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The missing day

I forgot to post this since it was written where we had no connectivity.

Day 4 

September8

For some reason, I start to get philosophical on the steep climbs. Uphill, I’m in my lowest gear. It literally is the same speed as walking so I have time to think. 


Working hard, challenges one’s life. The challenge is to make sure your hard work doesn’t run life’s fun. 


You can’t change the height of the mountain but you can control your exertion meter. It’s applicable to many things you do in life. 


When was the last time you asked someone older for advice? Don’t forget to listen. 


Ok enough fortune cookie moments. 


Our campsite on the stage (see picture) was interesting. Fortunately, we stayed dry. Unfortunately, someone showed up at 5:00 in the morning and parked their truck and left it idling right next to our tents.  Fortunately, he left twenty minutes later. Unfortunately, we all woke up before the sun. Fortunately, the sun woke up not too long after. Unfortunately, a semi truck pulled in and parked nearby and left his engine running. Fortunately, we all got up, packed our tents, and had breakfast at a restaurant.  It took two cups of coffee to get everyone’s brain thinking again. 

We left town recharged and riding happy. Today we only planned to ride 15 miles. Not our usual 50 miles. Today we have to ride over the highest point on the whole 2200 mile ride. Indiana Pass is 12,000 ft. Why they named a Colorado mountain after a different state, I don’t know. Probably a guy that was homesick. 

It was a steady climb the whole way averaging 6% with a hockey stick finish 12%. 

As I ride I ponder if we are getting closer to the sun. It feels so intense. 

After some miles of steep riding, Stu asks one of those questions that doesn’t have a good answer,  “Well… do you wanna hear the bad news ?”

Dale, parrying his question replies,  “Go ahead, you can never get enough of bad news!”  



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