What's Fred Up To Now?: Day 25 - Wednesday June 13; Fairplay, CO to Silverthorne, CO (43 miles)

I got a good night's sleep last night which I felt I needed to get up Hoosier Pass today, especially given that I hardly slept the night before in Guffey and the ride to Fairplay was exhausting in the afternoon headwind. After a continental breakfast at the motel, I was off at about 7:30 AM. I started a little later today hoping it would be warmer at the start. I think it was about 40 degrees when I left but I still didn't wear any cold weather gear because I knew the climbing started right out of the parking lot.

At the north end of Fairplay there is a paved bicycle path that goes all the way to Alma, six miles away and the only stop before the pass. I rode on it for about three miles but got tired of the small ups and downs. I rode on CO9 the rest of the way. I got honked at by a man I assume to be a local. I believe he thought I should be riding on the path. There was no oncoming traffic, so I don't know why he cared. Alma is at 10,505 feet and is the highest incorporated inhabited community in the US. I stopped for a short break at the general store then proceeded on to the pass.

The road out of Alma was either flat or had a gentle uphill grade for the first two miles to the base of the pass. The last four miles were tough but manageable in granny gear having a steady and moderately steep grade. I stopped a couple of times to take pictures. About a half a mile from the pass I was passed by Max from London who I'd met a couple of days ago. We met at the pass and took each others pictures.

The ride down to Breckenridge was fun. It is steeper on that side than the side I came up - glad of that! I stopped and took a picture of the ski area then hit the first convenience store for a short break. There is a bike path from Breckenridge to Frisco and on the Silverthorne. It is really, really nice and gets cyclists off of busy CO9. The ride to Frisco was especially nice. I noticed as I approached Frisco that there were a lot of cyclists and flag people directing some in certain locations. It turns out that Ride The Rockies is passing through this area today on their way to Rocky Mountain National Park and eventually Ft. Collins. There were also very many others, couples and families, just enjoying the path.

I got lost in Frisco. I followed the map instructions to where it crossed Main Street but there are so many intertwining bike paths after that that I could not tell which one I was supposed to be on. This added several miles to my trip today. I finally had to back track to Main Street and ask for directions to Dillon Dam Road. A convenience store clerk gave great directions and I soon found my way to the path along this road. I also saw where the path I was supposed to be on joined in, but I'll be darned if I know how it got there. The bike path along the Dillon reservoir was also spectacular. In fact the whole area bicycle path system is very, very nice.

Once down from the dam into Silverthorne I found a Wendy's where Susi and I had eaten lunch another time we were passing through the area. I checkout out the hostel in Silverthorne, which has some really bad reviews (alcohol and drug use) and it appeared to me that the reviews were accurate. I found a good rate at the Days Inn.

Tomorrow I'm off for Hot Sulphur Springs, 53 miles away and what appears to be a pretty gently ride. My legs need a gently ride after the last three days. My quads are getting sore. Hopefully the temperature and winds will be favorable tomorrow.

A few photos from the day follow.