Day 25: Vail Pass -- a photo journal

June 23, 2010

I can't believe I'm saying this but what a fun day! Man, I thought Vail Pass would be MUCH harder... But I'll get to that in a second.

I can't say I got up and out early. It was a great camp site with a fast running stream below my tent area. Oh, that's no excuse for a late start, I'm just saying...

There were no restaurants nearby so I had to ride DOWN to the store in East Vail because I didn't have enough for breakfast. The coffee, orange and chocolate bar WERE tasty but hardly enough substance for the day's climbing.

While I was eating my cherry danish, second cup of coffee and cheese on the little bench outside the store a man pulled up in a car with Missouri license plates and a bike stuffed in the back...

"Are you from around here?" He asked.
"No."
"Where is a flat place I can ride around here?"
"How about Denver," I said. Thinking back to yesterday's endless climb from the west.
"I came from Denver, there are too many cars there. I was thinking about riding in that direction," He said, pointing west and down the hill.
"You know, you'll have to climb up on the way back," I said, trying not to sound like I was stating the obvious.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I guess I'll keep looking," he said as he got back in his car.
I decided not to mention that he could try Grand Junction. I let it go and he drove away.

After my nutritious breakfast I was ready for the big climb of the day. So I turned the Trucker east and started pedaling. After regaining what I had lost riding to the store I started the official climb. It was mostly a steady climb. It kicked up in a few places, once to 16% (I was told) but I kept on pedaling. Other than those little stretches the grade was pretty steady and "easy" by big grade standard. Other than that, it can best be described in pictures...

I didn't know HE rode this pass either?!

I THOUGHT I still had some to climb after this. Turns out I was right about at the top.

WOOO-HOOOOO! The summit! Except this sign was on the highway, not the bike path.

WOOO-HOOOO! I made it, except there was no SIGN indicating I made it. I did the whole, "I made it pose" anyway.

That's me on the left there. Going down...

Today's ride: 35 miles (56 km)
Total: 1,822 miles (2,932 km)

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