GD13 Profile

Alan's tecno-obsession pays off with this little gem from his Garmin!

Trip End

09/15 Brian and Jorge leave Santa Fe for Albuquerque to drop Mac off at the airport for an early flight to Tallahassee, while Bubba, Bill and I head for Ft. Stockton, TX. Brian and Jorge meet up with us later at a non-descript Quality Inn in this God-forsaken west Texas burg where we find somewhat disappointing steaks at K-Bob's, pretty much the only open restaurant in town. The next day we start the trek across the "great" state of Texas and make it, finally, to Lafayette, Louisiana and some fantastic Cajun Food and music at PreJeans (attached), which Brian describes as the perfect last communal meal for the boys. Early Tuesday morning, we head for home, and another memorable Sloth trip is concluded.

Day 9 09/14 Abquiu to Santa Fe by car, ride abandoned

We finally get back on the grid and the weather forecasts are horrible.  We collectively decide to abandon the ride and head to Santa Fe by car for some R&R and football. Now at the San Francisco Bar and Grill watching the Noles woop up on Nevada. 

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Day 8 09/13 Lake Huron SP to Abiquiu NM

The rain is becoming an issue and what forecasts we can get are mostly flash flood warnings.  We start out in a constant rainfall for an intended 55 miles to Abiquiu.  It turns into the coldest, wettest ride and the 4 riders are just miserable. It helps to have a flat or two on the crappy NM roads. 

We all decide to SAG and Brian and Johnny go first while Mac and Bill continue riding.  We find this great little place called Abiquiu Inn where we get a great rate cause we're "Great Divide" riders. As you can see, the boys enjoy a great dinner with Alan springing for hordurves and a round and Jorge adds a 2nd round and the boys are warm, dry and happy. 

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Day 7 09/12 Spectacle Lake to Lake Huron State Park

The rain continues steadily through the night but again lets up enough for us to break camp in the morning. We head out to the microscopic town of Horca, where we actually manage to find an official ACA information guy who tells us all the Forest Service campgrounds are closed and the roads impassable by cars. The alternate route is by road up Mangas Pass and a screaming downhill (40+ mph) to Charma NM and the High Country Inn for lunch. We head south on Hwy 84 and then 8 miles off course to Lake Huron State Park (attached). And, yes, the rain continues. 

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Day 6 09/11 Stunner to Spectacle Lake Campground

The rain has begun, as we set up the EasyUp for the 1st time last night. It lets up enough so we don't have to break camp in the rain and we head downhill (love these morning downhills) towards Platoro and stop at the Skyline Lodge for 2nd breakfast, the Mark's Muffins seems to be the favorite. We find that our intended destination campground, Elk Creek, is closed, so we camp about 5 miles short at Spectacle Lake, where the mountain backdrop (attached) is way more a spectacle then the lake. The rain continues sporadically. 

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Day 5 09/10 Del Norte to Stunner Campground

Lawrence agrees to open his restaurant an hour early so we can get an early start to Indiana Pass, the highest point on the Continental Divide at 11,910. He cooks up a great breakfast and we head out over nice rollers for 12 miles to the start of the climb. I make less than 3 miles before realizing I'll never make 12. Mac, Alan and Bill make the summit (attached), where they are greeted by a herd of wild horses being rounded up by a rather animated Gaucho. A couple of horses break loose and buzz the bikes and cars as he yells in Spanish at the horses or the boys or both. A large herd of sheep are being driven across the road as well.  We head on past the hideous Summitville Mine EPA Superfund Site to the ghost town of Summitville,  where Hunter finally bonks and Brian has returned with Subway sandwiches for the boys. We finally reach Stunner with Mac and  Alan being the only ones to make the whole distance. A nice campground by a rushing stream that Brian and Jorge have to clean up after the pigs that were there before us.

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Day 4 09/09 Storm King to Del Norte

The boys start out yet again on nice gravel downhill through beautiful Coolstone Canyon (attached) then get into some gnarly double track (and a little single track) that Bubba describes as "Munson Hills on steroids". Brian and I take the truck the easy way to Del Norte and then head back to SAG the riders and find there's no way to get through the gnarly stuff so contact Jorge to turn around. We find a 2 star motel and restaurant run bt a guy named Lawrence who really takes care of us. We go to one of the few restaurants open at night and they close at 8 local which is before the NFL game is even over.

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Wet, cold and off course

In Abiquiu,  NM, after finding Forest Service campgrounds were all closed and roads impassable by vehicles. No cell service still, but wi-fi at the Abiquiu Inn where we are ensconced after the most miserable,  wet road ride in anyone's memory. Looking like Plan B may be SAG to Santa Fe then Albuquerque as the forcast is for continuous rain. More later...

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Leaving Del Norte

Quick post from the motel where we stayed last night as we will be off - grid for next few days. Today is the big climb, 4000 ft in 24 miles to Indian Pass at 11,910 ft, highest point on the Continental Divide. 

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Day 3 09/08 Cochetopa Pass to Storm King

Another beautiful day in Southern Colorado, as the boys start of with some more gravel downhill and then some more flat road riding. The scenery is becoming more southwestern everyday but conditions are excellent. We gradually continue uphill until an absolutely brutal climb of only a mile but is excruciating.  Brian has bonked today,  and walks some but manages to make the entire distance under his own power.  Mac and Brian make community spaghetti and meat sauce wirh french bread and salad. Brian puts on some rythym and blues which puts Mac in a dancing mood.

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Day 2 09/07 Marshall Pass to Cochetopa Pass

The boys start out with several miles of sweet downhill on a perfect day to Sargents where Brian loads up with a great breakfast sandwich since he's learned he hates oatmeal. 12 miles of paceline road riding, we head south on gravel. It is 80 degrees and very desert - like riding,  climbing gradually but continuously until about mile 56, when the grade gets ridiculous. We finally make Cochetopa Pass (Ute for Buffalo, 2 of them attached) and are supposed to head 2 miles further to Luder Creek Campground,  but it's full so we find one of the best campgrounds ever right there at the pass and retire early after an exhausting day. Brian was an animal, doing remarkably well on very little training. 

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Day 1 09/06: Salida to Marshall Pass

The boys head out to breakfast at the pancake place again and on the road at 8:30. Long, gradual uphill from Poncha Pass after 5 miles of flats out of Salida. We turn on to gravel and continue a gradual climb past O'Haver Lake Campground (picture attached). Nine or so miles of climbing, we reach Marshall Pass at just over 10,000 feet.  Six miles downhill and we reach a campsite mostly occupied by the construction workers grading the roads. We meet the workers who mostly just want to lock up their port-o-let and a newly wed couple, Mark and Elaine, doing the GD on motorcycles. Bubba and Johnny make awesome community chili, which our motorcycle friends join us for and offer some Salida wine in exchange. Post dinner, Mark and Alan get into a long discussion about space launch technology as the rest of us nod off.

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Salida Staging

Boys went to great little breakfast place called Patio Pancake Place and then split up for sightseeing, running or biking. Real nice little town and very bike/sports friendly. Photo is of the restaurant on the river where we ate dinner and watched the locals go crazy for the Broncos. Spent the rest of the night going over the next day's route and logistics of 3 cars and 2 cars and Dick and Jorge graciously agreed to drive 2 cars up to camp and then come back to get the last one so everyone could ride. 

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Looooong day to Salida

We head out early Wednesday,  due to the 14 hour drive to Salida. Brian and Jorge head for Albuquerque to pick up Alan and the rest of us head to Salida.  West Texas is only marginally less boring than Kansas. We manage to hit a buzzard in BFE Texas but no damage to the car (major damage to the buzzard). We stop in a place called Post, TX (really) at Holly's Drive In for lunch (attached). On I-27 we have a blow out in the Hemi, fortunately about 1/2 mile from a Walmart. 2 hours and $200 later, we are back on the road and hope to make Salida before midnight. 

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NOLA to Austin

Monday morning we leave for Austin. Another uneventful 7 or 8 hours later,  we arrive at Radisson.  We find a sports bar to watch what turns out to be the Famous Jameis show. Wow! We find a nondescript bar across the street for some more libations and live music.  The next day we take a walk along the river for a short pilgrimage to the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue (attached). As our Austin tour guide,  Brian has us lined up for a great little tacaqueria for lunch and Texas barbecue for dinner. The 1st BBQ place has about 3 people in it and the cook says he has brisket and "4 ribs". Turns out it was not 4 plates, just 4 individual ribs, so not enough food for the boys. Bubba asks the women at one of the tables where they would eat other than here and they all say Iron Works. Turns out to be an excellent choice with plenty of meat 7 hungry Sloths. After dinner, we walk across the Congress Street bridge to see the bats. Wow, more bats than Carlsbad. http://austin.about.com/od/austinattractions/p/Bats_in_Austin.htm Afterwards,  some go to the Continental Club for a Freddy King tribute (Bubba is now a blues affectionado) and some head back to the motel to rest up for the long drive on Wednesday

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In New Orleans

Made it to New Orleans in time for late lunch/early dinner at Coop's Place. A few hours and beers later, we end up at Cafe Negril for some live music.  This morning we do the obligatory Cafe Du Monde for beignets and coffee and a regular breakfast later at Johnny's Po Boys to get ready for the SD parade at 2. Hunter kind of dressed last night like he wanted to be in it.

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Last Minute Prep

Finishing up last minute packing before leaving early tomorrow morning for New Orleans and some pre-ride partying! Biggest logistic issue this afternoon appears to be how to carry enough coolers for the necessary adult beverages. Bikes, gear, clothing, food - no problem. There are still some loose ends around the actual bike ride itself, but in a brillent observation by Brian: "We have several BNO's to figure it out" (as in 6 nights before the actual ride begins). Once en route, hope to post daily routes, photos and pithy narrative via the new smartphone, but it looks pretty damn remote out there.

Last Training Ride

One last ride before GD13. Headed to New Orleans Saturday morning. No, we did not know about Southern Decadence!
http://mapmyride.com/workout/369030525

Reverse Bradley's Loop

Testing a post from MapMyRide on the S4 shared via Outlook email.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/367132825

Final Planning BNO...finally

Well, you'd have thought the boys were the US Congress, totally dysfunctional and nearly unable to come to a consensus on something as simple as the BNO venue. Finally "agreed" on Momo's mainly because of the great craft brews and pizza. Sorry to say that Dick had  a road bike crash and broke something (collarbone?) and is likely out or possibly a permanent SAG driver. Biggest change was being soft, old men the boys opted for motels in New Orleans and Austin for pre-ride festivities. The one true Founder got a new smart phone, so blog updates may be more regular during the ride, though cell coverage is likely to be spotty or non-existent in places.

Revised Plans

Well, as usual, a BNO with a "few" beers, always results in an improved itinerary. Of course, it entails more partying rather than improved logistics or course routing. So, Hunter, Bubba and I will be heading to New Orleans on August 31st to meet up with (at least) Brian for some great music and Cajun food at venues unknown. Then, on to Austin, September 2nd for more music but switching to tex-mex cuisine. Finally, on to Salida, Co to start actually riding the 5th or 6th, so, at that point, pretty much back on the original schedule. It also seems that there may be more SAG wagons than actual bicycles, so vehicle drivers becomes more of a problem. Ah, the problems of aging.

"Planning" BNO June 26

Venue TBD, though, apparently, wings are an absolute requirement. Sloths have finally (I think) gotten collectively old enough to care more about good beer than scantily clad waitresses. So now we are thinking about craft beer every 7 seconds! Anyway, all Sloths, in or out, are invited, either to help plan this grueling event (did I mention it was supported) or to live vicariously through our manly exploits.

Possibly Revised Dates

Due to a conflict for Bubba, change in dates is proposed as follows:

Sept 3rd - Sept 5th: Drive to Salida, CO
Sept 6th - Sept 16th: Ride from Salida to Albuquerque, NM
Sept 17th: Party/Rest Albuquerque
Sept 18th - Sept 20th: Drive back to Tally

Blog Creation

New blog created for 2013 Sloth Divide Ride. Suppoted ride from Salida, Colorado to Albuqurque, New Mexico from Sept 3rd to Sept 13th. Current participants: yours truly, John Stacklyn, Bill  Hunter, Bob Barrios, Jerry McDaniels, Dick Dowdy, Alan Johansen and Brian Deffenbaugh. Itinerary details at SkyDrive folder:

2013 Divide Ride Files