Segment 5: Ride Day 26 - Mountains.

Route: Florence, CO to Fairplay, CO (South Park Rec Center)

Distance: 84.3 miles

Riding Time: We started at 6am. We stopped for ice cream in Fairplay, CO a little after 4pm. (and that's about all since I think my bike computer battery is dying - oops! :-) Probably something like 8hrs:30mins of saddle time today. (Ouch. Poor, sore bum.)

Average Speed: 10.5 mph (Not too shabby, eh??)

Max: 36.4 mph

Weather: Cool, clear morning (in the low 70's) that lasted as we climbed, and climbed, and climbed a lot more. Light, variable winds. Some scattered afternoon rain showers and a little thunder that we managed to outrun. All in all, an absolutely beautiful day!!!

Extra-Special Bonus Stats

Current Elevation: 9953 feet above sea level

Total Elevation gained since this morning: 4773 feet

Total feet climbed today: 6500 feet (just to put things in perspective, that, my friends, is more than a vertical mile. Umm-hmm... ok, time for bed now. :-)

Population of Fairplay, CO: 1,000 people or so... but really hip little town

Good morning lovely, little Florence, CO

And the climbing begins... photo break #1 :-)

My awesome climbing buddy Lindsey. (Note: this was only her second day biking with us and I'm pretty sure this was the hardest day we have had yet. Yup. She rocks!)

Still climbing... but wait... is that a downhill on the other side? P.S. Mountains are so purdy!

Climbing... are you getting tired of seeing me and Charley in really pretty places yet??

Our trusty pit-stop crew trying to catch up with our crazy-awesome-scary biker tans.
I'm afraid they just got really bad sunburns. Sad day.

There were lots of these along the road... along with yellow and red  and white flowers.

Aaaand... at the end of the day there is ice cream and a moose! What could be better.

Lots o' bikes at the fancy, awesome community rec center... shortly after this I spent a solid hour soaking out the day's soreness in the fancy pool... and trying (but failing) to avoid getting caught in a game of pool tag with all the kiddos before heading out for a much-needed shower followed by an amazing breakfast-supper of bacon, bacon, bacon and some delicious eggs and pancakes made by my other wonderful fellow riders.

Yes.

Also, just in case you were curious, here is the song that has been going through my head on repeat as I've been biking yesterday and today. (Note: Charley aside, I'm quite sure this man has been the true love of my life since early middle school. Adore. This. Guy.)