Epilogue

It's been several days since I've abandoned the trek from the Arch here in St. Louis to Tor House in Carmel, California. If I had gutted over the mountains west of La Veta, Colorado, I'd now be biking through Arizona. At the moment, however, the regimentation of 1100 miles had taken my legs, the altitude in the mountains had stolen my breath, and the sun was burning my skin away. But if I had rested a couple of days in Walsenburg, I could have gotten over the passes. But what-ifs don't change anything, so here I am in my chair at home, perfectly happy with having crossed two states and half of a third.

I think I made two serious mistakes in the planning and the implementation of the trek. First, I was obsessed with mapping the shortest route possible, and now I think the shortest route is not necessarily the easiest or quickest route. Second, I was too regimented once I started, thinking I had to get from A to B each day. Had I been more leisurely, I would have had more get-go in my legs once I reached La Veta Pass. Or I could have spent a couple of days resting in the state park in Walsenburg. I'll keep those two mistakes in mind when I begin planning for the second attempt at the trek next year.

REI offers a course in touring. I think I'll take the course so I can see what I did right during the trek this year and what I need to do differently next year.

Home: Bike in Backyard

Time to La Veta and turn-around to Walsenburg, CO: 17 days. From Walseburg to home: 23 hours.

Last Road Picture

Having u-hauled throughout the night, I am less than hour from home.

Nap Time

At the KS Info Center, ready for a nap.

JCT US 24 and I 20

Rest stop in Limon, CO

Bike with U-Haul

Almost ready for the trip back to St. Louis.

Last Camp Broke

With some regret but more satisfaction, I'm ready to head east toward a U-Haul.

Decision

I have rented a 10-foot UHaul here in Walsenburg, CO, and tomorrow I'll begin the drive with my bike and trailer back to St. Louis. I considered uhauling over La Veta and Wolf Creek passes and pick up the trek from Pagosa Springs. Truth be told, however, I think a moment would still come to abandon the trek. I half cooked, I am unable to enjoy the scenery and culture that much, the shortest route is not necessarily the easiest route, and, to be frank, I'm fatigued physically and mentally. And at the moment I'm hunkered down in my tent, hoping it withstands the windstorm outside.

Still, the trek has been and adventure. I've biked across Missouri and Kansas, and to the very foot of the Rockies--over a thousand miles. I've pushed myself farther than many others, and even during this truncated trek I met kind and interesting people. I'm sure as time goes by this road trip will become mythologocal--like Bull Durham.

I'm looking forward to gwtting home--to doing things with Ann and being with Alexa, our granddaughter, to riding my bike around St. Louis!

The blog will end upon the return of the UHaul in St. Louis.

Sitting in the Shade

At the state park. Imagine nearly 750 miles of sparse trees, scarce shade.

Camp Walsenburg: Day 2

Recamped in Walsenburg after the turn-around at La Veta.

Bad Day

It took me almost three hours to reach the town of La Veta, CO, and the pass hadn't even begun. I had no energy in my legs and I was having trouble breathing. I just couldn't viasualize climbing the pass, so out of sorts I called Ann, who suggested I turn back to the park from last night, recoup for the day, and consider an alternate route around the mountains. I'm now back in the park. I'll pitch my tent, ride into Walsenburg for a good meal, then come up with Plan B.

Spanish Peaks

On HWY 160 W toward La Veta

Walthrop State Park, 5 Miles West of Walsenburg, CO

When I pulled into Walsenberg late this evening and saw a 7-11, I said thank heaven, stopped, got a large orange Icee, drank it, and got another. The 73 miles from La Junta had been grueling, with the scenery changing from farmland to mesas to rolling hills to the Rocky Mountain foothills, bit without a single place to stop except for an ancient closed cafe where I stopped to nap in the shade of the eave. Afterwards I got caught in a thunderstorm. I hunkered down beside my bike, covered my head with my arms to protect myself from the hail, and shivered. If you saw someone like that beside the highway, would you stop to offer help. The three or four cars that passed zoomed away.

So when I pulled into Walsenburg the 7-11 was heaven. As I slurpped the Icee I called Ann and pouted but she cheered me up with her encouragement and later after I pitched my tent I called her back to tell her I was feeling much better.

Now sleep and tomorrow La Veta Pass. That's going to be a trip!

Camp Walsenburg

Five miles west of Walsenburg, CO, off HWY 160, in Walthrop State Park.

Somewhere on CO 10 II

Mesas to the south.

Somewhere on CO 110

It's getting hilly.

La Junta, CO

Tomorrow is a long ride (73 miles) from here in La Junta to Walsenburg, with nary a town in between. Since the hills today kept getting bigger and bigger--I'm now at 4800 feet--I'm assuming the ride tomorrow will be hilly as well. Thus I've wimped out and gotten a room in order to get a good night's rest. I plan to be on HWY 10 by 6:00 and to have at least half the distance covered before the heat sets in and then take it easy the rest of the way. If the worse happens, Donnie from back east in Holly says all I have to do is unhitch my trailer from my bike, sit beside the road, and wait for a Mexican to offer a lift into Walsenburg. I'd like that: it would be an opportunity to practice my Spanish! Truly, one of the things I like about this area of the country is the Mexican culture.

Ugly Left Ankle

Pedal and Sprocket Wounds

Service Station East of La Junta

Odd Fellows and Rebekahs giving free lemonade and cookies to travelers.

Top of 0big Hill in Colorado

Facing east toward Las Animas. West toward La Junta not much of a downhill. Gaining elevation?