Soon to be Collector's Item
Told ya I was aiming to outdo Mr. Watson!
Stunning!
Lizard Head Pass conquered!!!
sunset from my tent
Cortez to Telluride
80 miles
Okay, so it's not Ansel Adams (Moonlight Over Hernandez), but I've yet to see a Graham Watson shot like this. The background is the moonset (coinciding with sunrise), looking back over my shoulder, as I left Cortez en route to Lizard Head Pass, the most difficult climb I've done to date. 62 miles of sustained climbing, according to the Denver Post.
Even though Day One was hard, it was gorgeous. The perfect opening day ride: it set the pace and the mood, and the weather and wildflowers were simply phenomenal!!!
My knee was sore by the second rest stop. I had to take a pain killer by the fourth rest stop. I should have stopped to take more pictures than I did, but I knew my knee would burn if I got off the bike, so I rode.
The pre-ride clinics had informed us today's ride had no payoffs, but I thought the short descent rocked. I had to brake to keep from speeding in a 35mph zone.
I'd never been to Lizard Head Pass or Telluride before, so I didn't know for sure which peaks were which. Had to shoot them all just to make sure I got the 14ers (Mt. Wilson, Wilson Peak and El Diente). I was able to figure out pretty easily which mountain was the Lizard, but I'm still not quite sure how it got that name. To me, it looked more like the Boy Scout sign. Guess a mountain by that name wouldn't have been a popular tourist destination. :)
Told ya I was aiming to outdo Mr. Watson!
Stunning!
Lizard Head Pass conquered!!!
sunset from my tent
bikemaster: jrnylst at att dot net
