THE Climb of our Trip.

we added a video to this post!  Find it!

Gunnison, Colorado night sky

Day 13  -  Gunnison to Salida, CO  -  67 Miles

What's the fastest way to get from one point to another?  

The answer: a straight line!  But what happens when your straight line from Gunnison to Salida goes over the continental divide and climbs over 3,500 feet?  Well, nobody panic, les and I figured out that it is IN FACT possible to pedal one's bike up and over (and to have a little fun doing it too!). 

Our day began around 7am at Joe and Tim's place in Gunnison.  Tim confessed, "yeah, we're kinda weird around here, we go to bed really late and wake up really early!"  It was good for les and I to get up and be out the door by 7:30 because, admittedly, we've been pretty bad about getting on an early riding schedule.  Joe, our friend we met through couch surfers, goes to Western State College in Gunnison AND works at a coffee shop.  He, Tim, Les and I rode a few blocks down to "Mocha's" and enjoyed a delicious protein smoothie and some bagels.  Thanks again, Joe!

Joe & Tim, two of our hosts. Great fellas.

"Are we getting stronger?  Or were Joe's protein smoothies just packed with some kind of rediculous energy?"  I wondered this as les and I careened out of Gunnison and into the town of "Sargents" (a 30 mile ride we did in less than two hours).   We made incredible time and Sargents just happened to be the town at the very base of the Monarch hill, so after eating, stretching, sun-tan-lotioning, etc., we were able to jump right into the hill.

Lunch. Peanut-butter, bagels and brocolli. (Only Aaron and les!)

And then came the climb!  But really, it wasn't quite as bad as we thought.  Have you ever thought about something for months on end and in a way mentally prepared yourself for it only to find that when it actually came it wasn't near as bad as you thought?  Well, good, because that is precisely what Les and I have been doing.  Countless rides in the Southern California area didn't go without les or Aaron screaming out "Rockies, here we come!"  And now, today, as we fought the inner battle within ourselves, and took on the hill at the same time, our final real mountain climb (and I say "real" because the Rockies are as "real" as they come) is finished.  10 miles of a mountain never felt so easy...weird!

Parts 1, 2, & 3 of the hill climb!

Loving the climb.

Also loving the climb.

How cool. (Microsoft Windows background anyone?)

Aaron enjoying, and sending out sweet vibes during our one break.

Victory over ourselves... "it is not the mountain we conquer." 

(quote adapted from Ed Hillary, the first to climb Mt. Everest)

We made it!

Probably the only snow we'll see on the trip.  Les had to take advantage of this.

Rocky Mountains.  Need we say more?

For all who are keeping up with our tentative course schedule we must ask you to remember that it is tentative.  As has been stated before, our philosophy is that we're on an adventure that will eventually drop us off in New York, i.e. its not about the destination but about the journey.  With that said, we have made the decision to cut up North a bit and go to Colorado Springs for our rest day.  This entails a 100 mile ride (approx.) tomorrow and then all of Saturday off in "the Springs" as some have called it.  We're looking forward to a nice adventurous break in an area all too incredible to pass up.

that's all for now...