A bear nosed around Main Avenue in Durango – checking out the Hampton Inn swimming pool – shortly before some 2,000 Ride the Rockies bicyclists glided into town to recuperate.
Wildlife officials reckoned the bear would return Sunday night enticed by food, but cyclists at the hotel soaked and slept uninterrupted before Monday’s second leg to Pagosa Springs.
This year’s 419-mile route weaves through the heart of Colorado’s bear country. Ride the Rockies cyclists over the past two decades have spotted several bears while riding in the mountains without incident.
As they descended toward Pagosa Springs on Monday, riders Hector Lopez, 48, and his cousin Roy Lopez, 56, spied dozens of carved wooden bears about 10 miles west of town.
Sculptor Patty Rios sells her bears there where she also plays drums and plans to set up a petting zoo for children.
Rios figured no cyclists would stop, but the Lopez cousins bought one – 2 feet high and 25 pounds for $135 – on the condition she would mail it to them in Denver.
“Yeah,” Hector Lopez said, “we’re tourists.”
A soothing dip after a hard ride
Hot water gushes from rock fissures along the San Juan River at Pagosa Springs – “healing water” Ute Indians revered as a gift from the Great Spirit.
Bicyclists arriving after their 87-mile journey Monday soon headed for the soothing mineral water, cooled after mixing with river water.
Details: The Springs Resort, 800-225-0934 or pagosahotsprings.com, 165 Hot Springs Blvd.
Music in the Mountains and more
Pagosa Springs is emerging as a center for summer music events along with Durango. In July begins the classical music concert series put on by Durango-based Music in the Mountains.
Summer activities in Pagosa Springs next month also include “family festivo” in which local children put on a play for visiting children and their families.
Details: 970-264-2360 or check pagosaspringschamber.com.
Today’s host | Chama, N.M.
Population: 1,199
History: In 1880 the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad began construction of the San Juan extension, which brought the railroad to Chama in 1881. Facilities to service railroad equipment, a depot, warehouses and stockyards were built along the route. From 1880 until the 1930as, the town was booming. The Depression and the harsh winter of 1931-1932 destroyed most of the sheep industry.
Highlight: The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, owned by Colorado and New Mexico, runs from Antonito to Chama from Memorial Day to mid-October.
www.chamavalley.com
Source: Chama Valley Chamber of Commerce; Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenie Railroad; U.S. Census Bureau; USGS
