Day 20: Salida to Pueblo -- Moseying down the Arkansas River Canyon

Pictures are here.
Miles Today:97
Total Miles: 1494
Avg Speed: 18.8
Max Speed: 44
Total Time: 5:08
Flats Today: 0; Total flats so far: 8
Weather: Gorgeious clouds early, then sunshine followed by thundershowers late. Steady then strong tailwind.
Altitude change: Drop 2500' from 7100 to 4600 with one 700' climb thrown in for good measure.
Body condition: aching back -- used magnet all day. Backache substantially gone this evening!

The morning light and cloud show was absolutely gorgeous when we stepped out of the motel room with packed bags. And so it went for the first 60 miles -- gorgeous mountains in the background crowned with mist, fog and clouds. We paralleled the Arkansas river all day which ran quite high with the runoff and recent rains. Made for excellent rafting form the looks of it along the way. The road wound its way beside the river and at spots, squeezed through the narrowing canyon with it.

Everyone was absolutley loving the ride that took us steadily down, pushed along by a gentle tailwind making 22 mph an easy cruising speed. Some of the riders normally towards the back of the procession could cruise along easily and love every revolution.

Most folks were stopping regularly to take pictures or just enjoy the scenes, leapfrogging each other and waving as they went by. A few were cranking through just for the sheer enjoyment of being able to go so fast so effortlessly. I rode and chatted with a number of folks, passing and getting passed.

The first SAG stop came at about 38 miles. Jim was there so I talked to him for some time about this and that. Marilyn, whom I'd just passed for at lesat the 3d time rolled in a while later with a large scraped bruise on her thigh, the result of having to bail into the rocky off berm strip when a truck came way to close to her. Leigh and Judy showed up eventually as well, having gotten a late start from being the last table served at breakfast. I joined them when all of us were finally ready to roll and we rode together at a leisurely pace to Canyon City at 56 miles out where they had huge milkshakes at the mom and pop shake shop and I had a Subway and a Dr. Pepper mixed with lemonade -- one of my favorite lunch drinks. Several other of the riders were there as well so we enjoyed lunch together.

Since Judy was called to help Michelle, Leigh and I rolled out together. The scenery changed drastically as we rolled out of Canyon CIty. Dry, flat, barren -- actually a lot like Kansas before we even get to Kansas. We got out to the second SAG at about 70 miles where AbB had set up a canopy at the side of the road. Jim was there -- bless him -- making tuna or egg salad sandwiches from stuff he had picked up in Canyon City.

Sean and Jack were still at that SAG stop -- big surprise since they usually make short work of these flat routes. Turns out that while in Canyon City, Sean did a sudden turn for a hair dresser to get a hair cut and Jack ran over Sean's rear wheel in the process, bending the thing. Sean had to finish the day on the AbB rear wheel until Sean the wrench could true it. Pretty funny story.



The wind kicked up, first coming from the south as a strong cross wind and then shifting to push us in at monstor speeds, allowing us to beat the storm the winds brought as well. We turned into the Holiday Inn Express with strong winds blowing in our face and thr rain threatening imminently. Our four riders who went to see Royal Gorge, had an interesting time of it, having to hole up in a dust storm and then a rain storm. They made it back fine eventually, riding a huge tailwind in. I was glad not to have gone, already seeing the very commercial and glitz-rich character of this thing in the signs leading up to the turnoff. Plenty of natural Colorado beauty to take in.

Tomorrow is a rest day here in Pueblo. Yeah!!! We all need one. Especially since the day following will be a 120 mile monstor day -- the longest of the tour. Hoping for moderate temps and tail wind that day. We'll see soon enough.