Just Watch Out for the Rattle Snakes!!

More about the title later, it has been hard to get Internet access so I want to take advantage of tonight to catch up the last two days. I am doing a Twitter every now and then just to let people know we are still alive. You can find them on the right hand side of the blog. Now to catch-up
Lost so far - lipstick, chap stick, one riding glove, a watch, and we have to think a few pounds. We have ridden about 140 miles. Just 10 miles short of our minimum average. But I will have to say the first two days were very tough riding and today wasn't a piece of cake. I thought we would be going down from the mile high city of Denver, but when we ate lunch yesterday we actually found out we had gained over 2,000 ft. At least we knew why we were so wore out. Of the 140 miles approx. 80 were on green way trails - some paved and some a very fine sandstone. They were great and very scenic. Whenever we were in a populated area they were very well used. We rode one mile on an Interstate - it was that or go 8 miles out of our way. Believe me, when you are on a bike you think about any extra miles. Luckily we didn't get caught by any police. Matt had camped with us that night so he drove the one mile behind us with his blinkers on. Matt has really been helpful as a navigator checking routes for us when we got confused on were looking for a place to sleep. The Internet and cell phones have really helped. We also rode about 15 miles on a dirt/gravel road and the rest of the miles have been various paved roads some very congested and some not.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was day 2. Our ride was arduous, but beautiful. We were the Cherry Creek Trail for most of the day. We actually rode through part of the Air Force Academy grounds. It was not paved but in pretty good condition. Lots of ups and downs, with some rough downs because of speed and loose gravel. I will say that Mary Kay is much more confident in her riding. It you remember rule #2 try to pass runners and not let them pass you, we actually passed three cadets running the trail and about 5 minutes later one of them passed us. I will give Mary Kay a pass on that, because it was one of the hills we were pushing our bikes up. Yes that does happen. Bikes pulling a trailer and panniers are a little harder to climb hills with than bikes without. Just past the air force academy was a sculpture of an angel dedicated to children who had died. We thought that was very fitting as we are riding with Noel in mind. We also got to do something for others - a biker had a flat tire and didn't have a patch kit with him. We were able to help out. We had hopped to go further yesterday than we did, but when we got into Colorado Springs it was already 5:00 PM. We just couldn't see riding another 15 miles to the campground. We found one about 8 miles from where we were. The problem is the first 2 miles were uphill. Wow was that tough. Then we went downhill another two miles - we were clipping along at a pretty good speed. That gets a little scary too, with packed bikes. We finally made it to the campground about 7:00. We showered, put the tent up, ate at a Mexican Restaurant, and went to bed.

Day 3 we got back on the Santa Fe Trail that we had used the afternoon of the day before. It was a beautiful morning ride along a river for 15 miles or so. We had help by another biker in being sure we followed the correct route. He took time to help us through about four miles of some confusing trails. We really appreciated it. Like I said you hate to go off route by very many miles when you are riding. We ate lunch at a Wendy's near Fountain Colorado. Some middle school teachers were having lunch next to us on a break from an in service. They are just switching some of their strategies to be more like a middle school than a high school. Sounds familiar. They were pretty upbeat about their school system. We told them that when they retired they could take a big bike ride, too. I don't think is sounded too appealing. While we were there we were trying to figure out our route to Pueblo. Through Matt's help and another couple sitting next to us we figured out the only way to get there was to take Old Pueblo Road. Oh, one thing it is only paved about 15 of the 30 miles. The unpaved part goes through the high desert country. They drew us a map on a Wendy's napkin. I saved it as a nice souvenir and reminder of people helping others (us). Great, we are climbing again. Oh, yeah and don't go off the road, because this is prime season for rattle snakes!!! Believe me we didn't go off the road and it was hot and dry. We saw a few cows and horses, a jack rabbit, and the remains of a few snakes, but luckily nothing worse.

Coming into Pueblo again at 5:00 in the evening and finding out that the campgrounds were at least 5 to 10 miles in the wrong direction, Matt came through again and we are spending a wonderful night in a Sleep Inn. We ate at an Olive Garden and it was great. We were talking to the bartender and just to show how we think different than a 23 year old - After I ordered a beer, he said - "I'm waiting for a new one." Both Mary Kay and I figured he was talking about a baby. No, it was some new draft beer. He said he had drained his Bud lines and after two weeks he could get some new drafts. He was very excited. As soon as I finish posting I am going to join Mary Kay in a good night's sleep. We want to get started early tomorrow and it may reach 100, a record high. We will see how things are going. We can make a short trip or go a little longer if it isn't too bad. We may be in a city park tomorrow night if it gets too hot.