July 9, 2001.
Current Creek Hostel to Fairplay, Colorado. (43 mi.) Mile 2432
Rocky
Mountain Higher
I am writing this in the historic
Fairplay Hotel this evening. "Historic" means old, and in this case, without a phone or
TV and allegedly haunted by the ghosts of previous residents. The downstairs lobby looks like it could be right out
of a western movie. Outside another of the many thunderstorms this afternoon
has formed overhead and is rumbling, flashing, and raining.
Hanging out (of
the window) at the historic Fairplay Hotel
This morning the air was fresh and
clear after a night of thunder and lightening. It was strange to need to layer
up in long sleeves and wind pants for warmth considering the heat we were in
just yesterday, but the sun came out and made our ride into South Park
absolutely beautiful. I was not prepared for the scenery that unfolded; miles
of open park land, distant snowy
peaks, and wildflowers. We passed antelope,
cattle, and herds of bison. I tried but no photo could capture the
overwhelming open air experience
of being surrounded by this vast landscape.
The South Platte River winds
through this valley and is a favorite fly fishing destination. Some of the
fisherman were unphased by a big bull who shared their fishing spot, bellowed
at them but left them alone. A farm dog chased us along his property line,
which isn't unusual, but this property line went for a mile and the dog kept
up with us that far, at up to 20 mph. Dogs aside, I was glad to be
on a bicycle and not in a car to take it all in.
Fairplay church
Our pace is slower than it was in
Kansas. We are more easily winded and climbing steadily. As we approached
Fairplay around noon, we could see a dark, inky storm just to the north of
town over tomorrow's destination, with bolts of lightening striking from the
clouds. Though we had sunshine for our ride today, there was a new
thunderstorm forming behind us over the area we had just left.
Historic Fairplay
Museum with distant storm over tomorrow's destination.
Tomorrow we will climb
over Hoosier Pass, elevation 11,500, highest point on the route. We are at
about 10,000 ft now, and only have 12 miles to the Pass, but need to get there
before the storms form. Though 12 miles isn't many with a tailwind in Kansas,
it's a different matter when climbing at 11,000 feet. Once over the Pass, it
should be an easy and very fast descent into Breckenridge.
