Energy Talk

TOP: WY polution belching, environment raping coal energy plant
BOTTOM: OK clean, green wind energy farm


OK, time for my "liberal rant of the day". As we're driving through OK, certainly far from a liberal state, we see hundreds and hundreds of wind towers alongside the highways. All producing "green" energy. And, they a beauty to behold.
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Conversely, in WY, we see freight trains with literally hundreds of cars filled to the brim with coal, coal strip mines that destroy the environment and landscape, and ugly, pollution belching coal plants alongside the highway. Not ONE SINGLE WINDMILL IN ALL OF WY!!!
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My favorite was the highway signage "Clean Coal". Kinda like "Ethical Politician" or "Bush Rhodes Scholar".
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Now I grasp that big business has a lock on the country, but if the utilities are going to get their money anyways, why can't they just focus on green energy instead of destroying the earth? It isn't that hard, and even the Oakies got it figured out.
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"Mr Green" Lumpy out

Why, Oh Wyoming?

TOP: WY state capital dome in Cheyenne

2nd: Who's got the big feet now???

3rd: Welcome to Cheyenne sign

4th: Cheyenne rebuilt train station

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We left our beloved Leadville this morning and headed up to Cheyenne Wyoming. Not really sure why, other than the fact that it was on the way to...OK, it really wasn't on the way to anywhere. I just had it in my head to go there. Heck, anywhere that's good enough for Dick Cheney is good enough for me.

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WY is a split state; the west side has allmost all the cool stuff...Grand Tetons, Jackson, Yellowstone...while the east side has...Cheyenne, boringly flat plains, energy plants, and grass. Man, did they get a bum wrap. But, such is geography.

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Cheyenne was a nice, small town, but nothing to write home about. They had rehab'd the main train station into a brew pub/tourist stop. When we stopped for lunch, we were the only ones there...not a lot of tourists in this area I guess. The state capital dome dominated the main street; since there was no hills, you could see it from miles away.

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But, the one cool thing was definitely "the boots". Now as we've travelled around, many cities had ceramic "things" around their sidewalks...horses, cows, pigs, etc. Cheyenne, in true midwest fashion, choose cowboy boots. There were dozens of them around town, and they were actually quite cool, and a nice diversion from cows and pigs. Brightly colored, they all told a story...some were for schools, some politicians ("the governor's boot"), some significant historical events. Nice touch.

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Although we had planned to overnight here, after about an hour of sightseeing we had done the whole town, so decided to drive on to Gillette. Hereafter known as "Gillette, the town the made Cheyenne look exciting". The only interesting thing there was the tornado that came through town while we were sleeping...just another everyday occurrence to the townfolk however. "Do you want some cream with your coffee...oh, and did you see the twister last night...only a class 3...must be the weather is easing up this spring". That was the diner talk...

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"Why am I here again" Lumpy out

Last Snow Shots From Leadville

TOP: Ice Crystals on what little of the mudpack was showing. This made for really fun walking

2nd: Mosquito Pass from below. This was the same pass that we tried to do in a rental SUV last fall...it was easier then...

3rd: Kathy postholing through the initial snowpack.

Get the "Lead"ville Out

TOP: Mt Massive on Leadville approach

2nd:A typical leadville house

3rd: Hiking our way up towards mosquito pass

4th: Mt Elbert, highest peak in CO

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After a hearty breakfast our favorite Durango diner, CJ's, we drop bob at the airport and hit the road. Goodbye Durango!

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We get as far as Leadville today, one of our favorite little mountain towns. Leadville is way cool, 10,200' high, surrounded by the highest peaks of the rockies, snow every month of the year, and great food. We hit Quincy's, our favorite $9.95 14oz filet mignon place where we have a serious beefgasm. You can't beat this place anywhere...filet, fresh bread, homemade blue cheese dressing, and a great atmosphere. It would hold it's own anywhere in the country.

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Since we were here, we decided to hike the next morning towards mosquito pass, at 13k+. We ask the desk clerk about the conditions, and she says "Well, a guy was in here over the weekend who got trapped up to his hips in mud from the snow melt". So, we were ready to hike...

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We headed up the pass but soon encountered heavy snowpack, and ditched the car. As we started hiking up, the snow kept getting deeper and deeper..until we were both in up to our knees. Ok, now we're morons, but we knew then to turn back. Rochester had taught us SOMETHING about winter!

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We dried out, warmed up, and hit the road. Next up...Wyoming!

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"OK, enough with the snow now" Lumpy out

Durango Addendum

TOP: The hiking crew monday morning...Gill, Cliff, Kathy, Bob (rear); Karen, Val, Posh, Flash (font), Missing Lumpy (photographer), Emily (off somewhere with internet date guy), Michelle (doing time trial), and Tyler (watching time trial or perhaps banging head on yet another rock)

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Looking north towards silverton from our Durango hike. Surprisingly, the snow was still there...

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Although the race never officially transpired, I do get credit for beating cliff up to Silverton. After all, I DID get to Silverton first (albeit in a car)!

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Sunday bob, flash and I rode to Mesa Verde while posh, kathy, and gill drove there to meet us. The rest of the crew went hiking there. The ride started out innocuously enough, if you consider a 4,000 foot 8 mile climb right out the gate inocuous. And if you do you're an idiot. We climbed for what seemed like forever, until flash finally kicked into his "I live in colorado" gear and left bob and I in his dust. Not bad for a 60 year old guy, even if he does weigh 92 lbs. By the top I had sweated out my 8 margaritas from the night prior. Bob said that he could smell lime from 100 yards away from me. I got my revenge on the major downhill following, as I went by the two of them at 52mph, just missing the speed limit. It took them miles to catch me...

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When we got a few miles from Mesa Verde posh pulled up in the can to check on us. By this point, I was toast and happy to get in the van...to which she said "suck my exhaust athiest guy" and drove away. So, I had to do a death march another 10 miles to the "proper" pickup point. When we got there the girls were eating cookies and laughing about what morons we were. See if we buy them any more expensive baubles...not that we have before or anything, but we definitely won't in the future.

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Monday morning Michelle and I registered for the time trial. Upon awakening at 5am for the 7am start, I decided that the 6 margaritas the night prior (14 in 2 nights, perhaps a new personal best!) had taken their toll and bagged out, in lieu of the planned hike. Michelle was a trooper however, and she went and banged it off. Unfortunately, she left her back at mile 12 of the scheduled 14 miler, and was wrecked the rest of the trip. Advil and margaritas make a good combo however.Even without her spine however she still beat a highlander...one tough chick.

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The rest of us went hiking for a few hours, with Posh mountain-goating us off trail, over hill, under dale, and scrambling up rocks. I'm REALLY beginning to hate the two of them...act your damned aged and sit around and watch Oprah or something. She hammered us all. During the hike val came upon some pretty colored rocks, which she deemed that cliff had to carry down for her. Lucky for him, 'cause you want nothing more than 50 lbs of rocks on your back when you're climbing a mountain.

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We got off the mountain, a bit weary but doing ok, and ran into a woman with (a) baby strapped to her chest, (b) a 2 year old in tow, and (c) a puppy in the other hand in tow. She told us how the 2 year old - let me repeat that, the TWO YEAR OLD - had just done an 8 mile hike the weekend prior at Moab. Ok, now that's going too far...bionic children. Must be, as no human kid could do that. That's incredible to even think about. What could we do to beat that? Well, the only thing that we could...go ingest $300 of sushi and saki.

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Oh, and I have to tell this one story. We're gathering in the hotel, when desk clerk Stacy comes into the lobby. She takes one look at bob's hot pink bike, and says "huh, is that yours?". When he says proudly "yes, yes it is", she break into laughter and runs down the hall, laughing the whole time and calling out for all the mexican cleaning ladies to come see the hombre-mujer (the man-woman). I think we made her day. Bob still refuses to put a manly color on the bike however...

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One fun weekend, great friends, and good stories. What more can one ask for. Off to Wyoming tomorrow. Why, I don't know...

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"I can't walk 7 miles now" Lumpy out

"No Can Do" Rango

TOP: Looking towards Silverton from durango. Guess why the race was cancelled?

2nd: The pro Criterium in downtown Durango. I didn't win this either...

3rd: Cliff playing the piano at a local bar. Emily joined him later in the set with some show tunes.

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Well, we finally got to Durango today, and even though the race is still 3 days away, the news is talking about a "major snow event" on friday into saturday. Good for a snowshoe race, not so good for a road bike race.

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By friday our crew had all arrived into town (along with about 3,000 of our closest cycling friends) and we were all busy getting things ready. We drove a car up to Silverton where we met Larry (AKA "Flash") and Peggy (AKA "Posh") so that we could leave 2 cars there with warm weather gear for when we finished. THAT was a good time, as it took over 2 hours to go the 35 miles up the mountain behind a tanker truck. I could have rode it faster...OK, NOT!

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The mountain is very imposing, roughly 35 of the 50 miles of the race are uphill, most a a very significant grade, topping out at about 11,000ft. This is a serious ride. I'm thinking, hmmm, why didn't I take a pass on those tuesday night abbotts custards with jan. Instead, they have made a home around my waistline.

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We were all psych'd and ready to go, at 6am saturday when they cancelled the race. Seems silverton got over a foot of snow (this a week before june!), and the passes even more. The highway patrol would not let us race...turns out for the better as we attempted to get back over the pases to collect our cars and gear. Another few hours driving up the hill in snow, slush, and rain.

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On a positive note, we got to go lunch at the "Handle Bar", my favorite little place in Durango. Famous for their bumper stickers all over the walls, their taxidermied animals (mountain lions, bison, deer, mountain goats, democrasts...), and their waitresses with handlebar mustaches (I think they're all Italian). Great food, cheap drinks, baudy atmosphere, and hairy waitresses...who could ask for anything more.

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We spent the rest of the weekend in Durango drinking margaritas, cycling in the "lowlands (the 6,500" of Durango", hiking, and eating at Durango's many exceptional restaurants. Although disappointed by the race cancellation, we had a heck of a good time anyways, and would definitely do it again.

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Other weekend highlights:

- the marble size hailstorm that caught us while we were out walking the town. Kathy had dents in her head from the ice

- the river kayakers doing all sorts of flip-de-doodles in the animas river. These guys were awesome, and we watched them for several hours one afternoon

- the incredible durango community center, which was as good or better than any workout club I've ever been to...10 lane pool plus massive kiddies pool complex, cybex setup, spin center...free for residents, and only $5 for guests. What a bargain!

more to come as the tequila drains out and I get my memory back...

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""Snow in July'd out" Lumpy

Cycling "High"

LEFT: Ski slopes atop Santa Fe Mountain (NM)

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Once we got to Albuquerque, I started to get some cycling in. Now, cycling at altitude is a whole lot different than cycling at sea level. The first day out I did a modest 6 mile hill...it took me about 4 hours (I think), and I had to nap immediately afterward. Plus I had a massive nosebleed.

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The next day, as I'm cycling through the town, I pull up to a light in the right hand lane. A pickup truck pulls up behind me. Now, in NY, in this same situation, he would have either (a) laid on the horn and yelled expletives at me to move, or (b) just run me over, then laid on the horn and yelled expletives at me.

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This guy waits patiently. As I see him, I move my bike a bit more towards the center of the road, so he can make his right hand turn around me. He pulls up, rolls down his window and says "Sir, I want to thank you very much for taking the time to move your bike over to let me pass. I really appreciate it". Needless to say, I almost dropped over from the shock of it all. What a town!

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As we left Abuquerque, we spent a night in Santa Fe, and I rode Santa Fe mountain (15 miles uphill) on monday morning. About 2/3 of the way up I encountered "first snow", and by the time I got to the top, the temp had dropped probably 20 degrees, and the ski slopes were still deep in snow. But, on a positive note, I did get up the mountain, even with my extra 40 lbs and sea level lungs. From the top you could see all the way to Sandia Peak in Albuquerque, probably 80 miles away...Well worth the pain of the climb.

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Later today we head up to Durango to rendezvous with the crew and get ready for the Iron Horse classic bike ride. THAT should be a doozy!

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"Pickup truck drivers are my new best friends" Lumpy out