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Colorado Epic: Day One

 


Wet Mountains to Colorado City 

This morning felt like a reunion. Tom and Greg were sitting together in the hotel lobby eating breakfast.  We exchanged greetings and picked up right where we left off, as if we had just seen each other last week instead of last year.  Leslie appeared, and we hugged and chatted.  Jim showed up soon after.  It felt like the old gang was back together again.  I laugh to think about it.  We only met last year, and we only spent one week together.  Yet, these people feel like good friends.  Mark was the new guy, and he blended into the group easily.

We sat outside chatting, catching up on the past year, sharing stories, making plans for future tours.  The conversation flowed easily, and soon it was time to load up in the van and drive to our starting point.  We traveled south out of Colorado Springs and started climbing, winding our way up into the mountains.  After a while, Leslie pulled the van into a roadside parking area.  It was time.  

We piled out of the van, quickly donned our helmets and shoes, filled our water bottles, and shoved off.  Immediately we started climbing.  Of course we did.  Climbing is why we are here!  I watched my altimeter tick upward, passing 7,500 feet, then 8,000 feet, then 9,000 feet.  The scenery was spectacular, and the air was thin.  Greg took the lead and set an easy, first-day pace.  Tom and I settled in with Greg, and we pedaled along, sometimes chatting, other times lost in our own thoughts. 

 


As we reached the summit of one of the climbs, I noticed a bunch of cars parked on either side of the road.  Perhaps it was a trailhead?  No.  As we rode on, we noticed a massive castle lurking in the conifers.  Built out of stone, it had a drawbridge at the archway entrance, a fire-breathing dragon statue, turrets, and staircases going everywhere.  This was Bishop’s Castle.  It is one of the most unique and confusing buildings I have ever seen.  Photos don’t do it justice.  This castle needs to be seen in person.  We pulled in and walked around, taking pictures, staring at all there was to see, trying to make sense of this massive stone castle in the middle of a forest.  None of it made sense, so we mounted our bicycles and pedaled on.



Intermittent descents interrupted the climbs.  After summiting the final ascent, we enjoyed a delightful 18-mile descent down to the van.  The temperature rose proportionately to our loss in altitude.  By the time we got to the van, it was HOT.  We climbed into the van and drove to our hotel for the night.  

Today was a great first day.  36 miles with 2,510 feet of climbing felt like a perfect warm-up for things to come.  My legs feel strong.  I am excited for the mileage and the elevation gains to start increasing.  Let’s see if all my training pays off!

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