I signed up with my partner, Noreen for the Bicycle Tour De Colorado. It was billed as a 7 day 403 mile bike ride with 38,000 feet of climbing. We did our training - we bought all the right stuff for the trip. I oxygenated with some kind of supplements that the guys at BikerRX swore by. I got bike fitted so I would have maximum efficiency. Yessiree - we were as ready as we could be.
NOT
We set off from Durango Colorado with 2000 other cyclists. I was amazed at the range of ages of people doing this ride. Mostly men though. We could tell by the fact that there was never a waiting line for the women's showers while the guys were standing 10 deep waiting for their turn. We were relentless in our taunting as they stood in the heat for their shower.
The first day I managed to get in 7000 feet of climbing before the words Uncle came to mind. I was saved somewhat by a horrendous hailstorm that hit us as we reached the Molas Divide summit. We were frozen and exhausted from the climb and the lack of air at 11,000 feet. U Haul trucks ferried us down into town - cutting off 26 miles of riding. I was lucky in that our truck driver left the back door open so we could see the cyclists continue their endeavors in the descent and then up Red Mountain. It convinced me that I would not have been able to finish that ride because of its difficulty.
The second day was easier as it was a flat ride to Montrose. I had enough juice in my legs that I did the 30 mile option up to Black Canyon once we got into town. The climb did not appear to be difficult but the altitude kept me gasping for air and taking breaks along with all the other folks NOT from Colorado.
The third day I started falling apart. My attitude stunk in the morning and I called a truce for my body. I took the sag wagon from the first aid station to the second one - missing a 3000 foot climb. I felt bad for a nanosecond as I watched people climb up to the summit from the truck. But fortunately I got over it with the use of good ol fashioned common sense. This ride was too much for me!! I rode down the 10mile descent and finished the rest of the ride into Telluride. I still had a fair amount of climbing to do but I felt refreshed when I came into town. Noreen did the whole thing and wasn't capable of walking around that night.
The fourth day we had a beautiful and easy ride into a sweet little nothing of a town called Naturita. We descended through lots of red rock canyon and streams. The town welcomed us with booths selling home made food - homemade goodies and just plain good ol hospitality. We also had a band playing and with opportunities to drink beer and sing karoke. Yes, those two I believe have to go together.
The fifth day was a hundred miler. We did great for most of it - including the climb out of Disappointment Valley. But both of us were feeling lots of butt pain - too many days in the saddle and not enough callouses so we jumped on the sag at mile 62. We were impressed with those who made it all the way in. It did not look easy with many rolling hills and ending with trafficked roads.
The sixth day was a beautiful one - riding out of Cortez back to Durango. The climbs were gradual but the scenery breathtaking. Things I learned on the trip was that I could do anything for a day - but 6 days in a row? Umm, questionable! I have a high whine factor that I'm not particularly proud of. I learned that I do a wonderful job living in the past and the future and not such a good job just living in the present moment. Especially if that moment has some discomfort in it!!!
I learned that a vacation is a time away from routines. A time for different perspectives and different experiences. A vacation is when I can spend money freely and not think twice about it. A vacation is when I can miss my friends and family. A vacation is when I can say over and over, "Oh. I wonder what it would be like to live here.... on a ranch...or over here....in this desert...or over here on a Navajo reservation..." A vacation is vacating one's responsibilities....
I did question myself on the validity of this vacation. Where was the pampering? The relaxing? The chilling out? Maybe its now - now that the adventure has been had and I gave it my best effort and managed to have fun in a physically stressful situation. Next year though, I think I'll go on a guided tour with fluffy hotel beds and room service!
But for this year, I have bragging rights to say I rode 311 miles and climbed 25,050 feet in 6 days in the beautiful Southwest area of Colorado. I know what I can do and what I cannot do!
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