Day 25…Sargents to Buena Vista
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On Wednesday I made contact with Fran, who is listed on “Warm Showers”, an internet site that puts bike tourists in touch with folks who are willing to host them. Fran is in Buena Vista and told me that we were welcome to pitch a tent in her yard, but that she was heading out to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
She was heading west on Hwy 50, and we were on the same route heading east. We arranged to meet on top of Blue Mesa Pass.
Although we only spoke to Fran for a couple of minutes, we found that she leads bike tours throughout Colorado. She recently moved to Buena Vista, and has hosted a few tourists since. She asked me to water her plants and she was off to some stomping in the Telluride meadows to the sound of Bela Fleck (I made that up; I don’t really know if she is stomping or if she really likes Bela!). Thanks Fran, for your hospitality; please visit us in CA so we can return the favor!
We attacked Monarch pass with vigor and both ended up a little chilled on top (over 11,000′). Jerry took a couple of pictures and we bundled up for the decent. I did not stop until I got to Poncha Springs, one town away from my father-in-laws childhood home, Salida.
We started to get some rain, but persevered on. We were right next to the Arkansas River for much of the last leg of the day…it is a very well known white water rafting area and Salida was hosting a big festival this weekend.
So here I sit in the Buena Vista library, all caught up! We have taken a shower at the community center (3 minutes for a buck), going to do some laundry, maybe chow down on a steak and set up our tents in Frans backyard.
The trip is coming to a close…two short days and we will be at Cynthia and Jerry Howell’s ranchette in Evergreen. My old friend Thomas is going to ride some of the last leg with us; it will be nice to see him again. In Evergreen I will be seeing Sarah and the cats for the first time in a month or so…I do miss them, and a month away is a long time.
But hey, a couple entries to go…keep tuned in….something sensational might happen! After all, Fran did ask me to water her plants…that could turn into something exciting!
I rode 53 miles today at a 11.2 mph average. Time in the saddle was 4 hr, 45 min.
-Rick