On the Road from Denver (again) 3/30/10

Friend (Joe) - Hey, Peace Rider what's with this again from Denver business?

PR - To maintain the integrity of my ride I returned to Alma, five miles south of Hoosier Pass. It's where I last left off bike riding before a big snow storm.

F - It's important to you then to not have any breaks in your bike ride?

PR - Yeah, it is. I may be the only one who cares but that's okay. It's something I decided early on to do. I could have taken advantage of other ride offers over the course of this trip. But then it wouldn't be the same bike trip any longer, would it?

F - I suppose not, something different. But how do you get around using more fossil fuel to start at the place you last left off? A bit hypocritical isn't it?

PR - Some might say so I suppose. But I've only had to do this a couple of times throughout the trip. In this instance Tim Bicknell was returning to his home near Dillion from Kansan City so it wasn't hugely out of his way to drop me off in Alma. I stayed with him and his wife Laura earlier in the trip as you may recall? As it turned out another snow storm intervened after he picked me up in Denver. I stayed with them a couple of more days before he dropped me off in Alma.

F - How did the rest of your ride go from there?

PR - Well, South Park is notorious for being a windy place. I hit it on a clear windy day. It was a nice tail wind speeding me south to Fairplay. After turning east from there towards Red Hill and Kenosha Passes it was a bear, a strong crosswind and blowing snow piling up drifts in exposed places across Hgy 285.

F - Doesn't sound like a lot of fun?

PR - Yeah, it wasn't. I'd get off my bike only to lose my balance trying to get back on. The BOB trailer is handy but it is also devilish to balance and keep upright when not rolling down the road The plows were out, the sky was clear and the snow was melting in places. But I was struggling not altogether in a place of repose or peace of mind.

F - But you made it?

PR - Yes, eventually but not without some help and a detour. Near the turn off to Como, an old mining town about eight miles east of Fairplay, a van stopped. A man got out and walked across the road to talk to me. He said he had read about me in the paper and saw me having trouble earlier. That's how I met Andrew Zimmerman aka Hector, and his friend Michael. He said they were going to Denver but he had a cabin in Como I could stay in if I wanted to. It was up to me. He had a more colorful way of putting it.

F - So what'd you do?

PR - I bagged it for the day especially since Andrew said it was drifting bad ahead of me.
I'd already seen two cars off the road in a snow bank at the bottom of Red Hill Pass.

F - So you took a chance the wind would die down over night, did it?

PR - It was still windy in the morning but not as bad as the day before. It was also another warm sunny day. The snow was melting off the road. That helped. Not surprisingly, huge snow drifts where piled up behind the snow fences paralleling the road.

F - And how was the cabin?

PR - It was a pretty funky place, the "blue house" in Como. Part of it was an old railroad car. Andrew's parents had bought the place because they liked the view from Como. It was a scenic spot. I'm no stranger to an outhouse and wood stove which came with the place having had similar "amenities" in my early years in Alaska.

The wood burning cook stove was in the kitchen. I closed one door and hung a blanket over the other entrance. I didn't have to heat the whole house that way. I'm used to sleeping in the cold. An unheated bedroom was just right for me. The closed off kitchen got comfortable in short order. In a back room was a hand operated well pump. I brought enough water with me so didn't have to use it. On a living room table were WW II era news papers that Andrew had found. Wall posters of an artistic nature adorned the walls of house and outhouse. The furniture was from another era.

I introduced myself to the next door neighbors Greg and Bonnie at Andrew's suggestion. Later Greg stopped by to give me some tortillas and chili. That was nice and appreciated.

F - Did you make it to Denver that day?

PR - Yes, it was a long day. The grade up Kenosha Pass was not long or very steep. After that it was mostly downhill for a long way, nearly to Bailey. From there it was a grind up Crown Hill. It reminded me of Rabbit Ears Pass, not quite a 7% grade. Beyond it was up and down to nearly Conifer then a long downhill again. Turned out be my longest mileage day yet, 69 miles maybe. Closer in I got on the Bear Creek bike trail that connected to a trail along the South Platte River. I left it nearing Chris Crosby's place close to Cherry Creek Center. I really like these river trails. Ducks were hanging out on the shore or in the water. The bikeway went under bridge crossings so you didn't have to cross any streets. It was great!

There was just a little bit of daylight left when I pulled into his driveway. I was tired but a very welcome dinner and a shower were waiting.

F - What's next?

PR - Well, there's a public event downtown today sponsored by the environmental community. I'll get a chance to speak. Ride my bike there from Chris' place. After that I'll stay the night with my friends Eddie and Babbie Kochman. Chris went skiing today with his grandkids. Thursday, head em up, move em out, east bound on my two wheeled pony, 1700 miles or so from the "Dragon's" lair.

F - Stay safe, see you down the road?

PR - Thanks, Viajero por la Paz!