Pagosa Springs – As a cyclist on Ride The Rockies, I at times feel like a character in a John Steinbeck novel.
Moving through farmland on a jalopy. Washing my socks in a tub. And much like bemoaning labor vs. capital, I labor vs. gravity.
Tom Joad might take exception to the pretense, however, if he were to look out the window of my inn to behold me drinking from bottled water and soothing my aching pride in the Great Pagosa Hot Springs. Nonetheless, Day 3 of the bike tour got under way from here Tuesday en route for Chama, N.M.
Tuesday’s 50-mile journey was a ride in the park compared to Monday’s 87-mile journey from Durango under a relentless sun. It was also a first for Ride The Rockies – a ride across state lines.
With a population of a little over 1,000, Chama seemed well prepared to play host to nearly twice as many bicycles and those who rode them. As riders made their procession into town, women shook flags and banners in greeting. Men stood outside stores and shook their heads in disbelief.
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TODAY’S DESTINATION:
ALAMOSA |
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Headquarters for the night was stationed at Chama Elementary School, and the scene was abuzz. However, I was not long for Chama, the smallest community to play host to this year’s Ride The Rockies. I was much too late to scoop up any lodging, and I hitched a car ride back to Pagosa Springs, enjoying the reflection of the 50-mile journey just taken.
For the first time since the tour started, I then found myself with some downtime. Looking at Wednesday’s elevation profile, I’ll need every minute of it in dubious battle with Cumbres Pass, La Manga Pass and the route’s first tastes of 10,000 feet of elevation.
* WEDNESDAY: Chama, N.M., to Alamosa – 83 miles
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| Post / Leah Bluntschli |
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Ride the Rockies cyclists enjoy the scenery along Colorado Highway 151 during Day 2 of Ride the Rockies along an 87-mile route Monday from Durango to Pagosa Springs. |
DenverPost.com sports producer Bryan Boyle is participating in the 2006 Ride The Rockies. The raging amateur’s series runs each day of the June 18-23 event, which follows a 419-mile course from Cortez to Cañon City.
To share any RTR-related experiences, fears, advice or yarns, send an e-mail to Bryan at bboyle@denverpost.com.
