Oh boy, where do I start? What an adventure this was! This was my very first century ride and I think it had everything: Mechanical failure, the strong prospect of not making it early on, great Colorado scenery, the anticipation of accomplishment further on and meeting with two dear friends at the end.

This might sound as if I won an Oscar, but I have a list of people to thank from the bottom of my heart: Chris for rescuing me while stranded in Nathrop, Keith with The Trailhead Outdoor Store in Buena Vista, who did everything he could to help and drove me home, Scott B. at Absolute Bikes in Salida for repairing my bike, the many friendly people I encountered along the ride, and Derek and Anna for driving down to the San Luis Valley to encourage me, celebrate with me and bringing me back home.

Enjoy the photos below! -Steve

First 15 Miles - The Broken Derailer Hanger "Drama"

TOP: Mile 3 - The view of Mt. Princeton just outside of Buena Vista at about 6:45 a.m. BOTTOM: Mile 14 - Just south of Nathrop, the derailer hanger on my bike broke off, leaving me unable to peddle. I rode my bike one mile north (by using my leg) to the Chalk Creek Campground, where my buddy Chris generously brought me and the bike to The Trailhead in Buena Vista, which includes a bike shop. The Trailhead has frequently done good work with my bike, but they did not have that particular part in stock, and so I drove to Absolute Bikes in Salida (a larger shop and Giant Bike dealer) where the part was installed. By the time I got my bike back, it was already 10 a.m. and I had lost 2.5 hours of precious morning riding time. Still, I decided to continue with my ride to Poncha Pass and successfully battled through all sorts of thoughts to quit.

Salida To The San Luis Valley

	I was back on the bike! Here's the westerly view of Mt. Ouray and Chipita Peak between Poncha Springs and Salida on Highway 50.
	Just before beginning the fairly steep seven miles from Poncha Springs to Poncha Pass, I stopped for a rest and captured the view of Mt. Shavano and Mt. Princeton.
	Mile 30 - Upon arriving at Poncha Pass (the highest point of my ride at 9,010 feet), I started to "become a believer" that I could pull off this century ride. The scenery up there is nice! (See more scenery: Bike Poncha Pass last month.) TOP: The Poncha Pass sign with Mt. Ouray directly behind. MIDDLE: The view to the north (where I biked from) that includes the Sawatch Mountains and Mt. Shavano on the right. BOTTOM: The really pretty view of the northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains south of the pass.
	I reached my top speed whizzing down Poncha Pass at 43 miles per hour and rested for a few minutes in Villa Grove. The Villa Grove General Store and Restaurant is a place I frequently stop at when I'm in this area of Saguache County.
	Mile 50 - This is the San Luis Valley at its best: Wide open spaces and grand mountains in the background. At mile 50, I stopped at the junction of Highways 285 and 17 for these photos.
	I would spend the next 40 miles on State Highway 17 going south in the San Luis Valley. The road formerly acted as a railroad grade in another period of Colorado's history. It is a loooooooong and straight road with Kansas-like features. At one point, I stopped and snapped this northerly view of the region I had just come from.
	I rested a bit in Moffat, Colorado (population 120) and took advantage of the shade from the Moffat Post Office. The conversation with the friendly worker at the Mirage Trading Co. Cafe (with free wi-fi) was greatly appreciated along this lonely stretch of road.
	Mile 70 - Bicycling south of Moffat, I noticed two people oddly pulled over taking pictures. Ahhhhhh ... it was my friends Derek and Anna who drove from Salida to cheer me on, encourage me, support me, take me home, etc. It was great to see them! :)
	Derek and Anna left me for awhile and I pretty much had this view (adjacent photo) for the ten miles to Hooper. :p)
	The U.F.O. Watchtower area is located just north of Hooper. I really recommend visiting this fun and quirky place, even if you don't believe in UFO's. ;)
	Various junk and farming equipment ... Now THIS is the San Luis Valley! :)
	Mile 81 - My rest for a short while at the gas station in Hooper.

The Final Twelve Miles Near The Great Sand Dunes

	Mile 92 - Near Mosca, the route to the Great Sand Dunes National Park goes east along a very straight and isolated stretch. (County Lane 6 North) The Sangre De Cristo Mountains stand tall in the background and the dunes can be seen on the left. I was almost done!
	For a short while, Derek and Ana drove alongside me and we talked. Then, they sped up a few miles on this very undertraveled road and played frisbee as I slowly caught up to them.
	Then, all of a sudden, I started seeing signs! The "Crazy Telephone Poles" is the name of our "young adults group" at our church in Buena Vista. The name has really caught fire in our community and seeing Anna hold that sign really inspired me. During some of the stretches alone, I spotted various signs like "Go Steve!" and the "Wahoo" sign on the cattle guard near mile 101.
	I stopped at 102 miles and pulled over at the photo below. I didn't officially bike to the Great Sand Dunes entrance a few miles up, because it was getting somewhat late and I wanted Derek and Anna to spend some time at the sand dunes as a reward. Also, the terrain of this spot had all of the sandsheet and grassland features just a few miles southwest of the dunes, so even if I wasn't technically in the park boundaries, I was clearly in the sand dunes' ecosystem. ;)
	We spent about an hour in the Great Sand Dunes (See frisbee photos), but I wanted to close with this photo of a grand San Luis Valley sunset as we left the park. It was a great day!