Day 10--Mostly Dodging the Bullet--Pagosa Springs CO-Chama, NM

Tuesday, September 8

It poured inches of rain last night.   When we woke up, it was cloudy and calm, but the forecast called for heavy rains around noon.  We packed for rain, then headed to a nearby bakery for one of our best breakfasts ever---aka, no hotel buffet of eggs, bacon, hasbrowns, no fruit, etc.  Today I resolved to eat lighter, and it paid off, especially on the hills immediately after breakfast.  The double late helped, I'm sure.

I rode with Debbie, from Alberta, Canada most of the way.  The scenery was beautiful, but as the morning progressed, the storm clouds threatened.  I should have put on more sunscreen.

Beautiful scenery an hour before the rains.  

Looking North, at the Colo-NM border

Does this really need a caption?

Shortly after crossing the border into New Mexico,  we enjoyed a nice rest stop with hot coffee, then, right around noon, the heavens opened up with torrential sideways winds. Fortunately there was no lightening, and it lasted for only five miles, then tapered off for the remaining 12 miles.  Water was oozing out of my new bike shoes.  I was glad it was only 49 miles.

Che Berrand with his chicken and ratatouli

Liz, Dan, Wayne, & Mary

Debbie and I were the first to arrive in Chama, in the middle of Nowhere, NM.  We're staying at the Branding Iron Motel with a number of bow hunters and construction workers.

Barb, Ron, Debbie, & Robert

Our guides, Bertrand and Joe had hot soup waiting for us in the parking lot.  I zoned out and enjoyed a comatose 1.5 hour nap.

Later Bertrand, who owned a French restaurant in Telluride fixed us a delightful meal of ratatouille, chicken, and rice. We enjoyed it with the wine we purchased last Friday.  And then, the Lena and Ole jokes started....

The best rural motel dinner ever!

Tomorrow we climb over a 10,000 foot pass on a 95 mile trip to Ojo Caliente, again in the middle of nowhere.  But I hear it has hot springs and mud baths.  The weather forecast is looking much better.