12 DAYS: DAY SEVEN, HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, CO TO GUNNISON, CO

This was a cold morning and cold most of the day.

Hot Sulphur Springs is an example of what not to do with a town in the middle of literal paradise. The town is dirty, scruffy, not very attractive for anyone who would consider stopping.

I hope we have a national discussion on this sort of thing.

Before we lose what he have left.

Anyway, I headed out to Gunnison, CO bundled up for the cold air.

I had wanted to ride over Trail Ridge Road, but it was about 24 degrees up there this morning and that is NOT gonna find me on a bike.

So I had to make changes to the changed plans.

Roll with it… I believe that is the best way.

I love the rural settings and the many ways folks find to make their fences meld together. Gotta keep those cows and horses off the roads.

I rode by a couple of goat farms – one had about 1000 miniature goats – and damn do they smell. The odor of goat urine was so strong I couldn’t even stop to make a photograph.

Dayam.

One of the things about a place that has snow half the year is the amazing damage it does to the pavement. The roads were mostly pretty good.

But damn, there were a few that were a sort of “heads up – hole in the road’!

I am not a hot rod on my bike, and I can usually negotiate the ruts and bumps… but I gotta tell ya…

The Eisenhower Tunnel going east is a mess. The ruts from the big trucks are deep and when the bike would slip down into them it was really a dangerous situation.

And you are in the middle of fast traffic with the bike going squirrely until you get up on the top of the center ridge and ride it as best you can.

CDOT… I am really amazed they have not fixed this problem.

Loveland Pass holds a special place for me.

The first time I rode over Loveland was the time I went up to Denver to retrieve my motorcycle. I had to fly home with a damaged back and left my motorcycle with a friend in Loveland. Which is actually quite far from Loveland Pass.

I couldn’t even hike when I stopped at the top.

I was damaged physically, and that sort of damaged me in my self esteem.

I wanted to be able to hike up on top of a small knoll. I demanded that of myself.

And I did it this time. No problem (other than the total lack of air at that altitude).

The view is so spectacular that it takes your breath away anyway.

Next up was Leadville.

Leadville is the highest incorporated town in the US.

10,430 feet above sea level. The “Two Mile High” city.

They had their flags at half staff for the 9/11 memorial.

I had the most expensive Reuben sandwich I have ever had.

I love love love Monarch Pass.

Great wide twisties, and the altitude is nearly at the edge of timberline.

I hadn’t noticed the Gondola thing before and figured what the hell. Let’s go up top.

Now, gentle reader, it is imperative for you to understand how much I hate gondola rides.

I really really really hate that feeling.

But I wanted to see from the top of the mountain so I shelved the angst and just got on the damned gondola.

The view was worth the ride.

In the wind.

Swaying.

Anyway, this is the trailhead that goes 26 miles to Salida.

Better going down than up, I would guess.