companion for this trip. LaDonna is a friend from Georgia that I met almost 40 years ago at a basketball camp in South Carolina where I grew up. We were good friends our senior year in high school, then I left for Texas to play basketball for Jody Conradt. As life often happens, we eventually lost contact for over 35 years until I received an email during the 2012 cross-country ride via the Truth Be Told website from Ladonna. Apparently she had stumbled on my bike ride journal and was following along. Since that time, we have re-connected and she indicated that she would be interested in learning more about bike touring. So, I told her I would do a ride with her. This Colorado ride is the result. The choice of a route was difficult because, although LaDonna is in good general physical condition (she hiked the 500 mile El Camino Santiago across Spain last summer), she has never done much bike riding and certainly not in mountains. To make a long story short, my friend Dawne suggested we start from her home in Aurora near Denver and ride along the Front Range that parallels the mountains. That way, we could avoid some of the more steep mountain inclines and still enjoy the scenery. 

So, we started the ride on Monday from Aurora headed south towards Colorado Springs, then Pueblo. We have to play it somewhat by ear because the route is not great for biking and requires some flexibility on our part. Also, LaDonna is still getting used to the whole biking thing and how she adjusts will determine in some part where the route eventually takes us. 

We left Dawne's at approximately 11:30 am and started on a bike trail called the Cherry Creek Greenbelt Trail. This was a very poorly marked trail, but gave us a chance to get our biking legs under us and address the initial biking issues that always arise the first day or two as you are settling in. I especially wanted to start off the highway if possible to give LaDonna a chance to settle in on her bike. The weather was perfect - low 80's and clear blue skies with very little wind. The trail ran alongside grassy meadows, and occasionally alongside a stream where happy dogs frolicked with their owners. Snow-capped mountains framed the distant horizon.  The perfect way to start the ride. 

Although the Cherry Creek Trail supposedly runs all the way to Frankton - approximately 20 miles south - I was unable to locate any really good map information from the nearby bike shops and the people at the shops did not seem too familiar with the trail, and most had ridden on Highway 63. So, I decided to opt for Highway 63 after approximately  5 miles. The shoulder was fine for most of the ride, but the traffic was heavier than I would have preferred. Still, we biked along with little problem and only an occasional headwind or two for brief moments. At Frankton, we headed east the final 7 miles to Castle Rock, our destination for the night. This was a lovely ride through rolling hills and a couple of very challenging winding inclines. Perfect for preparing for the upcoming rides the next couple of days. We arrived in Castle Rock at around 4 pm. After a good dinner (completed by a free piece of apple pie a la mode) we called it an early night.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we plan to ride approximately 48 miles to Colorado Springs. We think that we have identified a couple of off road bike trails to take most of the way. The obvious advantage if these work out is that it is off road. But these rails to trails are often flatter and less hilly. We will have to see. 

June 3, 2014

6/3/14 - Castle Rock to Colorado Springs - 48 miles

Another perfect day for riding. Clear blue skies with a forecast for the 80's. We started the ride on the Plum Creek Parkway trail for a few miles until we accessed the feeder road along I-25 for approximately 5 miles. At one point a train came up alongside and the conductor stuck out his head and waved at us with a big smile. The train continued along at a slow pace for several miles. 

We turned west on Tomahawk Road for another 4 miles of almost all incline. This was a fairly strenuous  climb, but we were rewarded with stunning views and a long exhilarating downhill coast of several miles that ended at Co Rd 105, which we road for a good 14 miles. This part of the ride had a lot of slow gradual inclines and occasional wind gusts. Traffic was far lighter than yesterday and the road was in good condition, but not much of a shoulder. We saw several road bikers out for their daily rides. At one point as I was waiting on the side if the road for LaDonna to catch up, I turned around to look for her and to my shock, delight and fear saw this huge black bear crossing the road approximately 50 yards behind me. He was gorgeous! A beautiful thick coat and confident attitude. My initial thought was to pull out my camera, quickly followed by the realization that I better plan my escape if he decided to turn in my direction and come my way. Before I could fully realize my fear, he pretty much ignored me and continued lumbering off the road and into the forest. It was a magnificent moment. I realized that just up ahead on the side of the road was a sign for Bear Trail Ranch. That made me laugh.

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At about the 24 mile mark, we came upon the New Santa Fe Regional Trail. This was a crushed gravel trail that ran for almost 20 miles until it intersects with the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail for the final 5-6 miles into Colorado Springs. It was nice to get off the roads, but we had to pay attention for places where there was a lot of loose gravel susceptible to slipping. Beautiful views of Pikes Peak in the distance. I found that I had to drink a lot of water, and it did get quite hot.  After a while, the constant vigilance to avoid loose gravel took its toll and I was feeling pretty tired. At one point, we stopped at a rest hut for a break. A man came up on his bike and told us he had ridden from west coast to Bar Harbor a number of years ago. I, of course, shared my most rides with him. 

The trail entered the Air Force Academy property, and the trail became increasingly more challenging as it went up and down several steep gravel hills. The scenery was varied and interesting when you could afford to look away from the trail long enough to see. We passed a man walking the trail that warned us he had seen two 40 pound bear cubs in a field just around the next bend, but no Mom. This must be bear theme day. 

By the time we reached Colorado Springs around 4 pm, I think we were both pretty exhausted. We stopped at a bike shop for maps, directions and motel recommendations. We headed for the recommended motel, located several blocks from downtown, and checked in. There were a number of, shall we say, interesting looking characters staying there, and I probably would not

have stayed there had I been on my own. However, because we were tired and I didn't feel like riding around to look for wi-fi to search out other accommodations we just checked in. After a great shower and feeling somewhat renewed, found a Wendy's nearby - love their apple pecan salads - and had an early dinner. Also learned some very useful information. Wendy's has a free smaller size Frosty for seniors.

Tomorrow we plan 35-50 miles along scenic byway 115 towards Florence and/or Canon City.  This hooks up with the Adventure Cycling TRANSAMERICA route at highway 50. Keeping in mind the forecast for rain this weekend.