Could this be Colorado?

After the super high if seeing Yellowstone and the Tetons with Peggy and Rachel you knew the rest if Wyoming was going to be a challenge. I talked to a Westbounder who said he loved the scenery in southern Wyoming. I have not been impressed partly because it is a lot like southern Utah and partly because it suffers under the difficult compare of the parks. Either way, we are excited to be in Colorado and getting back up in the mountains for a few days. The one thing I can say for the badlands, they were dry. As we head into Colorado thunderstorms are back on the radar. But so are mountain views, forests and some infrastructure. While passing through Colorado we hit the high point of the TAT at over 11,000 feet. Then we quickly descend toward Kansas and the Midwest.

Day 39 - 61 miles to Riverside, Wyoming

We left the hotel (they had wonderful filtered water in the lobby) and restocked at Walmart before heading off. The day was overcast so cooler and the miles were easy as there was only a little lift. The scenery was bland as we are still in the Badlands and it just looks like home (high desert). We got to Saratoga around 2 and had lunch and then pushed the last 18 miles to Riverside. With about ten miles to go it got exciting as a thunderstorm opened up with lightning, hail and strong winds. All this happened while we were approaching the high point for the day (around 7,300 feet) which is not where you want to be in a storm. The excitement lasted about 30 minutes and then things cleared up as we dropped into town. We rented a one room cabin to dry out and spend the night. Supposed to rain again tomorrow :( so feeling like I am back in Oregon. The week of sunshine was NICE.

Today's milestone - peddled 1,750 miles on the TAT

We spent 15 miles peddling along I-80 today. Actually wasn't that bad as the shoulder was smooth and wide but look at what the warning sign says - ready to be out of windy Wyoming

Had to hold this one still because of the wind but still beautiful

Passed this while we had lunch in Saratoga

Day 40 - 49 miles to Walden, Colorado

We have been out 40 days. In Biblical numerology, the number 40 is often understood as the “number of probation or trial. Hmmm. That would explain how today felt. We only did 49 miles which.is light compared to the rest of the week. However, the entire day was uphill and I think the last few long days have taken their toll. The batteries are low and the muscles are tight. The weather called for thunder showers and it was raining when we arose at 7 AM so we went back to bed and got up at 9 when the sun came out. It was hard to get started as the early miles had a lot more lift. After 2.5 hours we had mustered only 12 miles. There was no place to stop today as we exited the badlands so we just pushed through. We arrived in Walden just before 5 and had a late lunch at the local BBQ place before checking into a hotel. Good thing we pushed through because by 7 PM the wind was blowing and sheets of rain were coming down. Good example of a Rocky Mountain thunderstorm. By 8:30 everything was normal again. A huge blessing we were not caught in the storm. Weather calls for similar storms tomorrow . . . We will see what it says in the morning.

Today's milestones - we moved into Colorado, our 5th state. We also passed 15 westbound TAT bikers today, that is about the same number we passed in the previous 39 days.

This is a good summary of what we have been biking for the past few days. Kind of pretty but . . .

The roadside does have a colorful selection of wildflowers

And if you hunt around you can find some new ones

Finally out of the badlands and into Colorado. Well, kind of looks the same at this point

Colorado starts to kick in with some rocks and hills

And behind the rocks and hills - mountains :). Ready to get back to those!

Day 41 - 61 miles to Hot Sulpher Springs

It was so nice to be inside for the thunderstorms. Just a good feeling (and sympathy for fellow bikers stuck.out in the rain). The extra meal was good too as we got off to an early start and had a much better start than yesterday. We passed many ranches and lots of standing water so the bugs were a serious motivator to keep moving. It was uphill all morning with the pinnacle being - you guessed it - crossing the Continental Divide. This time at Willow Creek Pass (9,683 feet). Once we crossed the pass we were in a completely different world. Gone were the badlands and ranches and back were the pine trees, rivers and mountains. My whole disposition improved, I just love the mountains. Willing to take the climbs to be surrounded by the beauty. We took a lunch break at Willow Creek and had a second lunch at Hot Sulpher Springs (biker hunger). We were checked into the hotel by 4 PM on a 61 mile day. We had sun all day and it felt great. It is going to stay sunny here but the chance of thunderstorms follows us south as we continue to climb and head to Silverthorne, Colorado tomorrow.

Today's milestone - saw a real cattle drive, crossed the Continental Divide for the 7th time. Got back into the mountains and a better mental place :)

Nothing says "Good Morning your in Colorado" better than passing a big cattle drive. Had me thinking of Cowboy Mike

After the cattle drive we climb higher and the mountains get closer

We finished our big climb (over the Continental Divide again) at 9,700 feet - one of these days we will NOT cross the Continental Divide and I will be lost.

And our reward is that we are BACK IN THE MOUNTAINS!

This is SOOO much more beautiful than deserts and ranch lands, doesn't it just make your happier being in the mountains 😀

Wildflowers by Willow Creek where we had lunch

After climbing all morning, the afternoon was almost all downhill

Passed this cliff formation as we approached Hot Sulpher Springs

Erik on the home stretch. Still dry and turning 60+ miles in before 4 PM. That is a good day!

Day 42 - 60 miles to Silverthorne/Dillon

We awoke and got started early as the app suggested this would be a tough day. We peddled toward Kremmling about 17 miles away. It was mostly downhill so we got there by 9 AM. Too early for second breakfast so we just got a drink and took a break. We then jumped on Colorado Route 9 and started up into the beautiful mountains. Normally the lack of shoulder wouldn't have been a big issue, but being Saturday morning on a holiday weekend there was a ton of traffic both ways. There was actually a little side trail to avoid some of that but we missed that. Yes another missed turn, a bad habit we will quickly break. This time it actually saved us 6 miles and the climb was constant but never steep so we arrived in Silverthorne/ Dillon around 1 PM. There was a cool bike path for the last 3-4 miles (similar to St George) that wound through the woods, over the river and into town. It also had a Lombard Street for bikes section that wound its way up the dam hill (that's the hill made by the dam, not me cursing). Despite thunderstorms in the forecast we stayed dry. Hope our luck holds tomorrow as we go over the highest pass on the TAT. Don't want to be in a thunderstorm at 11,500 feet.

Today's milestone - earliest finish for a full day. We will start leaving earlier every morning as it leads to good results.

We passed through this gorge early this morning. The river and railroad follow the same course we do (all looking for the easiest way up or down).

Riding by, I try to imagine living on one of these remote ranches/farms at the base of these beautiful mountains

Right after Kremmling, we passed over the Colorado River. Hard to think this little river goes all the way too the coast.

Heading past Green Mountain Resevoir on our way to Silverthorne.

Loves this field of red wildflowers

Silverthorne was beautiful and had a quality bike trail leading into town

As the bike trail approached the Dillon Dam it wound up the steep hillside like a bicycle version of Lombard Street

Erik down at the bottom of "Lombard". Our lodging for the night was conveniently near the top.

Day 43 - 84 Miles to Guffey (yes Guffey)

We got a super early start as we knew we had the big climb up Hoosier Pass. Our morning started on the quality bike path that runs from Silverthorne through Dillon and all the way to Breckenridge. It is nice not having to worry about traffic and when the trail winds through the woods and around the lake it's even better. So great ride to Breckenridge where we stopped for second breakfast. Leaving Breckenridge we started the climb up Hoosier Pass. While yesterday's climb was almost unnoticeable, the climb up the pass was hard. What did I expect going up to 11,539 feet would be like. Thunderstorms were in the forecast again so we pushed hard and made the pass by noon. As we dropped down the other side we left the beautiful alpine zone we have been in and returned to ranch land and meadows. Was a little disappointing but still happy to have the highest pass behind us. We quickly passed through Alma and Fairplay before landing in Hartsel. Our original plan was to camp there but the camping was in a parking lot and rain in the forecast . . . So, we pushed another 27 miles (which included another double climb) into a rustic old cabin in Guffey. No plumbing or electric but a roof to keep the rain off. I realize during this trip that I hate getting wet :(. If we push a big day again tomorrow, we can get into Pueblo. We will see. At least it will finally be sunny.

Milestone - we crossed 2,000 miles today and we topped 11,500 feet the highest point on the TAT

Our morning started with a ride around the resevoir

There was a well maintained bike trail from Silverthorne all the way to Breckenridge. The ride is much more enjoyable when you don't have to worry about dying

The alpine zones are so beautiful 😍

I love columbine. They just scream mountains

Also found this baby wild rose budding along the trail

More columbine just because I love them

After the alpine beauty and a nasty long climb we celebrate being at the highest point on the TAT - Hoosier Pass at 11,539 feet. Yep, 11,539 feet. WOOT!

Coming down from Hoosier Pass we leave the alpine zone and return to ranches and rustic barns

Not only did we hit the highest point today, we also hit 2,000 miles so quite a big day

Our day ends in a rustic cabin in Guffey. No electric or plumbing but filled with cool old stuff (and a roof for the rain)

Day 44 - 83 miles to Pueblo

The night in the cabin was interesting and dry. We arose to blue skies and the first day without thunderstorms in the forecast for the past week. Another early start and some initial downhill grade had us in Canon by 10 AM. We had second breakfast at a diner, got some chocolate milk at the Safeway and then pushed on to Florence before tackling the final 44 miles to Pueblo. We pushed hard the past two days so we can take a zero day in Pueblo tomorrow to get the bikes fixed.

Today's milestone - we reached Pueblo, the halfway point on our TAT adventure. We also biked back to back 80+ Mile days .

Some pictures of Guffey's Garage - at left the lot across from our cabin, middle is Guffeys Garage "antique " store and on the right our cabin (outhouse between the Studebakers left and cabin on the right)

These little guys are growing along the road side

And these were a new addition today 😀

Passed this odd outpost as we headed into Canon for our morning break

It was 95 degrees on July 4th, I would rather be tubing the river with these folks than peddling another 50+ miles . . .

The Florence Rose B&B in Florence, Colorado. Reminded me of my wife's wonderful Mulberry Inn in St George

Hard to believe just yesterday at lunch we were on top of that mountain in the distance. In just over a day we have peddled almost 150 miles - makes me tired 😫

Try to grow these in your garden and they struggle but these watermelon plants are thriving along the Colorado road side. Too bad we were not a month later - free watermelon

We passed this historic Adobe brick building as we entered Pueblo. Reminds me of the Adobe buildings near home.

Day 45 - 0 miles getting brakes fixed

Zero Day musings. It was way back on day 7 I started to compare hiking and biking. That seems so long ago. As we have added days and experiences my initial thoughts still hold. When hiking, sometimes you wish for a break from the canopy of trees. You can hear the breeze, you just cannot feel it. When biking, you are fully exposed to whatever weather there is. If it is sunny, you will feel it and get burned. If it is windy there is a better than 50% chance it is slowing you down and drying you out (though it does cool you a bit). If it is raining, you are going to get wet and then get wetter when the traffic splashes by.

I have enjoyed this biking experience. Like the hike, miracles and tender mercies abound. (I am sure they abound in everyday life, I am just not as aware of them when they compete with the noise of the world). Each experience has its pros and cons and if I had to pick one to do again, it would be the hike.

1. Fewer equipment issues hiking

2. Better culture along hiking trails vs biking

3. Weather is less of a concern hiking

4. It is easier/more common to interact with your surroundings when hiking

5. There is rarely death defying traffic when hiking

Still a few weeks to go on this trip, maybe biking in the Appalachians will change my mind (though the west bounders tell me how steep the climbs are which will be HARD on a trike). We will see.

Either way, grateful for the unique experience, for all that I am learning along the way and for the opportunity to share it all with my son.

Tomorrow, we head east for Kansas.