Day Three - Ouray to Durango. This day included three passes: Red Mountain, Molas Divide (I suppose that is technically not a pass), and Coal Bank Pass. After 70 miles, and 6,500 feet in elevation gained, we will find ourselves in Durango.
The passes start immediately out of Ouray. It was clear many on the tour were worried about this day. Some gave up before trying...the sag wagons were packed. Too bad as the scenery on this day was jaw-dropping over and over again. Six or so years ago, Dave and I did a four-day tour and did this ride in the opposite direction. I was looking forward to experiencing it this way.
The book said the ride was 70 miles...it was off a bit as this was moving up the pass already.
Looking back on Ouray from a bit of the way up the pass.
Selfie!
Many opportunities for some amazing scenery along this route.
Gorgeous view!
Dave caught up to me after breaking camp and we managed to ride together for a while. We were together when a photographer got our photo. When I receive it, I'll post it. Here I am coming into the first aid station at the top of Red Mountain Pass (elev. 11,018).
Not a bad place for an aid station.Nice weather and no wind at this point.
Got redressed for the cold ride down to Silverton.
Dave is ready to go too...
In Silverton, we stopped at the river and took a few photos. Then Dave charged up the mountain to the Molas Divide.
Looking back at Silverton
Many of the volunteers providing food and drink at the aid stations wore fun hats!
Gorgeous view on the Molas Divide
Here I am pulling in....
We hung out a bit at the Molas Divide. The weather was so super solid. Still, there was no wind at this point. It's unusual to get such great weather - especially up so high.
I ate 7,037 bananas during the week.
Who knows who these folks are....we just wanted a photo of the Pass sign. I see it is a 'real' pass too.
I headed down from Molas and chugged up to the Coal Bank Pass. I was sitting enjoying a banana (what else) when suddenly Dave appeared. I was surprised to see him given he is so much faster than I am.
Turns out I blew right by him on the Molas downhill to Coal Bank summit. Oops!
Sadly, his brand new tire had a sidewall failure and tube puncture due to a rock or some other object on the downhill at over 40 mph. It was his rear tire too. His new rear tire. An expensive and annoying thing to deal with for sure. Happily it didn't cause him to crash though. He was able to place a patch on the inside of the tire and replace the tube which kept things rolling for the rest of the day.
Being a bad wife, I went by him while he was on the side of the road and I didn't even notice. :/
We estimated this tire cost about 2$ per mile.
Mmmmm
While we were there together, we grabbed some summit shots.
Dave was still grumpy over the expensive tire loss. Oh well, glad he didn't wipe out.
We arrived in Durango and it was very hot. In fact, Dave described the last twenty miles of riding as riding into a hair dryer. The head winds were heinous and they were hot. I felt like a raisin when I got there.
Dave found an excellent location near a fence under some trees. I looked out and saw him cleaning his cleats with a stick. In my mind I could hear the National Geographic narrator commenting that "Using tools separates man from other being..." Cracked me up. Maybe it was heat stroke. :)
Two Tires! Two Days!
A view of our site. Between us and the house across the way was a river down there.
We prepped for day four...we'd be heading to Pagosa Springs. I'd never been there before.
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