June 7, 2019
Let's Ride over a Mountain. NOT!
Pueblo to Westcliffe
I began the day by riding to a WalMart north of Pueblo to buy supplies. Then I rode to the Post Office to mail something.
I was on the road pretty early, well before 8. The route began by wending me through a city park and some nice neighborhoods of modest, well kept single family homes. One of the homes was apparently owned by a whimsical artist.
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After my tour of Pueblo, I headed west on Highway 96. Again!
The terrain immediately switched to rocky desert. There was a two-mile hill leaving town that I didn’t pay attention to when planning the day. It wasn’t hard but, having not taken a day off in over three weeks, I felt like my legs were full of lead. Not a good sign.
About 25 miles into the day I was caught by Yoni Doron Peters who’s doing the Western Express with a friend whom he’s meeting in Canon City. He was loaded even lighter than Corey and Mark. How do they do it?
After 37 miles I met two men who were finishing up the Western Express Route. Jagdish and Steve told me of a place a mile ahead with water and bathrooms. Steve is ending his ride in Pueblo; Jagdish is headed for Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
It turns out that they ran into Corey and Mark! It’s located in the town of Wetmore where the Western Express and the TransAmerica Trail diverge.
Of course, Corey and Mark we’re gone by the time I arrived in Wetmore. I stayed about 15 minutes then rode out only to spot one of Jagdish and Steve’s riding partners, Warren. I told him about the bathrooms and water. He was all smiles having descended from over 9,000 feet in 14 miles. He said the hill would be no problem. I noted that all three riders in his group had mailed home lots of gear to shed weight.
I bid Warren goodbye and began the climb he had just flown down.
Since I was not acclimated to the thin mountain air I decided to take it easy. The scenery was beautiful, conifers and aspen trees all over the mountain slopes. I didn’t see much of it as I had my head down, grinding away.
After three miles of nonstop climbing my heart was racing so I stopped on the side of the road until it settled down. I did this again at 6 miles, 7 1/2 miles, 8 miles, and 8 1/2 miles.
A woman in an SUV rolled to a stop as she was coming down the mountain. She asked if I was okay and offered me water.
This hill was the hardest climb I’ve ever done. And 8 miles into a 14-mile climb my legs were kaput.
Rather than risk a heart attack or a crash from the extreme fatigue, I decide to swallow my pride and walk. And walk. And walk.
From time to time I got back on the bike but my legs were gone. At one point my right leg muscles went into a cramp whenever I pushed down on the pedal.
Walk. Walk. Ride. Walk. Walk.
I had allocated 3 hours for what I originally though was a 10-mile climb. Suffice it to say it took more like 4 hours.
My problem was a combination of not enough rest, too much weight, not eating and drinking enough, and age.
At the top the road gently rolled. A storm approached blowing me all over the place. Then I reached the descent. Wind howling, Mule flying. I saw a curve ahead with a 40 mph warning sign. I looked down and saw 37 and rising on my speedometer. I tapped the brakes to keep me from shooting off the road into the scrub and rocks.
It’s hard not to admire the landscape as you zoom downhill. Dead ahead loomed the ominous snowy peaks of the Colorado Rockies. Getting over them will be brutal.
I rolled into Westcliffe and looked for a motel that Jagdish and Steve recommended. The Courtyard Country Inn is a funky place with rooms arrayed around an outdoor courtyard with fountains.
Mo, the co-owner greeted me, and told me that there were no vacancies and probably none in town as this was a Friday and the town catered to Denver weekenders.
She took pity on me since I looked like I was about to keel over. She asked the Air B&B next door if they had anything. Only a $200 room. Then she remembered that some friends had booked tonight and tomorrow at her motel but said they might not come tonight. She called them and, indeed, they weren’t coming tonight. So I got their room!
Mo says that if anybody cancels for tomorrow night, I can have their room. I hope so; I like this place. Otherwise I’ll ride to Salida and get a room there.
Miles today: 63.5
Tour miles: 1,432.5.
Today's ride: 64 miles (103 km)
Total: 1,440 miles (2,317 km)
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