The Yellow Jacket

Ride the Rockies, Day 2 – Pagosa Springs to Durango via Yellowjacket Pass

Today I realized benefits to being The Lizard's personal sag. I got to bring the good camera and a couple of fancy lenses. I also got to bring the laptop.

I had planned to stick around after The Lizard took off this morning and take the mineral springs aerobics class, since the hotel we stayed at in Pagosa did not have a workout room or exercise equipment. After he and all the other riders in the hotel took off, I decided I'd better hit the road so I wouldn't be a rider hazard on Yellowjacket Pass.

Leaving right away, I got to see my Yellow Jacket again as I passed him. I didn't honk because I know from experience how much it sucks when I'm riding and someone behind me honks. Nearly scares me into crashing every single time. Turned out I didn't need to honk anyway. He saw me, and he waved, and the sweet gesture made me tingle all the way to my toes!

At the end of Pagosa Springs is a beautiful pond that hadn't been chopped yet by the wind that eventually came along. I turned into the residential area to snap a photo of the mountains reflecting in the water because not very many riders were on that section of the road yet, I had a traffic light, and it was completely safe to turn.

I snapped a few photos, then noticed riders reflecting in the water. I moved into position to capture what I thought might be the day's winning contest photo. Ride the Rockies sponsors give daily prizes for the best Instagram shots. I've wanted to participate every year since I've owned a smart phone, but I never had signal!

Unfortunately, the day's theme was friendship, and the shot I got, although dynamite, in my opinion, doesn't really fit the theme. Perhaps I'll capture another great shot later in the week.


I was pretty excited to see my Yellow Jacket ride by again. He didn't see me this time, but I have proof.


I got ahead of all the riders again and stopped to snap a couple of shots near Chimney Rock. I wanted to get the moon in the shot with the rock tower, but the moon wasn't in the right place. So I put it there with a little help from Photoshop...


I also got my first wildlife shot of the week.


I passed Lizard in his Yellow Jacket again, this time en route to Yellowjacket Pass. He saw me, again! He waved!

I arrived at the Vallecito turn-off far ahead of the riders, so I took a small detour to drive along the lake for a while, hoping to get a shot or two.

The mosquitoes were as thick as I've seen them in Yellowstone and in Alaska!!! I could hear the hum of zillions of 'skitters the instant I stepped out of my car. Clouds of hungry mosquitoes tried their best to mess up my shots. I hiked about a mile anyway, shooting as much as swatting, until I couldn't take the bites anymore.


I headed back out toward Durango and hit the turnoff about 500 yards ahead of the first rider. In town, I picked up a sandwich for The Lizard and a southwestern quinoa salad for me, and found a shady spot near the day's finish line to wait for my favorite rider.

Not only does he love the hotels, he loves being able to eat as soon as he arrives instead of parking his bike in the corral, finding a camp spot, going back for our luggage and then hauling it to said camping spot, then erecting the tent all by himself before being able to go find food to replenish his body after a hard ride.

He told me for the first time today that sometimes, he'd have to take a break and just kick back for a while before the tent was up because he just didn't have any more energy. No wonder!


I expected to be able to ride a stationary bike at our hotel tonight, but they don't have an exercise room. I guess that's what you get when you stay in a hotel in paradise, where there is so much to do outside the hotel, you don't need distractions.

So we swam in the pool instead. The pool here is salt water instead of chlorinated. I feel as if I've been to the ocean!

And check out the best license plate I saw today...

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Reaching for Heaven

"I reach for Heaven, and it reaches in return" - Steven Kapp Perry, Strength Beyond My Own

Ride the Rockies, Day 1 – Alamosa to Pagosa Springs via Wolf Creek Pass

When we first saw this year's route back in February, I began making hotel reservations as quickly as I could. Then I began searching for church locations on Day 1. I've attended church in Alamosa and Monte Vista. I knew more churches existed outside those two towns, but I would have to go to an early service in order to make it over Wolf Creek Pass before afternoon thunderstorms, assuming we had normal weather patterns. I knew I'd likely be battling a strong headwind... those same southwest winds that formed the Great Sand Dunes.

My best option would be 9 a.m. in Del Norte. If I left Alamosa by 6 a.m. and wind held me to 10 mph (which would be pretty good for me), I could make it in time. Then I'd have 65 more miles to ride, 40 of them uphill. If I could average 7 mph, I could be over the pass in about six hours. Ouch.

Little did I know back then the battle of the day would be heat with NO rain. Little did I know I'd be driving, not riding. Little did I know how hard it would be to go up and over the pass with all the riders, especially where the shoulder was so narrow, it barely even existed.

Del Norte is but 31 miles from Alamosa, so I was able to leave Alamosa at a fairly decent hour and still arrive at the church with half an hour to spare. Small towns have the best meetings. I'm really glad I got to attend, and I'm glad I didn't have to battle heat or thunderstorms this afternoon.


A few tears spilled after my Lizard took off. I finished packing the car, extremely grateful we didn't have to put the tent away before leaving. Another big benefit of hoteling instead of camping. Oh, and internet access... nice to have that at the hotels, too. Can't forget the hot tubs!

Not two blocks from the hotel, a rider pulled right in front of me to pass another rider. He didn't even look to see if it was safe. I was able to slow down, but I couldn't help thinking about the rider who was killed two days ago riding along Chatfield Reservoir. He unexpectedly pulled out in front of a white 4Runner, just like mine, and the driver didn't have time to stop. The rider's family will grieve for a very long time, and the driver will have to live with this the rest of his or her life, even though no fault was placed.

I'd brought along my little stereo I carry on my bike when I ride, and I was listening to my gospel mix, as I normally do when I ride on Sundays. Steven Kapp Perry's "Stength Beyond My Own" came on, and I found myself singing along, trying to redirect my thoughts. Today is the Sabbath. I shouldn't be harboring ugly feelings any day, but especially not today.

The church in Del Norte is a newer chapel, in a paved lot, but you have to drive up a dirt road to get to the church. The people welcomed me with open arms, and many asked if I was in town for the summer. I felt as if I was a member of the congregation, not just a visitor. Heaven definitely was reaching for me in return.

Attending church put me back on the cycling route late enough that it could have been dangerous for the riders if I'd stopped along the way to take photos, so I didn't take any. I passed a field of wild irises. I passed a pond reflecting a snow-capped peak. The rock formations and waterfalls along Wolf Creek Pass are stunning. What I remember best is the billowing of wind jackets as I drove by rider after rider. This was one hard day for them. During a typical Ride the Rockies, I get passed about 1,500 times. But today, I did the passing. I felt as if I was seeing Ride the Rockies from a totally different point of view.


I beat the third luggage truck into Pagosa Springs. I thought I'd find my Lizard waiting for me when I arrived, but it was a difficult day for him, too. He logged 95 miles, and he hadn't done a century (or anything even close) in more than two years. He arrived about two hours later, and within 20 minutes of checking into our room, he said he really likes doing Ride the Rockies with hotels instead of tents.

If we get to do Ride the Rockies together again, I think hotels are going to rule. But that didn't stop me from snapping a few photos to share what it's like to NOT hotel...

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Wordless Wednesday

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One Potato, Two Potato

Day Six
Pagosa Springs to Alamosa
97 miles
18 June 2010

I have 97 miles, and I don't have the energy to go out and grab three more miles for my second century ever. How sad.

I seem to do okay until I hit about 80 miles, and everything beyond that, I struggle.

Today's ride took 10 hours, nine hours in the saddle. If I use today's rest stop time to average Wednesday's ride, I spent approximately 11 hours in the saddle on my hardest day ever. And my sit bone still feels it.

I was back on my bike today. There's no comparison between my jimmy-rigged shifters and the Trek I rode the last two days. But it was so good to be back on my bike.

The Trek fit well, and it truly is a nice bike. But today helped me remember something important. I spent six weeks picking my bike. I tested just about every bike in my price range in Colorado before I finally picked this bike. The first time I rode it, I knew it was my bike. It's still the best fit of any bike I've ever been on. Even if it limps, I still love my bike.

It took me so long to get in today, I cancelled my demo for tomorrow. I had planned to ride a newer model of my bike, but Ride the Rockies officially ends at 4, and I'm not sure I can make it to Salida by then. They'd have to put my saddle and pedals back on my bike, and there's no way they'd get out of Salida at a reasonable hour if they wait on me. If we have another headwind, I'm toast. So I get to ride my bike again tomorrow, and I'm not too unhappy about that. I feel like I've reclaimed one of my best friends, and the feeling seems mutual. It is a bit kinder to my behind, even though the saddle travels to other bikes with me.

I heard the starting temperature this morning was 28 degrees. I don't know if that's accurate, but my fingers would sure agree. I spent the first couple of hours wishing I'd worn my tights and wool socks. Then the sun finally hit us, and everyone was shedding layers within about five minutes.

I learned I can climb much better and more efficiently when I'm cold!

One particular lookout on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass supposedly is featured in National Lampoon's "Vacation." It also is featured in the first Ride Across America movie. (You GOTTA see "Bicycle Dreams" when it hits the big screen!!!) So I planned to get a classic Ride the Rockies shot from this famous lookout.

Turned out the emergency vehicles that passed me before the sun came up were en route to an 18-wheeler rollover right at the lookout. Fortunately, the Dr. Pepper driver wasn't hurt, and most of his load seemed to have survived without spilling all over the roadway. So I snapped what I hope are somewhat humorous photos of bikes passing by the underbelly of a big truck. Not your everyday RtR view!

The next time emergency vehicles passed me, the outcome wasn't as fortuitous. A cyclist supposedly hit an obstacle, and two riders behind him also went down. That's all I know right now. We've heard there was another accident yesterday, and one of two cyclists involved is still in critical condition.

Every morning, I pray the cyclists will be safe and that cyclists and motorists will be alert and courteous toward one another. Every day, I pray we will all get home safely. So this news created sadness in my heart that just won't go away.

The top of Wolf Creek Pass was super windy. Swirly winds, and the descent reflected the unpredictability. The famed tailwind kicked in by South Fork and lasted a good 30 miles before turning on us and hammering us head-on all the way into Alamosa, completely uncharacteristic of the normal prevailing winds of the San Luis Valley, home of the Great Sand Dunes created by those same tailwinds we all wished would have lingered.

Maybe I could have done better without the wind. All I know right now is that I die and don't want to go any further after about 80 miles.

I was reaching deep inside for whatever I could muster when I hit Monte Vista, where the Colorado Potato Growers Association was giving out fully loaded baked potatoes. FREE. Yes, FREE!!!

Oh, yum!

Normally, I can't eat white potatoes because of the high starch content, but I'd just finished 75 miles with a stiff climb, and I had about 17 miles of debilitating headwind to go. I gobbled down my potato so fast, the eating may have qualified as certified magic. That potato fueled me for the next nine miles. Then my tank was empty again. There was just no way I could ride another three miles when I finally finished. It had taken everything I had and more just to get to the Rec Center where we would be camping for the night.

So for right now, for this very minute, 97 has all the allure of that elusive 100. Just try and tell me this wasn't an accomplishment. I did 97 miles, and I'm riding again tomorrow. On my bike. I'm literally a happy camper.

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To Sag or Not to Sag

Day Five
Durango to Pagosa Springs
88 miles
17 June 2010

I asked The Lizard when the alarm went off at 4:30 this morning if we could ride to Pagosa on the highway instead of following the hilly route (with tons of climbs). It would cut the distance by nearly half.

The Lizard didn't want to ride "that busy highway." I can't blame him for that at all, but I just wasn't sure I could ride any more. I thought once again about trying to track down my co-worker's husband who also is riding and whose father is following along in an RV. I could ride into Pagosa with him and give my body a day to recover. If I could find them.

In addition to being tired and still a little sore and stiff, my lips were extremely swollen. I think they are wind burned. I used chapstick, and I think I drank plenty of water. I never got to ask a passing medic, so I'm not sure what caused the swelling.

As if on autopilot, I got dressed and got ready to go. The Lizard said he'd ride along with me to get me through the day.

That was so encouraging for me, especially after riding 12.5 hours alone yesterday. But I know The Lizard would be miserable if I made him ride at my slow pace all day. I couldn't do that to him. I wanted him to enjoy his vacation. I wanted him to feel exuberant at the end of the day. Not as if he'd spent the day nurse-maiding me.

He sent me on and finished taking down the tent and packing by himself. He caught me just before the first rest stop.

I was totally intimidated by the route before I began riding because yesterday was so demanding and took so much out of me. After about a mile or so, though, I was having fun. I remembered the terrain from our previous trips to Vallecito and Chimney Rock, and none of the climbs would be as gruesome as yesterday. I tried to look at today's ride as just another Elephant Rock, but with prettier scenery, and I knew I could do it. So I was in a really good mindset by the time The Lizard caught me.

I wanted to ride with him. But it would have been selfish of me to hold him to my snail-like pace. He needs to train for the Triple Bypass and the Mount Evans Hill Climb. Riding alone isn't going to kill me. I know The Lizard will be waiting for me at the end.

If the situation was reverse, I know he would make the very same sacrifice for me.

So after a delicious breakfast (he had all-you-can-eat pancakes while I had two scrambled egg and cheese burritos), I sent him on. At first, he was nervous about leaving me alone. He said he felt as if he was abandoning me. I assured him I would be fine. Three times! The kiss when we parted was magical. It carried me the rest of the day.

The Vallecito Valley is so beautiful, but you can't really soak it all in when you're riding into the sun. When we finally looped around and headed into the opposite direction, I enjoyed gazing at the rolling lush green hills, horses, ducks, geese and meandering Vallecito Creek. Looping around, of course, points us in the direction of New Mexico. New Mexico is not my home anymore, but it still holds a special place in my heart, and I enjoyed basking in the memories as the terrain changed into juniper- and pinon-dotted sageland where desert touches hills.

Seeing Chimney Rock again brought back more wonderful memories. Remind me to tell you the tale of Chimney Rock one day. The photos and story from that trip are literally out of this world.

I didn't take many photos today, but I had a good attitude. One of the things I've notice about doing big rides is the more the miles wear on, the more exhausted I become, and the fewer photos I take.

On two long, straight, smooth, windless stretches today, I got to let the demo bike go. How I wish I knew how fast I went. The Lizard said it is a fast bike. Boy, he wasn't kidding.

Here is something I wanted to include yesterday, but I was too beat to write at the end of the day:

I was on Molas Pass with Alison Dunlap! I'd like to say I climbed the pass with her, but I think in reality, she was in Durango by the time I got to the top of Molas. She's FAST!


As she sped away, if you pretended the sun was just poking over the horizon, when shadows are four miles long, I could just barely touch the very tip of her shadow.

She was supposed to speak at 5 but didn't get started until 5:30. That's when I pulled into Durango. So I got to see the tail end of her presentation, which was, by the way, fabulous. She shared pictures from her Olympic and World cycling adventures, and she described how differently women are treated on stage races compared to men. Men are pampered in comparison, and they don't have it easy. The women really rough it.

I had been hoping since the day before we started I might get to meet Alison. Stopping at the same overlook she did and getting to talk and take pictures was such a bonus. The experience powered me over the three mountain passes I had to climb. That she remembered me after her presentation further boosted my attitude. She high-fived me when she found out my ride was 12.5 hours and I didn't sag.

That makes it all worth it!

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