DAY 18 : JUNE 18: MONTROSE (CO) TO GUNNISON (CO)

Time Zone : Mountain (GMT -7)
Todays Distance: 62 miles
Cycling time: 5hrs 56 mins
Average Speed: 10.4 mph

Today’s cumulative ascent: 5040 ft

Average Heart rate: 110 bpm

Distance so far: 1283 miles

Ascent so far: 50,647 feet.

NB Problems with my Garmin GPS today so a rough profile and a different map.

Today's Profile:Today's Route:
Dedication: Today is for the hard-working and pleasant pupils of Providence including Charlie, Rebecca, Anameka and Banri . I’ll keep pedalling up these hills for you and do remember me at assembly prayer each morning, please.

Today was a different day for a number of reasons. We were really hitting the Rockies hard – no punches pulled, no prisoners taken. This was a serious climbing task. Also we had plenty of company on the route. 2,500 other cyclists doing Ride the Rockies shared the route with us as far as Gunnison. They were going 30 miles further to Crested Butte. Room for everyone on the road.

An early start needed to avoid the afternoon heat so my alarm went off at 5 am. Great to be up at that hour! Loading completed at 6.30 and already the Ride the Rockies cyclists were on the road. No bunching or jostling but passing and being passed with a greeting or encouragement being exchanged.
We had our usual SAG stops, but the stops for the larger group were like towns on market day. It was similar at the few small towns along the way and on both summits. Their group had all sizes and shapes; young, mature and older; various types of bikes- orthodox, recumbent, tandem, wheelchair using their hands and I spotted a one-armed cyclist cruising up the climbs.
The first climb started 3 miles outside Montrose and lasted for a good 2 miles and we had to cope with the ever-present headwind along that stretch of road. The gradient was gradual and our group just kept turning away. In time the summit was attained and bottles replenished. All along this climb we were in greenery – a change from the lat ten days. At times it seemed I was cycling up by Hollyford and on towards Dolla. Great cycling area. The road climbed and turned so we had new views regularly.
SUMMIT 1
It was a relief to come to the summit ( Cerro Summit) knowing that a long descent was awaiting. Crowds gathered around the various wagons for supplies. The descent in itself (3 miles), we knew, would be gratifying, but the scenery was so beautiful that I slowed up just to take it in and attempt to capture it on film. But, it was all around and above and below and every turn and twist on the road brought a new picture-postcard. It’s better that a few photos should tell the tale.
The descent brought us back to the banks of the Gunnison River as it rushed strongly against us. One could imagine a group rafting on its strong current. Passing through the small town of Cimarron just gave us a little relief before the big climb. My front tyre had gone a bit soft and needed a couple of pounds. My fear was that it was a slow puncture but it stayed hard for the rest of the journey. Will need to recheck before we set off in the morning.
We were all psyched up for this 7 mile climb that would bring us to the highest point of the day. Cyclists were moving at all different speeds…we just kept to our pace as it turned and twisted up and up. The top was never to be around the next bend or over the next brow. Patience. Patience. And there on top was our own SAG stop with goodies and more water. At 8,822 feet, snow was still on the ground just across from us .
From here to the end it was a series of descents around rocky corners and then small climbs as the mercury was beginning to climb. I can see why they are called the Rockies. Every mile brought a surprise and a gasp.
It was amazing how peaceful it became on this section of the route. During short periods when there was no cyclists coming up behind, the surroundings were the essence of peace with not a noise in the world but the sound of birds. We had our stops for photos and to enjoy the peace. Let the world rush by; this experience (sights and sounds) is unique.
The Gunnison River is dammed to form Blue Mesa Reservoir 20 miles long. Just below the dam we got a glimpse of the deep Gunnison Canyon. Water sports facilities dot the perimeter and I see that the zebra mussels are a threat here also as they are on the Shannon. The mussels are in other Colorado lakes and recreationists must obtain a certificate stating that they have not been in other waters over the last 30 days. If they have been, they must wash and dry their watercraft satifying the park visitor centre. Today the waters were calm and peaceful and only disturbed by a few fishermen. We spent almost 2 hours moving along by the reservoir.
The final 10 miles into Gunnison finally brought us through an amount of farmland and we arrived at the motel at 1 pm. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were in Gunnison in 1882 shortly after the ‘gunfight at the OK Corral’ We had arrived in different circumstances but sharing Earp’s stated philosophy of gunfighting (we apply it to cycling) “Stay calm, keep your mouth shut, take your time and only ‘figger on pullin’ the trigger once”. An early finish for us today. So early, that our rooms were not ready yet. Must slow down tomorrow! The three of us had stuck together all day and our steady even pace paid dividends. I feel we still have fuel in the tank for Monarch Pass tomorrow.

A unique day’s cycling and our last full day on the Pacific side of USA. Scenery was beautiful; it surrounded us and was continuously changing. Tomorrow we cross the continental divide and head for the Atlantic.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.


Seen today: Ride the Rockies organisers had directions and encouraging words written on the roadway. One of them read “Happiness is…… life on my bicycle saddle.”