Falling in love with Colorado

I have made it through the mountains, and what a trip that has been. The highlight was climbing our last pass - all the way up to 11 300 feet, and sailing down into Denver. It was such a georgeous day and we dropped about 7000 feet in elevation coming into Denver. We rode through a beautiful canyon for a number of kilometers, and we just owned the road. It was superb, and certainly one of my best days cycling. I also started drinking gatorade way earlier in the day, and I tried a red bull. That was an intense ride - I was cruising strong for about 2 hours. It was incredible.

Some of the rides weren't the most fabulous though, although I must say I am happy to admit I climbed every inch of those mountains, and I am certainly proud to say it. There was one day where we didn't have an elevation chart to freak out about and that was one of the most fun days I've had. We were climbing forever, and everyone was checking their back tires to see if they were flat because the grade was so slight that you felt you were on level ground, but you couldn't get a regular pace going. Two fellows, Alex and John, who are totally sweet, came up to me as we started climbing the never-ending 8% climb and they helped me up the mountain for a little while. I was peddalling so fast I could barely breathe. They stuck with me to the top, and then tore after a semi-trailer drafting down the mountain. Apparently Alex got up to 881/2 km/hour. Total insanity.

A little later I was riding with Annette into the town of Dinosaur Colorado and it was just a hoot. We had some major climbing, but then these phenomenal rolling hills and I was just belting out "Gloria, Gloria, can I get your number, Gloria" over and over and over again. I was so blastedly loud, and no one minded because we were in the middle of the desert. The town of Dinosaur was very fun because we camped on Stegasaurus Road - STEGASAURUS RD. It was kind of funny.

I was very happy to leave Utah, and Idaho for that matter. Colorado has significantly more variety, and it is just so beautiful. I've had my fill of sage brush and desert. And, I really like water, of any sort. To drink, to look at, to fall upon me (although just a little, particularly when it is really hot).

I have a lot of thoughts that I'd like to post on my blog every day, particularly in the early morning. There is so much to see, and so many thoughts go running through my brain. One particular thought that keeps coming up is that we need to re-evaluate metaphors that say downhill is a bad direction; as in "life is going downhill" or "it's all downhill after x # of years" Whoever thought that up has never puffed up a mountain, and had the incredible pleasure of sailing down the other side. Downhill, for the most part, is wonderful. Although, I am pretty specific about exactly what kind of hill I love flying down. Steeper isn't necessarily better. And new, slimmer tires mean I can really move. Sometimes. It's quite fun because I just sail down the hills sitting up and catching all the wind I can, beating alot of boys who work very hard to go downhill super fast. It's great until the next hill comes.

Well, off to bed. Thanks for all your notes and encouragement and patience with my lack of blogging. You are all wonderful. Until I type again, adieu.