• I’m having terrible time writing this blog on this site–this did not publish so I’m trying one more time.  Everyone up early to start pass–we are the last tent standing.  Bike to Space Station for 2 big donuts & chocolate milk.  Meet guy who is in a race across the Continental Divide-Canada to Mexican border.  He’s 27th out of 88 (108 started) from UK.  Our ride today is to Stagecoach Reservoir–beautiful to start-but winds pick up & then we have 3 miles of terrible gravel & dirt rds–only 1 lane–flag person cheers when I finally pass so the other cars can start.  Rest of ride is great-tail winds & downhills–44 miles.  Go to our new camp site w/swimming pool.  Go to movie  AGE OF ROCK-loved it.  Ate dinner & went to rodo–I want to be a cowgirl!!!  Good day.

Rest day for bike tour-we go to Strawberry Hot Springs-1st ones here.  Can only sit in springs for 20 min–sit in sun for 30 min-time to go.  Decided to play GOLF-nice course but my golf was not–at least I didn’t have to bike.  Eat Mexican food & go back to tent.

DAY 9  JUNE 20 (WED) CHEYENNE TO STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO

6:30 Wake up 6:30 to smells from kitchen–Gene is cooking breakfast for prayer group.  Message is on appreciation–take time to reflect on how blessed I am for health, family, friends.  Take picture w/Kim & Gene but my horse is in pasture.  On way to Steamboat go through Walden & Rabbit Ears Pass-where bikers will go next.  Thought we might bike the pass–NO WAY NOW-too steep & too fast & dangerous going downhill w/winds.  We were not ready for this tour at all.  Get to HS-pitch tent-get out bikes & follow Cyndy’s map to Steamboat Lake.  Beautiful at 1st-then winds & hills start.  At 20 m tell Armand to take camera & take picture of lake.  At 25m he’s waiting-only 3 more miles–see water-can’t believe we biked here for that. Go to visitors center-Lake is 2 1/2 m downhill–look at lt lake through binoculars.  Going back-energized-tail winds & great downhills–like biking again–56 miles–feel like I can camp w/the real bikers–as long as I don’t have to ride w/them.

Stay in bed until almost 8:00–everyone is up early.  Go w/Kim to feed other horses.  She is taking us on a hike today.  Hiking sounds better than biking–maybe we can be hikers.  Drive an hr to get to state park w/very interesting rock formations.  Kim is almost 70 w/hurt leg where horse kicked her so she can’t walk as fast as she usually does.  That’s good because we can hardly keep up–she’s a wonderful guide & knows the trails well–she also snow shoes here in winter & has ridden her bike here.  That’s an impossibility for me to even think about.  After 2 hrs we make it back to the car & I’m ready for a nap & decide I’m NOT really a hiker either.  We go through Cheyenne on the way back & stop & eat (onion rings & soup).  Get back to the house & go straight to bed.  When I get up I get to go out & play w/the horses.  Kim lets me go in the gate & brush & pet Vie–I want a horse–maybe I can be a cowgirl.  I have the boots & 7 cowgirl hats.  We take Kim & Gene out for dinner–Armand has a $17 veggie burger.  I wonder what kind of a day the bikers had–we had a great day. 

Hear zippers early–don’t have to get up.  At 6:00 Armand asks if we should give it a TRI–sun is shinning & no wind.  It’s ok w/me–we can always sag again.  Waits until 7:00 to call Anne–she’s an hr away.  Got up at 4:30 to come get us–we’ll be waiting in front of the HS.  Takes us even longer to fold up tent today–almost all the other tents are gone by now.  Anne is unbelievably nice to drive all the way from Denver (at least a 4 hr drive) to save us from another day of torture–winds pick up later in morning & tomorrow is 110 m day.  She takes us back to our car in Ft. Collins & we have breakfast together.  I eat 2 huge pancakes & 2 cups of hot chocolate w/whip cream on top.  We decide since we are not bikers we will be golfers–Ft. Collins has a nice 9 hole course that we play twice.  We’re not really golfers either–it is really hot today.  Finally reach Armand’s cousin Kim who tells us we can spend the night.  Drive to Cheyenne.  Kim & Gene have a nice house out in the country w/horses & dogs.  Gene cooks steaks & baked potatoes–we are so happy that we are NOT in a tent & grateful to be taken in.  Decide to spend 2 nights here & then go to Steamboat to meet up w/bikers–maybe we will even get back on the bike.

FIRST DAY OF BIKE TOUR CO & LAST DAY OF BIKE TOUR CO

Just like Ragbrai (bike across IA)–4:30 AM start to hear tents unzipping & doors slamming at port-a-potties.  Armand makes trip at 5:00–don’t want to get up this early.  Finally at 5:30 decide it’s time-leave at 6:30 because we haven’t practised taking down our tent.  Little cool to start but warm up fast.  Stop at 1st rest stop at 20 m–feel good even though Armand is way ahead of me as usual.  At 25 m the WIND picks up drastically to 30-35+ mph (head & cross winds) w/lots of elevation (HILLS).  NOT HAVING FUN–looking at rd trying to stay on bike.  40 m finally get to 2nd rest stop–complain to Armand about how terrible ride is because of the wind.  15 m to next stop–man tells us it’s all downhill now.  NO it’s NOT–start to walk up hills because I can go faster.  Calculate that at 3 to 5 mph it will take me over 3 hrs to get to next aide stop!!!!  See car pulled over–asks if I need ride–Armand is up ahead waiting for me–TRI to make it to him.  Tell him I CAN’T DO THIS.  Go back & flag guy down & tell him I want a ride–puts my bike on top of car.  Turns out he is sagging for friends & not an official part of tour.  Takes me to stop #3 & goes back to pick up friend.  Lots of bikers being picked up–finally get in U-Haul w/ 18 other bikers.  Volunteer tells 2 of the men to hold back door down so we can breathe–but TRI not to fall out.  Driver makes several sudden stops where people & bikes fall & shift places–I’m at the very back.  When we finally get to HS at Laramie–I hear my name being called.  Armand quit at about 50 m (me at 44)–wants to discuss options.  THIS HAS BEEN THE WORSE DAY OF BIKING WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED–elevation & altitude were not the problems.  100’s & 100’s of bikers had to be sagged in & this is the 1st time that we could not complete the ride,  I’ve never seen Armand so discouraged–he wants to quit.  Today was suppose to be a 65 m day-tomorrow is 85 w/more climbs & same head winds.  He has already tried to call his cousin Kim in Cheyenne to pick us up but we didn’t have right #.  TRI to put up tent in wind–ground is so hard stakes get bent & tent keeps wanting to blow away.  I go into HS for shower–only have ice cold water–at least I’m out of the wind.  By the time I make it back to the tent–Armand has called Anne in Denver to pick us up tomorrow–he’s finished w/Tour CO.  Then we hear someone calling our name–it’s Cyndy & Rupert who we met in Ohio last summer.  They met on this tour & got married a few yrs ago–each have done this tour 10 or 11 times.  Tell them we are leaving tomorrow–tell us to keep going.  Enjoy eating w/them & their friends who also do this every yr.  Stay in cafeteria until 8:30–wind is still blowing–now wind has bent one of the poles for our tent.  Hard to sleep but at least we can stay in bed later.  HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!!!!

Biked 20 m w/ Anne on wonderful bike paths–Denver definitely has some of best biking areas in the country  Anne now has both hips & both knees replaced & has pulmonary hypertension–but keeps on biking & exercising.  She also did bike & barge down the Danube & in France–amazing & positive woman!!!!  Then drive to Littleton (15 min away) & have lunch & visit w/ Dave & Mary–walk to restaurant in beautiful area.  Now drive to Ft. Collins & set up our tent in the park w/1000 other tents– about 20 ft from port-a-potties.  Go into town to eat big fat burrito–love this town w/flowers everywhere.  Tomorrow is going to be a big day–not sure we are ready for this ride.