Callen's Double (Vail) Pass

Prologue - Sunday, August 10
Indeed, we are home! But, funny as it may sound, we've have had some issues with getting our last batch of photos uploaded. Finally, though, the second leg of our Colorado experience, a couple packed days and nights with Callen in and around Denver, is below.

But we did make it home... leaving Denver midday on Thursday with bikes dismantled and sardined into the back of the rental car. The drive (yes, drive... so strange after ~35 days in the saddle), northwest now, traversed upper Colorado, Wyoming (with, honest to god, at least 4 different coal train shipments within 2 hours), Montana--through reminiscent, expansive valleys and rolling-hilled ranges, with sights of the always smile-making grazing cattle and horses; we crossed rivers we'd not seen before, such as the Big Horn, Clark, Yellowstone, and others. And we looked in the distance with new understanding at thin, pale rivulets of dirt--roads heading off to somewhere, up and over...

As it got dark, we were disappointed to miss the views western Montana had to offer. The stars, though, and the near-full moon over the mountains of northen Idaho, Lake Coeur d'Alene--with its vivid memories of Haskins family time there--and into familiar eastern Washington territory, helped keep our spirits high. We (Paul, all of it but for 2 hours) drove nonstop except for a 25 minute nap after we crossed the Columbia River at Vantage. We made good time without stressing about it, with little traffic disruptions and no wildlife to alarm us besides a whole mess of Wyoming and Montana bugs that lost out to the frontend of the car, arriving in Everett, where our truck and welcoming smiles were waiting for us at Haven's (my sister). Before heading home, we stopped at my dad's to visit with him and Marie, ready with a late breakfast and lots of banter, followed by a jaunt to visit Paul's hops that he and my dad are collaborating on growing, and receiving an abundance of the farm's bounty: cabbage, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, potatoes for our empty pantry and refrigerator at home.

Home--and its own "bounty" of summer growth unchecked--was a happy sight to see. Who needs a nap? Not us. Must have been that we were energized by the "new" experience of being back, so we puttered with unpacking, some yard work, bringing up this and that memory of the trip as we rekindled our connection to normal life, yet still thinking ahead to the next adventures.

Wednesday, August 6
How strange, to be shuttled from point to point in this journey, instead of riding, but so it was on Tuesday morning, when our Loveland friends offered to get us to Denver.

We'd said our goodbyes to Maggie Monday after a mellow and chatty visit to bustling, post Ironman, downtown Boulder, followed by more chatting in the backyard of their son's home, where Maggie was minding Dwight the dog, and then some tooling around to see the community of Louisville, home of Gravity Brewing  (newish), with a great old town established feel to the community. Thank you, Maggie, for encouraging the detour!  And we said goodbye to Bill outside Callen's, bikes and gear on the walkway for a bit as we waited the few moments for Callen to finish up at work so he could take the rest if the day and the next to explore and get a great sense of his area in and beyond Denver. 

We didn't dally long before heading out, just time to store our bikes, get the tour of Callen's beautiful, spacious and welcoming condo, make some quick sandwiches for the road, and head out to Red Rocks  Amphitheater. I'd heard of it, of course, but never realized it was near Denver.

Fast moving, fluffy white to gray clouds gave us a temperature reprieve and some neat lighting as we walked around. The ampitheater proper was quickly off limits due to preparations for a concert that night, but that was fine, as we more wanted to trek around the park and get up high. Stunning place! Sure, we got caught in an afternoon rain storm, and a pretty heavy one, but it made no big difference to our exploring and conversation.

After, we bopped down to the little town of Morrison where Callen treated us to a rooftop(ish...we ducked in after we couldn't quite fully get undercover from the rain) late afternoon lunch and drinks with the red rock and foothills of the Rockies for a backdrop.

Turns out it wasn't just Callen treating us to the welcoming time! We got back to his place and he presented us with a card, pre-prepared by my sister Sharen, from all my sibs and my dad, congratulating us on our journey! They'd all pitched in to help wine and dine us and more while we were with Callen. Wow, so humbled. And then Callen plopped a couple of full "goodie bags" filled with various cool and useful  (and even kitschy, like the "Lets Ride" sunglasses!) bike stuff (he, being a longtime bike racer in this community, has quite the collection). Race shirts, bike jerseys, snack food for our drive back home, socks, water bottles... all brimming with fun.

The next day we loaded our "unloaded" bikes onto and into Callen's car for one last ride and drove up I-70 (the road that leads to all the ski areas...) to Frisco where we took the bike path to Vail. Callen described it as "beautiful" --and it was! Callen also thought it was about "18 miles one way," which sounded good to us-- a 36-mile ride, after not much cycling for nearly a week, seemed doable. And we were only 17 miles shy of a 1,500 mike total for the trip. But the ride from Frisco to Vail Pass, and then on to Vail proper...well, turned out to be closer to 28 miles each way. No worries, though! We added another 56 miles to the trip to break the 1,500 mark, popped back above 10,000 feet (twice) with some steady climbing, got our hearts beating strong again, and took in some gorgeous scenery. Even the afternoon rain on the downhill was refreshing, though a little cold. I have to add, though, that I did get a lot more wet and dirty than I anticipated, since Paul had taken off our fenders (front and back) in anticipation of breaking down the bikes for the drive home. I haven't ridden without fenders in forever! I'd forgotten how fast one can get a soggy bottom and splattered face!

Heading back in to Denver we enjoyed a pint at Great Divide Brewery (had to!) before ending up at The Ale House, affiliated with Breckenridge Brewery, for rooftop dining and more good conversation with a view of downtown. Overall, a great day to finish up a great ride, as well as celebrate our last night in Colorado. The sunset over the Rockies from Callen's balcony was beautiful. What a place!

Final ride day, Wednesday, August 6: 
56 miles, 12.3mph avg., 4:30 ride time
4,715' elevation gain

Note: we've so appreciated all who've followed us on this experience and effort. We've kept this "blog" for selfish reasons in many ways, not being great after-the-fact "scrap-bookers," but it's been heartwarming knowing others have been interested. So it served a dual purpose; Keeping up with diarying and pictures each day seemed the only way we'd ever have an account of the trip. Who has time once you get back to real life?! 

In any case, we'll probably be posting a few more things in the coming week or two--more for our own sake of having a full account--such as thoughts on gear, health, and, perhaps most interesting, our roadside finds!