Comfort Inn Salida

... puked" so we were happy with the beer. We got some beers and watched this matching flannel couple ("Mark and Stephanie) pull some really impressive country spin dancing. I was in awe of their skills and 'togetherness, so to speak. I complimented them and Mark said "you should see us when we really get going, we're pretty drunk right now"...and yep, they got better as the night went along. Such a cute couple. Christa and Ryan chatted with them for a while too. Mark said to Stephanie ...

In the morning, we caught the bus to the airport, where we picked up our hire car (a Chevy Impala!) that we would be keeping with us until the end of our trip in November. We jumped in and headed west on I-70, straight for the Rocky Mountains. Our plan was to take 2-3 days travelling south on the 285, through Colorado to Santa Fe in New Mexico.

The scenery was more ...

... for a camp site on the back side of town Martin, the Dutch guy, rode up. He said Karen was sick, probably due to Gardia, a parasite that lives in the creeks and streams. Normally it’s killed by boiling the water, using purification tablets or filtering. It basically gives you diarrhoea, gives you pain and nausea which can last up to two weeks. We said we’d stop in at their hotel to say hi before leaving town, then set up camp, cooked and went to the pub ...

... grade is around 4 to 6 mph so it took almost 2 hours to climb! When I got to the top I had such a high I cannot start to explain. Then came the stark realization that after all the climping the next 20 miles would be a screaming downhill that for me is worse that the climb. I raced the storms to the motel and beat them with some time to spare. My legs were so empty that they hurt gong up the stairs to my room on the second floor.

I will be brief as I am on the world's oldest computer in reception in a rubbish motel. I also have little to say. I have made it to Salida, on a fairly easy day. The fun really starts tomorrow though, with a 4000ft climb first up. I suspect that I will be back to breaking my balls just to get by until the end now. So, I must make sure that I get up really early now and get the riding done before ...

Day 22 I'm officially on my fourth week out and it seems to get better as I go. I had a unique opportunity today to join Nick and his friend Ryan who were headed to Buena Vista, south of Denver, for some camping and rafting. I said my farewells to Kate and Jim who'd been very hospitable and met up with Ryan and Nick at Ryan's place not too far away in Denver. I pretty ...

... a KOA camp site in Cotopaxi right next to the river and spent the afternoon recovering by the pool. Show Your Support for EyeRide for Sight! For every $25 donation, EyeCare America can provide sight-saving care and valuable eye health information to someone in the US. Visit this link to make a donation and support EyeCare America's commitment to the preservation of sight! https://secure.eyecareamerica.org/onlin edonate

... when the climb is over and we are almost out of the Rockies. Show Your Support for EyeRide for Sight! For every $25 donation, EyeCare America can provide sight-saving care and valuable eye health information to someone in the US. Visit this link to make a donation and support EyeCare America's commitment to the preservation of sight! https://secure.eyecareamerica.org/onlin edonate

... sourire tout au long de la run.. Facteur technique: 3/5 (plusieurs descentes dans des galets lousses) facteur cardio: 5/5 (car en altitude et beaucoup de kilos !) Facteur fun: 9/10 ( car impression de rouler sur le toît du monde... avec vue sur des dizaines de sommets enneigés)