DAY 19: JUNE 19: GUNNISON (CO) TO SALIDA (CO)

Time Zone : Mountain (GMT -7)
Todays Distance: 66 miles
Cycling time: 6hrs 00 mins
Average Speed: 11 mph

Today’s cumulative ascent: 4186 ft

Average Heart rate: 105 bpm

Distance so far: 1349 miles

Ascent so far: 54,833 ft.

Today’s Profile:

Today’s Route:

Dedication: Today is for Johnstar, James K and Khlainbor and the children in Providence who have had such a great influence on the Abbey students over the years. Thank you.

Today was a special day; we were taking on mighty Monarch Pass, we were passing from the Pacific side to the Atlantic side and we would be at our highest altitude of the whole cycle. Last night was an early night for all and plenty of water consumed for maximum hydration.
At breakfast there was a certain downbeat atmosphere when we realised that some of the group wouldn’t be able to cycle on this special day. Some for personal reasons had to depart and a few others were victims to tummy upset and on Monarch one needed the whole of one’s health. It did cast a bit of a cloud on the day. Please God, they will be fit and well and able to resume very soon.

All loaded at 6.30 and we hit the road full of enthusiasm into the rising sun as always. It was cooler than usual possibly because of the altitude of Gunnison at 7681 feet. I t was going to be a day of just one mega-climb.
Our usual group for this special day. We have an agreed strategy and maintain contact throughout. On some days riders join in for periods.
The early part was through farming land with plenty of green pasture and the upper reaches of the Gunnison River coming against us. Wide open pasture, small farmyards and very few animals to be seen and no tillage.
Today I saw the first buffalo in a field far to our right. Would like to get closer to some of these animals. Also got a glimpse of some elk but was gone too far to get a photo. And we came across some gophers (small burrowing rodents native to North America) during a short break. Nice to came across these creatures that I’m not familiar with. Birdsong was more audible today than any day so far. By 12 miles we came into the small town of Parlin – ‘Parlin Country’…didn’t I hear of that somewhere before?
All the rivers were flowing to capacity as a result of the snow melting higher up in the Rockies. Some water was taken off into trenches and was to be seen lodging in grass fields. All rivers since the start of the cycle have been flowing against us; all this water will end up in the Pacific; we have been cycling up these river valleys. But all this is to change later in the day.
First SAG came after 29 miles at the entrance to Monarch Valley Ranch in a most scenic spot. All bottles filled and bananas taken to fuel the system for the climb ahead. In conversation to someone I mentioned the original expansion of WWW of internet repute. You know what it is? Will tell you at the top.
We knew that the climb up to Monarch’s pass was going to be 9 miles and that knowledge in itself was beneficial…..no wondering if the top would be around the next corner. That would have been a recipe for disaster.
The climb started at milepost 190 and these posts spelled out our progress upwards. We maintained a rate of 5.5 mph in the early stages and completed the climb at the rate of 4.5 mph. Thus it was a 2 hour task but luckily the heat was pleasant and no adverse wind.
The climbing was constant and unforgiving……no level bits where you could ease back. It went on and on and on at a constant 6% gradient..
Trucks going up were growling and those coming down seemed to be racing in their low gears. When a line built up the smell of brake-liners took over from the trees on our right.
We stopped once to take on water and twice to look back at the distance we had come up and take a few photos but never long enough for the muscles to cool down. The air was getting thinner; we were now at 10,000 feet and my ears popped repeatedly but with no discomfort. I found the only difficulty in breathing at the very start. Once I got into my groove and maintained the constant pedalling, the breathing and the heart-rate caused no panic. I was pleased at the end of the day to record a remarkably low average heart-beat…105 bpm.
Like all good things it had to come to an end. The 9 miles completed, there was a shout of joy as we spotted the SAG wagon above. We were there at 12.15 pm.with perfect weather and the snow still on much of the ground.
Shouts of ‘Congratulations’ and ‘Well done’ exchanged by cyclists and high fives all round. A great feeling of euphoria. We had conquered the beast. We felt on top of the world and amazingly no one was panting or gasping for breath or dropping with aching limbs. This had to be a very special Kodak moment to record our achievement. Not everyone gets the opportunity.

I had cycled up from the Pacific coast…
And now it was tally-ho for the Atlantic.
No one was keen on moving off too quickly; it had taken too much effort to get up here. Quite a few took the gondola up another 700 feet to view the many peaks of the Rockies over 14,000 feet. It was freezing with a blasting bitter wind outside. Not tempted to stay too long.
It was something else. This was the great divide stretching away into the distance.
Inside the viewing station I had a foot in both camps, straddling the world like a Colossus. The public are asked to put a pin on the map of the world indicating their place of origin..I was the first pin in Ireland and in the visitors book I entered my comment in Irish. To let you in on an important piece of information. WWW is the company motto.....and don't forget it!
A 10 mile descent lay ahead of us and I didn’t wish it to pass by in a whirr. Not a day for heroes. The three of us took our time and made more stops on the descent than on the ascent. It was fabulous. The whole day was fabulous. It had been a permanent smile…so wonderful.
Around each corner of the descent I could feel the temperature rising accordingly and after 10 miles (pedals inactive) it was a level cycle into Salida where we overnight in the Gateway Inn
At 3 pm we checked in and headed for the showers….the smiles of satisfaction still on our faces.

What a day! It was something special, a once in a lifetime experience. And we did it together at our own steady pace.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.

Seen Today: