The 2017 Ride the Rockies route was announced at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday. Last year we'd decided we would hotel it instead of camp because I want a real bed after a very difficult ride. And because we both prefer private showers as opposed to the shower truck, although the couple running the RtR shower trucks are awesome and do a great job keeping the trucks clean.
I told one of my co-workers, who did the 2005 RtR with us, we'd decided to hotel instead of camp because I'm getting old. He said that's not getting old; it's getting smart.
We didn't enter the lottery last year due to a family wedding. This year, we're not sure if The Lizard can get the time off.
But that didn't stop me from making as many (cancel-able) hotel reservations as I could at 9:05 p.m. Saturday night!
I tried to go as fast as I could, or I guess as fast as my internet could take me, but by the fifth host city, there were no rooms left. Typically, concessionaires book up whole blocks of rooms in advance, and it's impossible to get a room at all unless you go through the concessionaires. I got four of seven nights, though! I've tried doing that in the past just for the most difficult stages, one or two days per year, and I've never been able to get rooms before! I'm so excited that we might not have to camp except for a few nights!
On Tuesday, I checked again, and I found a cancellation in the 6th host city, and I snatched it up! It's another room with cancellations available. So if the Lizard doesn't get time off, we aren't out anything.
Except the cost of the ride, that is. We've decided we are going to move forward and throw our hats into the ring, and we'll find out on March 8 if we've been drawn. I'll keep checking the two remaining towns until then.
We LOVE the route! We really hope we get drawn and we can ride! Even though Lizard said, "Taking the year off last year and not doing any organized rides was pretty fun..."
First stop: Alamosa
Day 1: Pagosa Springs via Wolf Creek Pass
Day 2: Durango
Day 3: Durango Loop
Day 4: Ridgway via Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass and Red Mountain Pass, the third-most difficult ride I've ever done, but in the opposite direction this time
Day 5: Montrose with an optional out-and-back
Day 6: Gunnison via Blue Mesa Reservoir and Cerro Summit
Day 7: Salida via Monarch Pass
Sure will be quite the route with lots to see. I'd go the hotel route as well, way easier than sleeping on the ground and pooping in a hole lol Hopefully you get to go.
ReplyDeleteOh, the flowers (and mountains and lakes and rocks and trees) you'll see. (I hope.)
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for you! And thanks for all the lovely photos in today's post.