It will probably be the last one for awhile.
Need to find a new challenge.
We did the reverse TBP, riding west to east.
Avon to Bergen Park.
Instead of spending the night in Avon, as we had planned
we decided that we could not sleep in our own beds as well
as we could not sleep in hotel beds, so we drove over in the
wee, dark hours of the a.m.
It was raining when we arrived, but stopped by the time we
got geared up.
Sunrise, west Vail, along Gore Creek, equipment check.
The first pass is Vail. Longest of the 3.
Because of all the rain we have had, everything is brillant green.
Half way up, the old road ends and the bike path to the summit begins.
We had an uneventful and amazingly strong ride to the top.
One down, two to go.
The sun actually came out for the descent to Frisco.
The climb up the west side of Loveland was again uneventful.
No matter how many times I arrive at this summit,
I want to remember it.
Two down, one to go.
.I was tired when we rolled into the lunch stop at Loveland Basin.
I had my turkey/cheese sandwich, 2 vitamin drinks and 2 cookies.
We filled out bottles and got our jackets on for the descent to
Idaho Springs, which we had been looking forward to.
I turned and looked back to the west and saw what was about
to descend onto us.
Our fortunes were about to change.
It began as a mild sprinkle. Within a few miles, it was a
steady down pour. Just above SilverPlum it was the classic
mountain thunder storm. The lightening was right on top of us
as we started down the GeorgeTown hill. No cover, no where to hide.
As we made the turn into the railroad station parking lot, the rain
and wind was blinding. We finally made it into GT and pulled into
a quick stop w/a covered porch, along w/a few others.
We waited out the storm and headed for Idaho Spgs.
We were going to call it there if it was still raining, but the sun came out.
We got some GatorAid and fig bars and things were looking up.
Sun and blue sky to the south up to Echo Lake.
Too much effort put in so far to stop now.
We made it to the porch of the Echo Lake Lodge just at the sky
let loose another round. We waited this one out there.
When it passed, we finally made it to the top of Juniper Pass.
It was a miserable, cold descent to Bergen Park, but warmed by
the thought that w/amazing grit, we were going to finish again.
We had just enough time to get a bite to eat before it started again.
As I loaded my bike in the car the lightening and rain were pouring down.
126miles 10,196' vertical 9:45min saddle time 11:45min total time
It is always an amazing adventure.
The ebb and flow of conditions, attitude, emotions and pain
are so akin to completing a life time of experience in one day.
These past few weeks have brought incredible change and
turmoil to my life. I need to take the grit of determination to
complete this ride into my life. Strive to remember,
I will not always be riding into the rain,
pain is temporary,
the sun will rise tomorrow.
I'll see you on the road.
