Category: The motivation to move

Colorado 2010 – Day 36

E Sharp

Falcon: Acclimating

Thursday June 10, 2010

Today is my last day alone. Tomorrow I will ride into Colorado Springs and meet my mom. She’s coming out to be my SAG vehicle as I climb some mountain passes. I’m very much looking forward to spending two weeks in the Colorado mountains with her. I do not get to see her nearly as much as I would like to, so it will be a real treat to be with her. Yet, at the same time, I’m not ready for my solo ride to end. I’ve been having so much fun, I just want my own ride to keep going. Meeting up with my mom means I’ve only got 17 days left to ride. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 48

Colorado 2010 – Day 48

E Sharp

Taylor Park Reservoir to Buena Vista: Celebrating our highest pass with a dip in a sub-alpine lake

Tuesday June 22, 2010, 36 miles (58 km) – Total so far: 1,904 miles (3,064 km)

I make Jen get up obscenely early to tackle Cottonwood Pass. I’m pretty obsessive about these early starts now. I really like to get in the miles without the wind and traffic. So the sun isn’t over the horizon yet and the temperature hasn’t quite climbed above freezing when we set out. Now that we’re not 20-years-old anymore, Jen has some troubles with circulation and losing feeling in her extremities. I give her my good gloves since I know I’ll only need my cotton ones over my cycling ones, and off we go the 14 miles to the pass. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 49

Colorado 2010 – Day 49

E Sharp

Buena Vista to Fairplay: Looking for Kenny

Wednesday June 23, 2010, 38 miles (61 km) – Total so far: 1,942 miles (3,125 km)

The ride today takes us over Trout Creek Pass, through South Park and into Fairplay on Hwy 385. Because I came this way the other day, I know we’ll have moderate traffic, good pavement and a small shoulder (the shoulder is bigger going downhill). It’s a continuous but gentle climb. Since we don’t have to climb a big pass, and we know we’ll have a shoulder all day today, we don’t plan to leave til 7:30 or 8:00. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 50

Colorado 2010 – Day 50

E Sharp

Fairplay to Hoosier Pass: A couple of Hoosiers on Hoosier Pass

Thursday June 24, 2010, 12 miles (19 km) – Total so far: 1,954 miles (3,144 km)

Jen convinces me that starting so early is too much like work, so I concede to a slightly later start time. It’s a short ride today over Hoosier Pass to Breckenridge. Today we’ll be on the TransAmerica route all day. We immediately pass two guys slowly crawling the hill out of town. The guy on the recumbent is wobbly already – I don’t want to see him on the pass. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 51

E Sharp

Breckenridge: The non-shoppers go shopping

Friday June 25, 2010

Today is a rest day. We drive down and pick up Jen and go explore the Dillon markets. I get some Cranberry Walnut bread and am in heaven – it reminds me a little of the Ukrainian nutroll we had when I was growing up. We also go down to the Pearl Izumi and Columbia stores at the outlet mall in Silverthorne. I get a great fluoro windbreaker for less than half price at Pearl Izumi and Jen gets heaps of stuff. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 52

Colorado 2010 – Day 52

E Sharp

Breckenridge to Hot Sulphur Springs: The bad mood day

Saturday June 26, 2010, 72 miles (116 km) – Total so far: 2,026 miles (3,261 km)

I’m heading down the bikepath to Frisco before the sun is up. The bikepath is a bit confusing but because we’ve driven to Frisco in the days before, it makes it easier to find my way. The sun is up and throwing sparkles across Lake Dillon as I twist and curve along the bike path there. The path down to Silverthorne from the dam wall is not really marked and I’m just lucky to see a break in the concrete barriers and a path leading off that direction. Almost missed it! It’s a steep, switchback path down past a ballfield. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 53

Colorado 2010 – Day 53

E Sharp

Hot Sulphur Springs to Walden: 3 moose sightings in 3 hours

Sunday June 27, 2010, 61 miles (99 km) – Total so far: 2,087 miles (3,359 km)

Another pre-dawn start. Jen and company don’t want to go early, but I’m happy to beat the predicted headwinds again, thanks. There is fog along the river and I have the road completely to myself as I watch the sun rise over the mountains. I ride out in the lane in the sweet spot of the tire groove. I am passed by one overtaking car and see one oncoming car in the 8 miles between Hot Sulphur Springs and the turn-off for Hwy 125. I love this silence where the only sound is my tires on the pavement and the whir of the freewheel when I coast on a downhill. I feel like my head is free and all the thoughts that normally clutter it just disappear into the early morning atmosphere of silence. It is not often I can turn my brain off, so I relish the times like these when my head actually shuts up for a moment. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 54

Colorado 2010 – Day 54

E Sharp

Walden to Rustic: Heading back into familiar territory

Monday June 28, 2010, 58 miles (93 km) – Total so far: 2,145 miles (3,452 km)

Jen has decided to ride with me today to ensure she makes it to Rustic by noon. One of her supervisors has been hassling her to cut her holiday short and return to work since the day we were in Fairplay. There aren’t many people in Jenny’s profession and they really need her to head down to the Gulf of Mexico to do some work on the wildlife and policy side of the oil spill disaster. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Day 55

Colorado 2010 – Day 55

E Sharp

Rustic to Fort Collins: Is it really over?

Tuesday June 29, 2010, 43 miles (69 km) – Total so far: 2,188 miles (3,521 km)

The day starts like every other on the trip so far. It is incomprehensible that this is the last day of the tour. It’s another early morning start to ride into Fort Collins from Rustic. There’s a lot of downhill cruising as I follow the river through the canyon and recall many memories of outdoor fun had up here all through college. Read more →

Colorado 2010 – Reflecting on what I’ve learned

Colorado 2010 – Reflecting on what I’ve learned

E Sharp

Camping up the Poudre

Saturday July 10, 2010

After Mom, Dad, Brian and Karen head back home on the 9th, I’ve got a few days before my flight leaves on the 13th. Jen’s still away working on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and after I’ve caught up with my other friend from college who still lives in town, I decide I’ll head back up the Poudre Canyon fully-loaded and spend a couple of my last few nights camping. Read more →