Pagosa Springs, CO to Alamosa, CO - 91 miles

The morning started out with winds whipping around, dark purplish blue clouds hovering over the mountain tops in the distance, and occasional raindrops sputtering down on us. We descended into the hunting town of Pagosa Springs. This is your typical Colorado postcard scenery - green mountainsides, small lakes, fields with horses in them, snow-capped peaks in the horizon. The dark angry gray clouds off in the distance looked extremely ominous. Several white jagged streaks of lightning danced on the top of one of the peaks. We were ascending up to a mass of earth that has its own personality, capable of changing at any minute. I just hoped we would not see any of that lightning. This was a scene out of Dante's Inferno.

Riders were all strung out. I stopped and got some pictures of the sky and a mountaintop. As we pulled into the first stop at 18 miles, it became apparent we would be veering away to the right of the lightning valley. Just eight more steep (7% grade) miles to the top. The fast guys were way ahead, as everyone left before me, and I like my kneecaps. Lon was climbing this thing on his single speed before everyone else. There were basically three turns to wind up over this pass. Some sheer rock cliffs were on our left hand side at one point, a sign warned to "watch for falling rock". The road was pitted from this falling rock hitting this concrete section of road. We went around the first switchback. There was a breathtaking view below of the valley we just climbed up. More pictures. There was a run away truck stop to our left, always a good sign you climbing (or descending) a monster hill. I passed quite a few riders. One last stretch through some work area. I look back and there is Spencer. All right, none of that. Drop, drop, goes my chain and I drift ahead. At the top, Lon is waiting with the van. There is no "Wolf Creek Pass" sign, however. This is a brown sign common in mountain passes that notes the name of the pass and the elevation. Great for taking pictures with. Someone supposedly stole it. Those damn kids! A "Continental Divide" sign had to do. I got my cold weather stuff on, as it was around 50 degrees. I put on booties, another jacket, big gloves, ear covers, leg, and arm warmers. Nice and toasty. The fellow with five chain rings in the front pulled in. I suppose they come in handy at some point, but possibly having 30, 35, or 40 gears would just confuse me. My 39x25 rarely got used as I mostly stayed in my 39x23 and 39x21. You sure can feel the burn of your legs when you exert yourself over your pace. The lack of oxygen has not bothered me too much, but you definitely have to be careful.

The long descent started. A semi passed me. I gained on it then whoosh I pass it. We go under a snow-shed tunnel and I slow things down a bit. Then out of it the speedometer says 52mph. The wind is buffeting me and I realize its time to feather the brakes a bit to slow down. The road narrows at one point and I stop to get a good picture. Then another stop to shed some layers of clothing. Jay and I whip along and almost pass lunch by. After a peanut butter, jelly, and BBQ chip sandwich, and some macaroni and cheese, we jump on the road. There is a screaming tailwind. The next stop is 25 miles, and I cover that in under an hour - and I had time enough to take a leak and a picture! A small group assembled at the stop. As a tandem leaves, we hop onto their wheel and the mileposts whiz by. Riding behind a tandem is a dream. You might as well have a truck in front of you.

We finished this short day around 2pm. Tomorrow is a long day - 146 miles, followed by a 161-mile day. Tailwind - stay!