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
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:
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:
Today's Route:
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.
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.
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.
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.
The route out of Grand Junction was a bit involved so Sue (from Grand Junction) went through the details at Route Rap on Monday evening and also volunteered to lead us as a group out of town. At 7.30 am the pelethon pulled out en masse into the morning traffic on G Road. The roads in Colorado have their own logical sequence. The east/west roads are lettered (A,B,C etc) while the north/south roads in Grand Junction are numbered according to their distance from the Utah state-line (29 Road is 29 miles from the state-line. I even spotted 28¾ Road and B½ Road. ) At one stage today I was chuffed to be cycling along 32 Road….my personal auspicious number.
Part of the rout out of town was along the Colorado River Trail…a 10 mile bike path along the river. The river was flowing strongly against us and evidence of recent flooding was clear. There seem to be miles and miles of dedicated bike paths with regular access points for pedestrians, strollers, skaters and cyclists with a limit of 15 mph. Will we ever see the likes at home?
Occasionally there were maintained ponds with wildlife along the way with the Grand Mesa as a backdrop. The Grand Mesa is the largest table-top mountain in the world with an area of 500 sq miles on top and a height of 10,000 feet. It was on our left for most of the day between the Colorado and Gunnison rivers. Both rivers meet at Grand Junction…hence the name.
At one carpark the resident goose didn’t appreciate being disturbed in the early morning and let it be known. This bike-path brought us out onto 32 Road and clear of the built-up area. The valley around Grand Junction has the largest known concentration of oil-shale (the rock that burns) in the world, enough recoverable oil to meet the US demands for 110 years. Due to technological difficulties the harvesting of this oil is not economic. Present situation may lead to a re-think.
This brought us over the Colorado River and heading for I-50 East which we would follow for the rest of the day…. Easy navigation from there on. Early in the ride temperatures were pleasant but at noon it was reading 91 degrees.
Before we reached I-50 we were confronted by a prominent house – definitely every room with a view. It reminded me of cycling in Tuscany in 2006 where every town, every farmers place was perched on a hill. In the immediate environs of Grand Junction there was an amount of cultivation fruit and grapes. There is an extensive wine industry with a wine trail linking the various wineries for the benefit of the tourists. Vineyards here at 5,600 feet above sea-level are among the highest wine-producing regions in the world. The area’s warmdays and cool nights are conducive to producing top wines.
By the time we got on the I-50 the desert had taken over again and only scattered small-holdings were to be seen conducting small service industries but no land cultivation. This should be our last day of cycling through these vast high deserts. Such a vast expanse of land. The absence of water is a big problem. Where there is some water, the desert produces. If a man can be put on the moon and beyond, why couldn’t the desert be made to flower? Not a novel idea. 
Today’s only SAG was at the summit of a short but stiff climb but there were extensive views in all directions across the Colorado desert. On these last few days there has been a heavy draw on the water barrels. On both sides of the route the same table-top horizon was with us.
Into this high ground some magnificent canyons are carved and week-end warriors take to the rough roads by jeep and by quads to be atone wit nature and survival. The majestic canyons aren’t by the Interstate but occasionally we got a glimpse of the odd un-remarkable canyon. One could just imagine how the big ones might impress. 
Many times during the course of the day, the SAG wagon passed up and down and made water available. It can be hailed in at any passing for whatever reason. Gives a great sense of security to know that it is there. The cycle staff are ever-conscious of our well-being and nothing is too much for them.
By early afternoon, we had arrived in Montrose with snow-capped peaks overlooking the town. We are not the only cyclists in town. The Ride the Rockies tour with 2,500 taking part are in town tonight also. That is a 7 day tour and both groups will pass on the same rout tomorrow……. It will be a little crowded and confusing so we will wear the America by Bicycle shirts to avoid confusion.
Another good day of cycling and no flats in our group…. just 4 today. We are a unique bunch which I will elaborate on in a future posting. A good nights sleep and plenty of water tonight is of the essence for tomorrow. Looking forward to it already.
