6th June 2018 Wednesday – Pleasantly surprised today

Hello Everybody!

Route: Westcliffe to Salida

For the non-mathematicians out there:

Distance: 47 miles (Total 2,254)	Average speed: 14.1 mph
Calories: 1,208	Cycling time: 3h 20min
Average cadence: 69 rpm	Climb: 1,529ft, Descent: 2.218ft
Heart (yes I have one): Max 132 Aver 111	Aver Temp: 29C, Max temp 38C
Temperament: A bit less worried

Today was a short day due to having to make changes to Blossom. This was to turn her into more of a climbing goddess but before any work could be performed I would need to get her and me to Saldia where a cycle shop was waiting. I set off before 8am and had a blueberry muffin, which was the size of a small cake, and a coffee. I’d also had so some Cherrios back in my room.

The first bit was up and down but not with any real intent, just going up, then getting bored of that and then going down for a bit. It then moved into a more down phase and around the halfway mark, it gave us both a wonderful present – a 4 mile, curvy descent, no pedalling @ 45kph.

I stopped at the bottom and had the rest of my muffin cake and a vanilla coffee – sweet and tart but just what I needed. The next 24 miles was a climb of massive proportions. We would climb an astronomical 188 metres in total. I stopped after 16 miles for another quick break. The route had been more down than up it felt but my Gramin kept saying we were going up although not by much. I arrived in Salida around 1.30pm and found my hostel stay (I upgraded from shared dorm to private room as it was not that much and also who would want me in their bedroom, OK who does, please form orderly queue, and Simon no pushing in.

Without going into boring details Blossom is in much better shape – the cycle mechanic found a few other items that needed fixing. I did spread my tourist dollars around the cycle shops in Salida. Que new list…

How did Alan (3^rd person) spend his tourist dollars in Salida:

$100 - Sub-Culture Cyclery – waterproof jersey to replace the one I lost

$275 - Absolute Bikes – Blossom upgrades, various

$25 – Salida Bike Company - el cheapo Brookes lookalike saddle. This was my favourite shop in town. Anton the owner is a great guy and we got on really well. Although I could not give him any more money he was full of good ideas. He also gave me a free can of beer. I had planned to ask him for a beer but he needed to get home to see his kids, really free beer or kids, what’s to decide?

I also met a very nice couple from Australia (Jerry & Toby) and we had a very enjoyable meal together. Also they paid so thank you Jerry & Toby.

I stayed in a hostel. Originally I had booked a shared dormitory but soon decided to upgrade to a private room. I met Sarah & John who helped me move in and carry my bags upstairs. Sarah has a backstory to being in Salida. She and John were cycling across the USA last year. On the climb up from Pueblo to Westcliffe (the one I did yesterday), she was hit by a truck. This ended her journey for that year. So this year they decided to start again from Pueblo and get the monkey off her back, very brave woman. If Sarah was a battery she would only have a positive connection – she is always on the up and very energetic and engaging. John is the more mellow type I think but they seem to fit very well together. They were, therefore, going the same way as me, which was nice. They left the hostel late afternoon as they planned to camp half way up Monarch Pass.

I also met Jerry and Toby, who were Australian and when I checked are still Australian. We got along quite well and ended up having dinner together.

They managed to stay with me for almost 2 hours without saying that they have left the kettle on.

The hostel was, let’s say, not exactly Bates Motel, but I certainly kept an eye out while in the shared It was OK but also quite weird – especially as Colorado has legalised marijuana.

Tomorrow I will be climbing the highest point on my USA route at around 11,350 feet so we should get a good test.

And to the sun we all will bow

And say goodbye - but just for now!

Al & Frank xx

OTHER PHOTOS:

Welcome to Salida assuming you can remember where you are

At Cotopaxi at bottom of 4  mile descent

Arkansas river - going east

from the west

My brother (younger obs) Anton, Mr Bike Magic