5th June 2018 Tuesday – Nervous start to Western Express

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Hello Everybody!
Route: Pueblo to Westcliffe

For the non-mathematicians out there:
Distance: 56 miles (Total 2,207)
Average speed: 9.8 mph
Calories: 2,506
Cycling time: 5h 45min
Average cadence: 71 rpm
Climb: 4,911ft, Descent: 1,965ft
Heart (yes I have one): Max 151 Aver 128
Aver Temp: 26C, Max temp 33C
Temperament: A bit worried

I left Karen’s place around 8.20am and got going fairly well. 


There was a climb ahead but I was not too sure what was to come. I cycled through mostly suburban areas until I met a gravel road. A passing driver told me it was 3 miles long and washboard for most of the 3 miles. OK so turn around and find a new route which the Garmin did very well.

I got into the Colorado countryside and it started to look like cowboy territory very quickly. It was fairly flat for the first 3 hours at which point I stopped for some early lunch. I sat in the shade of a church and borrowed some water form their water pump. I made sure I took 30 minutes to eat and rest as I knew I would need the energy from here on.

I did need the energy as the climb started to say hello. Overall it was not that bad but if you’d asked me at certain places I would have said something different. I saw 9-11% early on then a steady 3-7% then back to 9% and then I could sense the levelling off and the top was getting close. Like most decent climbs the top bit is normally a number of pretend top bits until you realise you are descending and you missed the last pretend top bit.
At first, the descent was very nice – doing about 40+kpm without trying and then a headwind caught up with me and I managed to maintain a reasonable pace but by pedalling more than I would have liked. Either way, I arrived into Westcliff around 3.30pm.



I had a very nice evening meal at Chappys. The photo is of Gill who was a really good waiter and was as busy as a bee and was always smiling. 


I retired to my Airbnb which was fairly new and was OK but not great. I felt a bit less worried but I think it will take a couple of days to get settled into this new landscape.

Regards, Al & Franklin

 Other Photos:







Blossom has a new bottom











Salida  - storm clouds?



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