Today we ride from Pagosa Springs to Creede, Colorado via Wolf Creek Pass. While I've been to Creede (see our own bike tour six years ago - we stayed in Creede) we didn't do Wolf Creek Pass. This is also a new pass for Dave. Today would be 65 miles and about 5,550 feet in elevation gained.
The scenery was again gorgeous
And the weather again got hot and windy by mid-day.You can see the road cut of Wolf Creek Pass in the right center portion of the photo.
The day was almost all uphill, with the descent from Wolf Creek being the only exception.
It went on and on...
Dave and I met at the first aid station. We also saw Parry there. Dave had stayed behind and tore down camp to give me a head start. It was fun meeting at this point.
Only eight miles to get to the summit - elev. 10,860
Off I went. We rode together a short time and then Dave zoomed by.
The switchbacks were 7+% and it was HOT. Not a cloud to be found anywhere.
Cool views of the road winding its way up the mountain from the South.
Dave waited at the summit, just as he was getting ready to take off, I showed up.
Here is his selfie before I showed.
Nice to get a summit shot together.
It was cold on top! And windy (of course). Here is Dave wrestling the barricade barrel.
Now for the fun part - the descent. Squirrely winds on the way down made
it a bit slower, but that is okay. Each day we saw or heard of more
riders wiping out. Mostly that is due to going too darn fast for the
conditions (just like in a car).
On the way down, there are a couple of tunnels. This one is actually an avalanche snow shed. Pretty cool, but not something to go through with an 18 wheeler!
Another fun tunnel. Just your ordinary tunnel here.
An RV city near South Fork en route to Creede. I'd bet this is 80% occupied by Texans.
And again we managed to meet up at the aid station in South Fork at the base of the Wolf Creek descent.
Dave went ahead and got a spot at camp. Still he had time to grab a photo at the entrance into Creede.
I was back fighting those @#@!@$^# head winds. Always head winds.
They had us on a baseball diamond! It was super cramped! Check out the density.
The tent city.
Even looking out of the tent didn't hide the fact that we were packed in like sardines.
Oddly, only one person selected to camp on the dirt diamond. I thought maybe because they didn't want to foul up the field with tent stakes. Dave said before I arrived a dust devil started in it and made a big mess.
Though we were packed in like sardines, it was surprisingly the quietest night of sleep during the tour. In Pagosa Springs, we sadly had a site next to two deaf drunks. Not only were they loud because they couldn't hear anything, but they were drunk and obnoxious. Pretty annoying. Here, it was heavenly quiet!
Meals were served in the community center which gave everyone a chance to walk through town. The restaurant/bar we'd eaten at six years ago was sadly closed. There were still many cool little places here though.
Town!
BOOM! Town!
There was a beer garden in town. Dave had a glass of an interesting chile beer. Very cool!
Being silly for the camera. The heat and endless winds were taking their toll on everyone.
Lots of rock here. Looks rotten though.
On the left behind Dave is the mining museum (we went there six years ago). Next to it, underground is the Community Center. We are en route to grab dinner.
The city shuttle was so cool - a real old fire truck. It's was such fun seeing it zipping up and down the main street with a bunch of bikers on board.
Looks like rain. No rain.
Here is the sign of the outdoor shop. In one of the boots was a nest of House Sparrows. We watched the parents deliver food all evening. Very cute!
Tomorrow is the last day - and it's a big one: 107 miles from Creede back to Gunnison. In our tour six years before, we'd gone the opposite direction in two days. There are two passes and two "bumps". It'll be a long one!
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