Current Creek Pass summit

Here I am, glad to be at the summit. Unfortunately the awesome view of the snow capped mountains isn't clear against the clouds.

Current Creek Pass

Ingo nearing the summit.

Current Creek Hostel

This was the only place to fill our water bottles in the remote alpine valley that the pass follows.

Current Creek Pass

On the way up there were a couple short downhills but the elevation was quickly regained and the steady climb continued.

Royal Gorge to Fairplay

We were on the road by 6am this morning for a big day in the mountains. 66 miles with 6700ft climbing. This is looking toward the start of the 26 mile long Current Creek Pass.

Postboxes

I found this rural line of postboxes between Wetmore and Florence.

Wetmore, CO.

The Wetmore General Store. Cool looking place that's been there since 1879. Unfortunately it's closed Mon, Tues & Wed and we came through town on Wed.

To Wetmore

The road turned to the right up ahead and climbed for a mile, our first hill in a few weeks!

Pueblo, CO.

West out of Pueblo the landscape changes dramaticaly. From arid eroded valley to dry plain to lush valley at Wetmore.

To Pueblo, CO

On our way to Pueblo for a layover day we stopped in Boone to eat our peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Spot the deer on the other side of the tracks.

To Ordway, CO.

Sign of the times? About 12 miles of automobile carriages lying dormant out on the Colorado plains waiting for the next economic boom.

Eads, CO.

The skyscrapers of the plains...grain elevators and water towers.

To Eads, CO.

Karoo? No, eastern Colorado.

Colorado

As I enter Colorado, a last note on Kansas wind. It really wasn't too bad. It blew mostly from the side or from behind. Perhaps we were just lucky. May our luck continue! You've seen how straight the Kansas roads are, well just past that next road sign there is a bend in the road! Yippee! I like Colorado already.

Goodbye Kansas

I remember how Kansas greeted us with a terrible headwind, and the wind blew every day, but today Kansas blew us into Colorado on a near perfect day for cycling. It was cool, cloudy with a little drizzle, no traffic and a tailwind.
The best part was that I could put my phone under the barbag cover and follow the live text commentary on planetrugby.com of the Springboks vs British & Irish Lions rugby game being played in Durban, South Africa. It was amazing cruising along this deserted road in Kansas and almost being able to see the flags waving and hear Kings Park echoing with cries of "BEEEAST" with the Boks on their way to victory. When it got down to extra time I couldn't keep one eye on the road any longer and had to stop and pull off the road. It was a bit naelskraap in the end! Well done Bokke!!
You gotta love modern technology.

Cattle truck

Out of Scott City this morning there was the strange sight of pro-life billboards proclaiming, 'Life is Sacred, Choose Life' while every few minutes one of these evil looking trucks came hurtling past taking another load of cattle from the many feed yards to slaughter. Some life more sacred than others? And, no, I'm not a vege. But when I tuck into that next steak I'll think twice about where it came from. It's going to take a lot of Kansas wind to get the stench of those feed yards and cattle trucks out of my nostrils.

To Tribune, KS

You know how hard the wind blows across Kansas when even the trees in the road signs are leaning over!

To Scott City, KS.

The infamous west wind blew in our faces today. Plus we had to contend with cattle trucks and a couple of huge tractors.

To Ness City, KS.

One of the many old timber railway bridges on the line heading west.