Over The Hump

It's one of those days where you feel like you've worked hard and finally the payoff is here! Nothing could have prepared me for the mountains. It's not that I haven't been through and up mountains before, and some pretty impressive ones at that, but the sheer majesty of The Rockies on the ride up through Independence Pass took my breath away. And no, it wasn't the altitutde which I have to agree blew my mind. We climbed to 12,095 ft where the air becomes thin and the snow creeps down to the edge of the road even though the temperature gauge reads eighty something degrees. Yes folks, apparently there are tears in motorcycling but only for transcendental experiences that defy description.

Imagine an ascent up increasingly narrowing two-lane roads with hairpin switchbacks, sometimes with those intent upon breaking speed records at your back and sometimes in front as well (you know who you are). My bike weighs 500lbs dry weight. Contrary to what was stated in the initial entries of this blog where I severely underestimated my load, my saddle bags weigh 35 to 40lbs each. My seat bag is another 20lbs or so. My current weight is 125lbs. See where I'm going with this? The riding was challenging but thrilling and exhilirating and I have a huge sense of accomplishment and a whole new set of muscles that I didn't see coming.

I have earned my sleep tonight. Tomorrow, the challenges will be different but they always are and I look forward to meeting them.

Tonight we are overnighting in Silt, CO. Tomorrow night? Just Plain Filth