From Rigway we hit the Dallas Divide, a slow-burning climb. We flew in the face of ominous-looking clouds and were rewarded for our bravery; no drops fell upon us. It was a tough slog to Telluride but the combination of a winning breakfast and power-tunes on our headphones pushed us up thousands of feet.
Cyclists we've met on the road have urged us to cycle 3 miles off-route to visit the mountain town of Telluride. It is known for its' expensive real estate; famous residents and a pristinely preserved main street. A popular, chi-chi skiing destination; Tellurides' streets are lined with boutique shops and cutely-named establishments. Expensively dressed locals walked their dogs and the air was thick with smug; we couldn't cycle out of there fast enough. This prove hard work, as the road out of Telluride is up and more up. The ride was hard but the breath-taking mountain views kept us cranking up. The mighty beauty of the Rocky mountains filled our hearts with awe; there is something fundamentally alluring to this part of the world. We are both able to fondly imagine ourselves living in a mountainside hut.
Just when we thought we were cresting the mountain, the corner would greet us with another climb. Finally, we reached Lizard Head Pass and from there it was easy-street downhills - 50 miles, all the way down to Dolores. The Alpine scenery we whizzed past was so jaw-droppingly lovely that we had to concentrate on occasionally looking at the road.
With two meaty mountain passes and over 100 miles under our belts, we were happy to find our RV park destination in Dolores. Over the Rockies and now half a days' cycle from Utah; we relaxed with some beers from the local micro-brewery and a picnic dinner. Jackpot.
No comments:
Post a Comment