We thought that we might score a really good repeat Mexican restaurant from our 2012 adventure. Turns out that that the really good Mexican restaurant was in Cuba, NM and the hotel that evening was in Salida. Sigh. Well, maybe next time.
So after a somewhat taxing day yesterday, I am relieved to know that Engineer Pass *should* be easier. Easier in the sense that if you ascend from the eastern front, you could ride a rukkus up it.
However, you know that we still haven't learned to try the easy side. Not 5 minutes into our track boy does the trail have some nasty surprises...from our famed Western slope ascent. There is loose rock, but it's not quite as steep as Ophir and Imogene. The little WR really struggled for power about 13000 feet yesterday, so I am happy that we'll only be a bit over 12000 today.
I told you we'd run into these blokes a few more times
Looking back, Imogene is very scenic. Well scenic if you could take your eyes off the track for a milli-second to enjoy it. Engineer is more like high-prairie grass land.
We find yet another herd of about 25 Mountain Goat Kidds. These are giving the road holy hell, by striking their hooves then licking up the dirt. Must be some sort of mineral (salts?) they are after. Cute nonetheless!
We find this California plated bike on the trail. Looks like he got onto the shoulder of the road and went as*-over-teakettle. The front end is pretty mashed up as is the left side pannier. Nobody appears still around, so we press on.
Well, we are officially "EAST" now. Nothing left to do but go home.....
We might finish up Colorado today, if not we should be right near the border. About 2600 miles so far out of the estimated 4500. 10 days remain.
So after a somewhat taxing day yesterday, I am relieved to know that Engineer Pass *should* be easier. Easier in the sense that if you ascend from the eastern front, you could ride a rukkus up it.
However, you know that we still haven't learned to try the easy side. Not 5 minutes into our track boy does the trail have some nasty surprises...from our famed Western slope ascent. There is loose rock, but it's not quite as steep as Ophir and Imogene. The little WR really struggled for power about 13000 feet yesterday, so I am happy that we'll only be a bit over 12000 today.
I told you we'd run into these blokes a few more times
Looking back, Imogene is very scenic. Well scenic if you could take your eyes off the track for a milli-second to enjoy it. Engineer is more like high-prairie grass land.
We find yet another herd of about 25 Mountain Goat Kidds. These are giving the road holy hell, by striking their hooves then licking up the dirt. Must be some sort of mineral (salts?) they are after. Cute nonetheless!
We find this California plated bike on the trail. Looks like he got onto the shoulder of the road and went as*-over-teakettle. The front end is pretty mashed up as is the left side pannier. Nobody appears still around, so we press on.
Well, we are officially "EAST" now. Nothing left to do but go home.....
We might finish up Colorado today, if not we should be right near the border. About 2600 miles so far out of the estimated 4500. 10 days remain.