Day 20 Salida to Pueblo.

Today was definately a game of two halves, but firstly the team news. David, a lad who had been riding with his dad, was badly dehydrated from yesterday's ride so both of them left this morning for home rather than ride on to Pueblo which was to be the end of their trip. Piet didn't ride again but his wife Hetty did. Bill was back in the saddle as well. We all loaded at 5.30am and then went to Patio Pancakes (they also do sliding doors), where we had probably the best breakfast of the trip. We left town and soon entered Bighorn Sheep Canyon, riding gently downhill alongside the Arkansas River which was pretty lively and at its peak annual flow. The first SAG was after 38 miles and the ride had been easy up to then.
About 8 miles later we took the optional detour, don't we always? to see The Royal Gorge, which we were told meant a short climb and some extra miles. A couple of miles in Alan, who was riding with the usual 4, got a puncture and then discovered his rear tyre was shredding, so he turned to go back to the main road and get help from the van. We carried on and then discovered that the short climb was about a 1000' and in parts was very steep. We had also been told that the entrance fee would be about $8, so we were not amused when sweating and cursing we arrived at the entrance booth to find it was $23. Al and Steve immediately entered into negotiations with the bloke in the booth and got it down to $17, I chipped in that we were going across the country and raising money for charity and he got on the phone, after more persuasion from Steve and Al, to someone and eventually we got in (and all those following)for $9, result. While we were waiting at the booth there were bird feeders hanging from its roof and brilliantly coloured hummingbirds were coming to feed, hovering and putting their long beaks in to drink, only feet away, amazing. It was a this point that the batteries in my camera ran out!! However, being a former boyscout, I had new ones in my back pocket, but after I had changed them the hummingbirds decided to go on strike and as the others were waiting for me I had to go.
In a small zoo we saw Mountain Elk, Bison with young and white Bison. The gorge itself was spectacular and the suspension bridge is the highest in the world. I don't know why it's called the 'Royal' gorge, which royal? America has only had one 'king' and there was no mention of Elvis anywhere. Crossed over that and managed to force an ice cream between my lips on the other side. Saw Sarge and what is affectionately known as his 'Day-Care Group' arrive as we were about to leave. More of them later.
We dropped back down to Highway 50 and looking back west saw the last views of the rockies, the character of the landscape was about to change dramatically. The road was undulating, the temperature was climbing rapidly and the wind was getting up. We missed the second SAG at Canon City so had to call the van for more water. The second half of this ride was not as easy as the first half. The last 20 odd miles into Pueblo saw the wind get very strong and was coming off the right initially, but then a huge storm away to our left meant the wind was over our righ shoulders and progress was slowed. Also the roller-coaster character of the road was sapping. We were all glad to get into the hotel. In just a couple of hours we had left the mountains and were now on the Colorado plains, a practise run for Kansas.
At route rap we said goodbye to several riders who were only going as far as Pueblo and 'au revoir' to Gary who we hoped would join us later in the trip.
The wind by now had shifted again and Sarge's group, who had stayed at Royal Gorge for a good while, didn't get into the hotel until after 6.00pm. At one point they were down to 5 or 6 mph against the headwind. Lucky its a rest day next.
Dinner that night was at a chain of eateries known as The Golden Corral, where having paid to go in you eat as much as you want. It was Friday night and most of Pueblo was in there for what can only be described as a feeding frenzy, it made pirhanas look genteel. However the food was very nice and I only had 7 steaks. (Made that bit up). Then had a farewell drink for Gary in Applebee's.
Today's distance was 103.4 miles. (Total to the end of this tour 1491.45 miles)