Start: Fort Collins, CO
Finish: Estes Park, CO
Total Bike Mileage: 47.4mi
Cumulative Bike Mileage: 1484.9
Another beautiful CO morning. Arose early to write some personal thoughts, have a hardy breakfast at the comfortable Best Western University Hotel consisting of usual cereals, fruits, and breads to store necessary energy for the day.
As an amateur cyclist climbing the Rocky Mountains, apexing a Continental Divide (or two or three or more) is one of those Bucket List goals should the time and effort coincide in one's lifetime. It has taken us only 18 days to reach this pinnacle on our journey westward and Mike andI I honestly stand proud of this achievement by itself.
But we were aware what was in store today. To first acclimate to altitude by cycling to Estes Park, CO. The dynamics changed with Vik now with us for his first day. We would ride in threes, or twos, or occasionally in a breakaway isolation should one choose.
I was still ruminating on yesterday's heartfelt thoughts as we finished the daily morning bicycle preparations - wiping clean frames and wheels, cleaning and oiling chains, pumping tires to desired pressures - as we departed the hotel parking lot and headed west from the city center along West Laurel St; a series of turns brought us to South Overland Trail and then a right turn onto Dixon Canyon Rd. We switchback climbed our way out of Fort Collins, enjoying the view in the valley below, as we cycled over and around the scenic Horsetooth Dam and Reservoir. Rt38 continued to wind and climb as we made our way on a beautiful morning to the town of Masonville, turned left on Buckhorn Rd/County Rd27 for a 5mile relaxing flat stretch of roadway and then right onto Rt34W which became Big Thompson Canyon Rd extending all the way to Estes Park.
A gradual graded climb began. The road tracked the opposite rapidly rushing snow waters of the Big Thompson River as it meandered past an eclectic mix of cottages and cabins. Some picturesque twists of the road through carved-out mountain cliffs. The snow-covered Rockies began to peek their heads above the canyon floor, a teaser for what we would need to conquer over the next number of days of riding.
By mid-afternoon we had arrived at Estes Park. The dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped Rocky Mountain National Park staring at us with any glance skyward. A cycle around Lake Estes. A lunch stop to refuel and also enjoy some delicious berry pies at the Estes Park Pie Shop (where we were greeted warmly by owner, Valerie who happens to be from GA). A stop to visit the historic landmark Stanley Hotel on the hill, and then check-in to our comfortable cabin for the evening.
Palpable slight anxiety existed in our party for tomorrow's planned summit ascent to the Continental Divide at over 12,000 feet in elevation. We could not deny that it was impossible to predict how our lungs and legs and brains would respond at such altitude and necessary climbing exertion.
The rhubarb and blueberry pie slices had digested well. Time for dinner in town at Mama Roses for Italian carbs. I enjoyed my plate of spaghetti pasta and salmon. A brief stroll through town, a friendly review of our routes through the Rockies by a very knowledgeable local and herpetologist and we headed back to our Discovery Lodge cabin for the night's mountain-dreamy sleep.
Blaze Stage 19 Photos
Indexes
Weather: (10)
Magnificent sunny comfortable temperatures
Terrain: (9)
Initial climb through foothills of Rockies, generally good road conditions with some construction ongoing through the canyon
Scenic: (8)
Even better is ahead
Endurance: (9)
Generally felt strong through the approach climb at steady grade for many miles
Wildlife and Roadkill:
W-birds
R-raccoon, birds
Medical Report:
All good
Bike Report:
All good. Lee's Cyclery did a nice tune-up in Fort Collins; shifting and braking felt good and tight, and new handlebar wrap done well.
Still Having Fun: (9)
Felt a bit edgy/moody today after yesterday's day off; our new traveling party of four hasn't yet relaxed and found its swagger
No comments:
Post a Comment