Day 26. Illegal Pete.

Friday February 3, 2023

I woke up at 7am and quickly got dressed in my cycling gear...stoked to get out for a ride today! Both Zach and Lawton (valet's) retrieved my ride for the day and had it waiting for me when I came out fully dressed. I kinda like this service! Maybe I could get my kids to do this for me?

Ha!

The temperatures totally cooperated too... it was showing in the thirties already with a near fifty degree high! Wow. I wasn't sure how it would be up at a higher altitude and in the valleys so I dressed for a pretty cold ride.

I had pretty much memorized the route since it was only a few turns and I headed right out feeling great. Something about starting a day off in the saddle, even with the wind in your face, just reminds ya of how good it is to be alive huh!?

A few miles into the ride I got off the bike a little annoyed at myself because I never checked the tire pressure after I picked up the wheel from the bike shop back in Texas. It felt low. Not too squishy but kind of like a fat tire feel...slowing ya down. Pressure seemed fine though. The climbs started right away and I was instantly feeling the effects of the altitude. Not crazy, but the breathing was just a bit more labored and deep. I still felt awesome actually, lungs stretching to take in more with each pedal stroke. I was trying to pace myself for all the elevation in front of me and even on the downhills, I was braking quite a bit. There was still a bit of dirt in the shoulders and actually some ice patches in the more shadowy valleys that I passed thru. About halfway thru I got off the bike again to check the tire pressure. I mean I could feel the inclines I was climbing, but when it would level off I still felt slow. Ha! Maybe it's me? Dang I felt pretty in shape with all the stuff I've been doing...but who knows.

About fourteen miles in I hit the tiny town of Jamestown. Literally one little cafe (which was closed at 10 in the morning), a Post Office and a Jesus is Lord Church. Guess if you live here you wake up, have a coffee, Praise God, grab your mail and that's it! Day over lol!

So I turned around to head back to the Boulderado Hotel. In the first half mile the smile started across my face even more as I picked up speed in a descent. It was a gentle one...probably only a few percent but wow it felt good with the mountains around. Then it just kept going! I mean for three miles. I tell ya climbing up I felt so sluggish and slow I was almost embarrassed. Even the wildlife kinda stared at me. A couple of hawks or something were high up in a tree and I felt them look at me, look at each other, look back at me and then I swear they cackled at me. "Hey Joe, look at this bozo from New York ha! He thinks he's a rider! Is he even moving!?" I swear I could hear them saying it.

But now in the descent I felt like I owned the mountain! Nothing like a little speed to make you feel like you're the man lol. Who cares that I was barely even pedaling!

Then it hit me! The entire ride here I was thinking I was on flat ground and my rear tire was flat. But it was actually just a slightly less grade than the rest. The climbs were steep enough that when it dropped to only like 2 or 3 percent I thought it was level...but it wasn't! That's why I thought I had a flat- I was actually still going up! It felt like three quarters of the ride home I barely touched the pedals...just cruised in a tuck. So good.

It took me about two hours to get to Jamestown and about forty five minutes to get back. I literally braked for several minutes straight to keep it below 45 mph. I think I could've easily hit fifty if not more... The blind turns around mountains into some dirt and ice patches kept me super cautious though. Maybe I have "growed up" a bit.

Back at the Boulderado, Lawton again hooked me up by grabbing the bike from me and I was able to run upstairs, shower up and checkout pretty quickly without worrying about the bike. (Remind me to give them a review somewhere : )

I headed off to a local coffee shop to chill and type some of the blog up. "Brewers Market" just down the road hooked me up with an iced Horchata which I found out is a rice based milk latte that they sweetened and added a touch of cinnamon to...delish!

Before I left to head west I found a little taco/burrito place called 'Illegal Pete's" so I had to stop in. Right!? First the name grabbed me. I'm a sucker for any kind of marketing. Or just my name on a product and I grab it. But on top of that there was the word illegal in front of it which grabbed me also. I went to twelve years of Catholic school where it always seemed like a nun was just waiting for you to step out of line so I've always been kind of a goody two shoes. (Where the heck did that saying come from) (Two good shoes?) (Is anyone ever called a bad shoe?) (and what's a bad shoe then?) (I definitely don't like when a shoe doesn't fit but that's not the shoes fault right?) (And then if the shoe does fit ya gotta wear it? But what if I don't like the style?). Ok. I'm lost. Where was I? At least once a blog I get lost so there that's over with.

SO I think my repressed bad@$$ self just wanted to do something illegal. Not that buying a taco is illegal. But just being associated with something illegal attracted me lol. So I grabbed a quesadilla for the road (I swear I didn't grab it, I paid for it : ) and left.

It was ok. Just ok. Was hoping for better actually. Maybe they put "illegal" ingredients in it? Or things illegal in other places. Not here. I think. I mean it is Colorado and all? But not only did it taste kinda average I didn't get Rocky Mountain High or hungry for a pizza after either so I guess it was kind of a boring, legal lunch after all. Salsa was yummy. I like my salsa spicy.....like I like my....tacos! Ha!

Great name for a taco joint though.

I drove for nearly five hours on the way to Moab but definitely was feeling fatigued driving through the mountains at night. I was thinking I could really use a massage or spa overnight lol. Between the wind and hairpin turns it's not a real relaxing drive. The jeep isn't exactly aerodynamic either lol. Adding that tent on the top didn't help. It's like driving a barn door down the highway. So I booked a room at a Marriott in Grand Junction and pulled in at almost 8pm.

Whoa! What a town! I made sure to check in super fast to walk around and check it out. It seems I've said this about a lot of towns but this one 'felt' right. The first three shops I saw were a bike shop, a coffee/cafe and a brewery called "Trail Life. Wow!

I jumped into the brewery of course and grabbed a seat at the bar. For the next two hours I made about six friends, all talking about cycling, hiking and a few of them even signed up to follow me on the blog. They recommended rides and even side excursions for me. The staff here at this place was far and above any I've ever experienced. Enthusiastic, friendly, loving their job and life vibe poured out of them faster than any beer on tap. Belle and Brian sitting next to me told me of a town a few miles away called Aouray that has a bunch of hot springs. Like outdoor, warm, relaxing, soothe your aching cycling, sno-boarding, sitting in a jeep for five hour muscles. Wow! I'm gonna have to look into this! Just what the doc ordered!

Two local IPA's and an awesome "Colorado Pombazo" chicken sandwich later I headed home to the Marriott a couple of blocks down. The town feels super alive yet chill at the same time, even at 10pm. Clean, cool art sculptures along the sidewalk (pics of those tomorrow), chill and safe feeling.

To think I started this day ascending three thousand feet on a Parlee Altum Disc five hours away...and to end it here...wow...pinching myself.

Inside

Part of me had wanted to be in Moab by tonight. The air traffic controller-make-a-decision and git-er-done mind was fighting the just-chill and let-life-flow vibe I'm trying to hone.

But I found that the journey to peace is all about having peace within. Not needing to be anywhere other than here and now with whatever unfolds. Doesn't mean that I don't make plans and stuff for later or tomorrow...but I don't live in that future moment in my head, and clinging to that plan when it's just not going to happen lol. So easy to get caught up in the 'what's next" rather than fully breathe in what's happening now.

Outside

The mix of great towns with people doing all kinds of outdoor activities. I saw people cycling all around Boulder, and now in Grand Junction, even at 9 o'clock at night, there are people cycling around. In specific lanes on the roads for them...so good.

Upside

Beef Jerky. Great road food.

So good.

downside

Not enough time! I must've fielded three different idea's of where to go next that all seem so enticing! But unless I commit to a year on the road I gotta filter something out lol. Well, I guess I could let go of the fact that I "have to be back" by a certain date. Which I kind of don't. Being pulled in both directions!