GDMBR Day 17

Day 17

53 miles June 28

Tried to get an early start today. 

 Saw a fox with his breakfast.

 Really pretty Aspen alley down hill.

 Wyoming state line!!

 Got pretty hot and very very windy.

Found a lady at the local historical museum that let's riders stay at at her cabin. It was an extra 7 miles in the heat (96 degrees) with the wind though so that helped. The lady offered up her fresh rhubarb to eat. Great little refuge in a canyon. 

GDMBR Day 16

Day 16
32 June 27

Left town and headed up a nice river pathway then back onto the paved highway with too many cars and not enough shoulder. Stopped in someone's drive way, they had a nice gate with grass and the only decent shade for miles and had a little picnic. A guy on a bike came up and sat and ate with us. He was a cdter converted to bike packer for a few hundred miles before he'll switch back to walking. His name was jack rabbit.

Stopped for huckleberry ice-cream at a little country store. The day was very hot and the going was very slow. Lots of shade breaks and even dunked my shirt and buff in streams near the road to keep cool. Going to try for an early start tomorrow to avoid the heat. 

GDMBR Day 15

Day 15
50 miles June 26
616 total

 Lots of wild roses and this other interesting flower today.

 I saw a moose today right here in the middle of this road. It ran off when it saw me and I wasn't quick enough with the camera.

 Not much shade today.

 I'm starting to to worry about ticks. I saw one today.

 Crossed a dam!

Nice riding today but it got a little hot at the end. Creeping into low 90s. If it stays this hot I might need to make some drastic route changes again. Hopefully the weather doesn't make this a habit and stays cooler.

GDMBR Day 14

Day 14
37 miles  June 25

Saw a bald eagle bring a huge fish, at least a foot long, up to a big nest on a telephone pole by the lake I sleeper next to last night. It dropped it off for 3 squawking chicks. It circled the nest a few time with the big fish, it was the perfect shot and the perfect light I just didn't have my big camera.

 Did about 8 miles and came upon an aid station on the side of the road that was set up for a big bike race. Turns out it was a pro bike race, at least 100 miles long, with photographers, trucks with extra wheels, medics, the whole shabang. I was passed by the entirety of the 200 riders in about 2 hours. It was great fun having all the people on the side of the road telling me when to slow down because the road was switching to gravel and having all the chase cars keep the passing  traffic slow. Lots of people made encouraging comments and were excited that I was out there. It was a little nerve racking to get passed by all these pros, but they were nice so it was alright.

Turned off the race route just after they all passed me and found the trail to go to a hot springs on the Colorado River. Just as I was heading out a sobo touring.rider came up and joined me for the walk.  He gave me the map to the next section and I gave him my extra pair of sunglasses because he dropped his in the river. The springs were nice but swimming in the Colorado was much more refreshing.

 The Colorado River!

After the hit spring I hit a long up hill section. The start on the last pass to steamboat. I already had done one pass today, not as big but hitting it at the end of the day was rough.  And it was very steep and temperatures where creeping up to the low 80s. So going was very slow. It was pedaling from shade patch to shade patch and lots of hike a bike.

 Finally found a good camping spot, made dinner watched the moon rise and went to bed.

GDMBR Day 13

Day 13
49 miles June 24
529 total
Frisco to Williams fork lake

Got a late start and then would my way through Frisco's vast bike paths, which are great but not particularly well marked it you are trying to get through town. 6 miles of mostly down hill took much longer that it should have.  But I did run into some locals that were excited that I was doing the divide and that was nice and encouraging.

Hung out in the WiFi at the Silverthorne rec center after getting a burrito in town. The wind and clouds looked like rain and there was a nasty head wind on the 13 miles out of town. Met about 8 dudes racing the TD on my way into town.

 One mile to somewhere!

It rained a bit but I made it up the pass in fairly good time (ute pass).  On the down hill from the pass I met another 10 or 15 Tour Divide riders. Lots of folks today. Only two women going sobo so far. All the dudes look very rugged. Passed a giant industrial area, I guess for mining but I'm not really sure.

Made it to a lake and found a nice free campsite near the water. I can hear freeway 40 in the distance when the wind blows right. Two more passes to steamboat springs and about 73 miles, I don't think I will make it tomorrow. Might make it a two day and stop at the hot springs enroute. 

GDMBR Day 12

Day 12
48 miles

Got up early to avoid the ants and the wind. Lots of up today.  Huge pass. Road was pretty washboard out and too many cars. It's Saturday so I guess everyone out driving about and making dust clouds. The dust is worse than the altitude. Beautiful trees and mountains though way better than the bare grasslands of yesterday. Got in to town, it's over run with tourists and super overwhelming with traffic and people.  Not in to it. Put the bike in the car and drove ten miles off route to a trail head to meet up with my friend from the PCT. Went to dinner of cheese curds and beer. Delicious! There was a fox walking around the trailhead parking lot didn't seem to be afraid. 3rd fox I've seen in 2 days.