Monthly Archives: July 2021

TOUR DIVIDE 21 UPDATE

Day 21 Finally made it into Cuba last night. Hated that route from Abiquiu to Cuba. Relentless climbing, miles of it were technical both climbing and decending.Left Cuba at 4 am to tackle the 120-ish miles. Finally got some progress logging 100 miles in 8.5 hrs. Picked up my mail package at the Post Office and grabbing some lunch. Still have sunlight and it’s to early to call it a day so gonna head for Pie Town 71 miles down range. Probably won’t make it there before sleepy time but it will be miles closer to the finish.The stretch between Pie Town and Silver City is 146 miles with no resupply. Gonna have to load up on food and water in Pie Town for that stretch.Loaded the last map sets this morning. Currently 368 miles to go.

TOUR DIVIDE UPDATE – Day 19?

Been at this so long, I think today is day 19? Lots has happened since last report from Del Norte…..Made it up and over the highest point on the Tour Divide, Indiana Pass reaching nearly 11,000 ft above sea level. Took about 5 hrs from town. Didn’t get rained or stormed on however, starting down the other side lots of rain and cold. Decided to call it quits as the decent was too wet and cold even with all my layers on. Camped in the bush again setting up the tent in the rain. Never knew I could my tent up so fast.Next morning made slow progress down to Platoro, CO. Low on food I went to the Cafe hoping for a stack of pancakes and 20lbs of bacon to find the Cafe is closed on Mondays. Distraught I felt my race could be over because I did not have enough calories on board to make it to the next known food stop, Sylvia’s Snack Shack in Canon City. Two locals walking by told me the Skyline Lodge with the blue roof might have something. YES!!!Skyline made me some sandwiches and burritos to go. Also loaded up on the essential Tour Divider cuisine such as Milk Dudes, M&M, Peanut Butter Crackers, etc. So far today the weather had been chilly but the skys looked like it could rain at any moment. Refreshed and refueled I headed onwards. Made quick time down the road to the pavement. Up and over Manga Pass (10233) and back Into the wilds. Met two north bound riders just before sumitting Brazos Ridge (10883) that warned me to not get caught out on the ridge during the storms that are coming. They also mentioned that I had taken them nearly 7 hrs to get there from Hopewell Lake campground do to the muddy road conditions.I kicked it up a notch and raced the storms, getting to the top and across Brazos Ridge before the rain came. I only got a few drops of rain on me but continued to charge downhill.Making great time and covering many miles after the Ridge I reluctantly called it a day 30 miles short of my goal.Found a nice little spot under some huge pine trees and slept like a baby in my Down Puffy Pajamas, in my down sleeping bag. Temp was 33 degrees when I woke this morning.Today’s ride plan was just make it to Abiquiu some 80 miles downrange for a much need reset. Ride was great, mostly downhill, and mud was not an issue. It took me maybe 2 hrs to cover the same ground the two riders I met the day before had covered. I hit a mud pit on the wrong line causing me to take a few minutes to clear the mud from the sidewalls and bike frame.A moment of scare was when bombing down a very bumpy road I hit something hard and heard something hit the ground. A quick scan of the cockpit and bike, everything seemed normal. I slowed and took a quick look back, something didn’t seem right. I saw something laying on the ground I had just covered. I turned around to see what it was. Turns out it was one of my two GPS units. The unit had come out of its mount, disconnected the USB powering it AND broke its secondary laynard. Glad I stopped because the next few miles where all downhill. Once noticed missing I would of had to climb BACK up the hill looking for the unit. Quick square knot and everything reattached I was back on my way.Rained of an on all day today. Stopped way too may times, rain pants on, rain pants off, etc. Mostly just a mist. Stopping early the night before and where I did was an excellent decision.Dropping of the mountain headed in to Abiquiu was fun. All-n-all the roads were mostly well graded and packed AND NOT MUDDY.Tomorrow, the last of the massive climbs with Polvadera Mesa topping out at 10328ft making it a 4328 ft climb in 27 miles.Only 565.6 miles to go!!!I am so ready for this to be done!!