The 2nd part of my R2B2

66 + 14 = 80 miles. Chuffed

From my ride north (before needing to conserve phone charge and rider charge)

R2B2 part one

I decided to treat the century as a test of my fitness in mid to late summer. Did over 66 miles from Redmond at 6:30a to the water stop in Mt Vernon until I had to quit and sag to Avon Allen and a 2nd burst of effort. It is a damned long way. But really an achievement given the limitations of less than optimal conditioning.

Testing a 1/2 fully loaded for first time

This past Wednesday. Looking good. Oh the places you'll go…🚴‍♀️

Fish in the Lochsa rising to raindrops

Wednesday August 10, around noon PST on the descent from Lolo Pass.

Dinner at Sweet Melissa’s in Laramie

A side order of speeding freight train adds to the ambiance. My hotel deserves its 2.5/10 rating but I will turn off the AC and open the window tonight. Plus I did a $2.50 load of laundry.

Snowy Mountains

Not a view I'd ever expect in Wyoming (enroute to Laramie from Sarasota springs

Arapahoe wildlife reserve

Midsummer high desert flowers

Outside Walden CO

No RMNP for me

Can't drive the Trail Ridge Road before 3pm without a timed entry permit. Which was interpreted by the sheepish NPS entry gate guy as not even allowed to visit any trailheads or historic sites in the called leading to the climb. Stupid.

Berthoud Pass

Over the continental divide with lots of fast Saturday traffic.

In Georgetown

The town narrowly avoided destruction when I-70 was punched through the Rockies. The 1979 tunnel is really something. But I exited the fast interstate to take away more scenic route through Winter Park on a crazy steep and winding highway.

Breakfast in Georgetown CO

The Victorian era silver boomtown is interesting but the understaffed restaurant I chose was disappointing.

Breakfast in Georgetown CO

The Victorian era silver boomtown is interesting but the understaffed restaurant I chose was disappointing.

A great finale to the AC trip

It was a bit challenging as the heat was building all morning but I did the out n back and in camp to do little much, take down awnings, pack luggage and drop 4 bikes back in Frisco. A full day.

The most scenic stop on the whole trips

About 7 miles up the Colorado River road from Dotsero, CO.

The water stop

Speak, memory!

Along the Colorado river road

Now it's getting really good.

Last day Friday August 5

The bike path from Gypsum along I-70. Very hot and very scenic.

Gypsum CO camping at the rec center

Thursday Aug 5 again very hot and difficult to drink enough water. The altitude plus heat really is difficult.

Silverthorne to Copper mountain

A shorter ride today but the elevation was more challenging and I'm not recovered from yesterday. So I skipped riding the last 4 miles of 4% grade to Vail Pass (over 10k') as it would have been an ordeal. The route up along old highway 6 through mountain meadows looks lovely so maybe a place to return to when I have more control over my time.

Late lunch in Breckinridge

As I'm riding sweep and didn't leave camp until 11:15, it's strenuous and difficult to reach the lunch point after the last riders. So I don't fret and d-I-y. I had an excellent caprese salad and ginger shrub plus 3 glasses of water in an expensive Breckinridge bistro near the main gondola. Not too heavy but a real meal. The ride back was still an effort but I feel like I achieved something good.

Bike path Frisco CO to Breckinridge

Monday August 1 first ride with the AC ride I'm staffing. 38 miles RT from Silverthorne. Cool at night hot in day and thunderstorms every afternoon. Lovely high altitude summer flowers and reasonable grade, but I still am short of breath and can't seem to drink enough water to prevent headaches and blurred vision. It's not serious but still difficult. Obviously a week of road trip driving doesn't help keep you fit.