What a difference a day and a half makes. I hit the road today with the strongest, freshest legs I've felt under me while riding. After a couple miles of spinning to warm up, I soon decided to light it. Head down, I geared up and just cranked uphill for 17 miles. At one point, the road switched back on itself revealing 200-300 of elevation gain in just one pass. Gears will always fascinate me.
The backside of that mountain provided one of the most exhilarating downhills of my life, darting around a truck as I awkwardly wrapped my body around the frame like those freaks on the tour. The road spilled out into a vast valley where winds gusting to 50 mph appeared reticent to let me be on my way.
However, once that was clear, and after a short but steep climb, it was off to the races again with a narrow, winding downhill pushing 45 mph most of the way. The single lane road had no shoulder and its sides were so close that the Fall branches created a cozy canopy enveloping the road. Through the trees shone glimpses of the palisades lining the canyon as the rustle of loose leaves gently punctuated the Doppler whir of my passing freewheel.
The landscape opened up revealing an endless plain dotted with sagebrush. A tumbleweed direct from central casting, crossed my path and I couldn't help but laugh at the Western exemplar my riding experience had become. No sooner than I made that realization and a huge bull elk leaps out in front and me and bounds across the road. I was within 40 feet and my heart stopped at the sight of such a massive beast. Just as soon as I caught my breath, another elk of the same size followed his buddy across the road, heaving his weight with unforgettable force.
It is hard to appreciate the power and beauty of such creatures until proximity to them inevitably reminds you of whose house you are in. And so, as the road continued for tens of miles straight to my destination I delighted in views of pronghorn antelope, deer, and a few herd of bison on the fabled range.
The 93 mile day wound up just a few hours after it started and I flopped into my motel bed in Raton, NM for an afternoon nap. Chicken fried chicken awaited me for dinner and I didn't want to dive in to such a treat while groggy. You know?
It is great you are taking your followers along for the cross country ride Chris. Although my seat is much more comfortable than yours. Thanks for taking the time to tweet/blog your experiences. Be safe!
Posted by: @BGreene1 | September 30, 2009 at 08:47 PM
It sounds like a great leg! Keep em coming. Be safe - my Dad tells I story that he hit an elk with his car as a teenager and busted up the car. I'm guessing that he totally made up the story, though I sure the elk would cause some havoc.
cheers!
Posted by: Mike Walsh | September 30, 2009 at 10:13 PM
One day, you, and fellow Hoya John Lawrence (@johnskis, producer of www.peletonthemovie.com), really need to get together. There are some awesome parallels between you two. Biking, traithlons, outdoor sports, adventure, travel, entrepreneurship and whatnot. If you pass through Salt Lake, say hello!
In any case, enjoy the cross-country tour! I was lazy and did it in my Ford Fiesta, but can bare witness to its magical aspects nonetheless... :)
Posted by: Alicia l'Américaine | September 30, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Chris, I tried tweeting your post from today through the link "tweet this" - I got a "minus 39" on that tweet with the entire link embedded......un-tweetable! I wish there was a dynamic bit.ly conversion :-)
Good luck and thanks for sharing...
Posted by: @RecruitingDiva (Sangeeta Narayan) | September 30, 2009 at 10:21 PM
I'm so happy you're enjoying our lovely Land of Enchantment and its breathtaking beauty from a bicycle view...and if central casting wants more of those tumbleweeds, we've got plenty!
Traveling cross-country on a bicycle would be an amazing dream come true. But to make your ride about so much more, in order to help so many, is truly inspiring. Thank you for all you're doing.
Hope destiny brings you back cross-country on a more southern route through NM! We have abundant deer+antelope playing here too. RideOn!
Posted by: Janet Lyn | September 30, 2009 at 10:22 PM
I keep losing track of where you are...kinda busy here too. Anyway, the bison pic looked so much like Wichita Wildlife...but you will be riding far above that...Raton...love Raton. This last post made me wish I was a few years younger and able to take a downhill like that. Wheeeeee! Well I'm doing a LiveStrong pep talk tonight at HS homecoming pep rally and tomorrow I ride my trainer all day while teaching classes in observance of the infamous 10/2. Have a great day today! For anyone interested I am collecting donations for Livestrong Challenge in Austin Oct 25th.
Posted by: Donna Dorsett | October 01, 2009 at 04:37 AM