Day 18 Montrose to Gunnison.

It was a very early start today and 'Sarge' and I were up at 4.50am and straight into breakfast. There was a lot of climbing involved today, yet at Route Rap last night I found myself volunteering with Bill and Al to go on an optional ride to Black Canyon, which meant a 7 mile climb of 2000' extra, clearly failed another sanity test. As we loaded and set off the sun was turning the snow on the Rockies pink, took a photo, but don't think it will do it justice. Al, Bill and I launched ourselves into the endless stream of 'Ride the Rockies' riders and judging by the speed some of them were going up the first drag they were in for a long day.
Just short of the 7 mile mark we turned off left towards The Black Canyon and the climbing started immediately. Parts of it were about 10% with the general gradient being 6-7%, but it was a nice morning and we saw deer prancing about in the meadows.
It seemed a long climb and when we got to the top we had to pay $7 to get in, luck I had money on me! On the campgrounds notice board there was a 'Bear Warning', nobody mentioned that!!!
The Canyon lived up to its billing and was spectacular. From the lookout point we took the obligatory pictures and saw an eagle soaring from one side to the other below us, stunning.
After staying long enough to justify all the climbing we had to go and then disturbed another deer right by the road. Went back the way we came in and then rejoined the stream of cyclists that would go all the way to Gunnison with us. We were wearing our 'America' shirts to help us stand out for our support staff. There was a lot of climbing and it was made more difficult by the sheer number of 'Rockies' riders. Got to the SAG at the top of The Blue Mesa climb and I was glad of a break. A nice descent brought us to a very nice lake/reservoir which was looking pretty low. Later Al & Bill went straight past the last water SAG as they were OK, but I stopped for water and so spent the last bit wheeling gently into Gunnison. I saw the hotel in the distance and as I drew level with it there was a grinding noise from the bottom bracket area of 'The Mule' and it sounded terminal.
As soon as I got in I got out my tools and took the cranks off and at once could see that the bottom bracket was virtually seized. I wheeled the bike to a local tyre fitters and borrowed their half inch drive to take the bracket out, then borrowed Alan's shoes and bike (he has 'Look' cleats, for those who don't know what that means you'll have to ask a biker), then rode into Gunnison, found a decent bike shop and the bloke described the bracket as 'toast'. Bought a new one and rode back to replace it. By dinner The Mule was back in business and hasn't put a hoof wrong since.
Today's distance was 76.5 miles (including the 14 mile option to Black Canyon).