Our ride today was a short 50 miles over the steepest (8% grade) and tallest (11,900 ft) of the summer, Loveland Pass. In the morning, Bruce Rogers decided to join my pace-line for the day. Our ride up was easier than anticipated and full of chitchat and conversation with Bruce Rogers about his life and accomplishments. After getting to know him, I almost jealous of this kind and intelligent man. It was great to get to know him over the course of the last two days (there’s actually a picture of my pace line at the pass—Bruce is on the left)! We waited at the top in the van for the entire team to arrive so we could take a team picture near the sign. It was freezing at the top. Ice and snow still covered the side of the road and my friends and I packed into the vans for warmth. After reaching the pass at mile 25, the end of the day was downhill at almost the same incline. We sped down the switchbacks at exhilarating speeds of 35 mph before we hit the highway (which we rarely do) and actually passed cars for the first time since traffic was backed up. People stared and took pictures of the crazy cyclists speeding by on the shoulder, it was fun!
That night, we had a friendship visit at the Rocky Mountain Village camp. The team was split up into bunk rooms and we got to partake in the skits the campers had prepared to introduce themselves. Part of the skit was dressing up in costumes, to which we all quickly obliged. I found a hat, beard, and gown with some awesome star glasses to make a disco Gandalf costume! We also learned some of the camp songs the counselors sang. They knew over two dozen different songs and it thoroughly impressed our team as they recited them one after the next. For the past couple of days since this event, we have been joking around with some of the lyrics and associated dance moves (“two shortneck buzzards, sitting in a dead tree!”). Lodging, for the second time in a row offered actual beds!
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