Day 29 – The Real Mountains Begin and Climbing Along with It!

This week had fewer miles planned but the days will be just as long since our speed will not be high as normal days like in KS and eastern CO. 67 miles were planned for today but with 6600 feet of climbing it would not be a short day.

In the first mile of the trip we came across this historic sign. This sign is not indicating the name of the road but is the name of a route. In 1976, to commemorate the bicentennial of our country a cross-country bike trip was planned. I believe there were around 3,000 riders. This is the first sign that I have seen like it. I assume that most people have taken them. I was even tempted to do the same. BUT I DIDN’T!!!


We started off climbing Gribble Mountain. The people at church last night told me that it would be steep. They were right! It was not probably the steepest that I saw all day. It was also the first 30 minutes of the day too so that may have made it feel worse. We survived and settled in for a long day of climbing.

We stopped by the side of the road to take pictures of these horses and a young Korean man rode up to us and so we talked for a while. It was hard to understand him and he had a hard time understanding us as well. I did catch that his name was Bong and that he was studying electrical engineering. I did not catch where he was studying but he was living in Eugene, OR. He was a nice young man. We encouraged him to stay at the Gorge and see it as well. I asked him for a picture and he said that he gives a pose anyone who asks. We wished him well and putted the rest of the way up the hill.

With one eye on the altimeter and one eye on the landscape we could see that the final major ascent of the day was in view. This meant a closer and better view of the snow covered mountains. It was breath taking to see them from this view. I know that it is only going to get better but this is the best so far. I want to take this chance apologize that pictures cannot amply show the wonder that we saw. Cameras just don’t capture the splendor of it all. Sorry!

We could also see the next peak that we would reach. The road wound around like a giant anaconda working its way through the water. We zoomed down the hill and again plodded our way to the top of the final peak. Then it was downhill to lunch n the city of Hartsel, CO. Just before entering town we spooked five antelopes. They ran away but I was able to zoom in and get a decent picture of these two mature bucks.


We ate at the only restaurant in town. I had a bacon cheeseburger and the very best sun tea that I have ever had. It was not sweet but it hardly needed any sweetening. As our waitress came to give me a refill, I asked her for a half order of nacho supreme. What was I thinking? I guess I thought it would truly be a half order. She came back with an order that would have fed an army. I did my best but couldn’t finish it all. I gave it a valiant effort though. As we left we saw the sign that told us that our final destination of Fairplay, CO was only 18 miles away. Only about an hour left!
The trip was harder than normal. The horizon did not appear to be higher but the speed and altimeter told us that we were climbing for the entire 18 miles that remained.


The final 4 miles gave us a view of the city with the huge climb that faced us in the morning in the background. We arrived and spent the rest of the evening playing with the kids and just enjoying each other company. I am humbled at the amazing wife and kids that the LORD has so graciously given me. I slept well with thoughts of Hosier Pass rolling through my mind. LORD please give me strength to make it to the top!