Today started off under sunny skies & 40 degree temp. I made my way out of the Durango morning commuters. I am sure Durango is used as NASCARS secret training ground! These people are insane.
I made my way into Bayfield for a coffee break 20 miles into the ride. When I left town light rain showers moved in & stayed with me for most of the day. A short break in Pagosa Springs for food supplies & I headed off for my much anticipated climb up the famous Wolf Creek Pass. As a cruel twist to this climb, you get to see the mountain coming toward you for 25 miles. I reached the base of the climb @ 2:00 pm & started up. 2 hours later I made it 9 miles to the snow covered summit! This is one bad climb! At the summit you are at the continental divide, 11000 ft up. It had snowed earlier in the day & this snow added to the 3ft of snow already on the ground. This combined with the fact that it was 37 degrees out canceled my plans of tent camping for the night. I took off all of my sweat & rain soaked cloths & put on all the dry cloths I had along with pants & headed down the 14 mile descent to the valley below. I tried to video the descent but with frozen fingers I had to limit the picture taking in the interest of being able to hold onto the handlebars! I made it into the small town of South Fork & found a proper hotel room for the night. Cold soaked to the bone I made my way to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner then to my room to stand in a hot shower for a 1/2 hour.
Today was a big day with the toughest climb of the trip behind me and one more left for tomo . Today was 106 miles & put my total @ 1000 miles even. By Friday I should hit the 1/2 way point of this trip. The course I am riding ( the ramm race route) has 170,000 feet of climbing ! By the end of the week the majority of that 170,000 ft should be behind me.
Thought of the day. As you ride along every inch of the property along the road from Az through Co.has a fence of some sort. I don’t know if these fences are to keep people out or to keep something in? Maybe both but I sure wish I had bought stock in barb wire!
Frank's Coast to Coast Ride for Justin 
Frank: M name is Linda Packer and I am Justin’s aunt. I live in Beech Creek, so am hoping to get to meet you when you come through. Justin’s mom and I are sister’s to Carol Hickok who lived in Canton and was murdered. Bill, Sherry and Vicky are our nephew and nieces. What a small world. Last July my husband was diagnosed with leukemia, In October he had a transplant from the world wide bank. (Perfect match). In Nov. the graft vs host hit him and he passed on Dec. 9th. So pleased with the work you doing for this cause. Following you every day. Justin is back in Thomas Jefferson with a mild case of graft vs host. Hoping for him to be back home soon. Thanks again for what you are doing.
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