Day 42, Rocky Mountain High

See the two babes.
See the two babes on bikes.
See the two babes on bikes hauling 60 lbs each.
See the two babes on bikes hauling 60 lbs each going uphill.
See the two babes on bikes hauling 60 lbs each going uphill in 35 degree weather.
See the two babes on bikes hauling 60 lbs each going uphill in 35 degree weather in driving rain.
See the two babes on bikes hauling 60 lbs each going uphill in 35 degree weather in driving rain with headwinds.

Thus went the Dick and Jane version of our first grueling 15 miles of the day, which was essentially climbing to our climb. We stumbled into a mountain lodge after these miserable couple of hours and thankfully downed hot coffee while our clothes dried in a dryer. Our day was going a lot better than this poor college kid in the lobby, though. He was driving home from college to be with his mom for his birthday. He was on the pass (we had seen the cop cars but nothing else) and swerved to avoid hitting a deer, lost control of his car and went tumbling down a 100 foot ravine. He landed upside-down and kicked his way out the window. Luckily he was wearing his seatbelt and was unhurt but shaken up with a totaled car. The cop told him a woman had done a similar thing in the same place without her seatbelt on and they found her body 50 feet from the car. Always, ALWAYS, wear your seatbelt! Our hearts go out to him.

Anyway once we were warmed up, we started out on the mountain pass and by some strange miracle the sun was now shining! We rocked the climb and reached the Continental Divide at the top of Monarch Pass, 11,312 feet. We dressed ourselves in all of the clothes that we own on this trip for the descent. We wear less clothes to go skiing! But at least we were warm.

When we got down, we still had 30 miles to go to Gunnison, and we were pretty surprised at the headwinds. Going downhill at 5 miles an hour pedaling in granny gear is never a fun situation, especially when it lasts for 20 miles. We later discovered that we were biking in headwinds of FORTY FIVE mph. That is not gusts. That is winds, with gusts up to 60 mph. Its pretty demoralizing, and neither of us are sure exactly how we did it! A day of extremes, to be sure.