July 21 Day 30 Alaska Trip

We Hatted Up and Headed Out for another super early start this morning from Vernal, Utah. Riding southeast we crossed into Colorado after passing by the Dinosaur National Monument. Can you imagine how big the RoadKill would be if you ran over a Dinosaur?!!? Anyway, south of Grand Junction were the next points of interest – Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Gunnison National Forest. We skirted beside the Canyon for some great views, with lots of twisties over constant elevation changes. We had our picnic at an overlook with a nice view of lakes and mountains. Afterwards, we started a steep climb up to Monarch Pass at 11,200. There were about 30-40 bicyclists sharing the road that apparently had been dropped off at the summit for the long downhill ride to the valley below. It was cold up on top, so the cyclists were all wearing their jackets and gloves. We then found a lightly traveled short cut down to Walsenburg that snaked through canyon lands which seemed unchanged for thousands of years. We saw a herd of Buffalo that might have numbered as many as 150-200 head. One can only imagine what a sight the immense bison herds were just a couple hundred years ago. We noticed an intense storm cell with lightening and heavy rainfall over the mountains but thought we would ride clear of it. As the sky darkened over us, and the winds increased, we pretty much lost hope of making Raton by the end of the day. The wind was now blowing up to 60mph (according to the Weather Channel) and we were getting knocked sideways and pelted with cold rain. The rain then turned to hail blowing almost horizontal – Yeow! That really hurts! We quickly pulled into a deserted gas station where some cars had ducked in, but there wasn’t any protection from the hail storm as it was blowing under the cover, clear through to the other side. This was when we decided we had about all the fun we could stand for one day and hightailed it to a nearby hotel in Walsenburg, CO. We quickly changed into dry clothes and porked out at the Mexican restaurant across from the Motel. …Feeling almost human again! Total 448 miles traveled today.