DAY 33
PART 1
Sheridan Lake, CO to Haswell, CO
The day before, we had arrived at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church at 1:30 in the afternoon. Not bad for 78 miles, but we had started at 5 am and had gained an hour crossing into Mountain Standard Time. What we should have done is all gone directly to sleep in preparation for a night ride in order to avoid another agonizing day of torture in the heat and wind. Hindsight is 20/20. Around 8 o'clock that evening we stepped outside to a brilliant magenta sunset. The wind had also all but died. Kicking ourselves for not taking advantage of this opportunity, our next best option was to get to bed early in preparation for a 3 am wake up call and 3:30 start.
PART 1
Sheridan Lake, CO to Haswell, CO
The day before, we had arrived at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church at 1:30 in the afternoon. Not bad for 78 miles, but we had started at 5 am and had gained an hour crossing into Mountain Standard Time. What we should have done is all gone directly to sleep in preparation for a night ride in order to avoid another agonizing day of torture in the heat and wind. Hindsight is 20/20. Around 8 o'clock that evening we stepped outside to a brilliant magenta sunset. The wind had also all but died. Kicking ourselves for not taking advantage of this opportunity, our next best option was to get to bed early in preparation for a 3 am wake up call and 3:30 start.
 The sun finally rose |  Eads, Colorado is the halfway point of the TransAmerica Bicycle Route! |
If it were simply heat to worry about it would be extremely uncomfortable, but manageable taking the right precautions, such as extra water and limited time on the roads. If it were simply wind we had to deal with, again extremely uncomfortable, but manageable to a degree. When these two forces of evil are combined you might as well call the day what it is... A bust.
 |  |
With the intent of riding 89 miles to Ordway Colorado today, by 9 am even with the 3:30 start we had finished 39 miles shy of our goal. The decision was made to hold up in the shade of the Haswell city park until this evening. 50 miles isn't a complete waste of a day, I actually feel content as to completing so many miles in difficult conditions. This is only the second time during our trip that we'd been stopped short of our mark.
In the shade of the covered area, the four of us, Becky, myself, Dirty B, and Flats McFarlane each claim a picnic table and fall fast asleep as the hot wind rips through the park. Tonight will be our redemption for the mistake we'd made the evening before. 90 miles to Pueblo. Good thing we just changed out the batteries in our headlamps.
In the shade of the covered area, the four of us, Becky, myself, Dirty B, and Flats McFarlane each claim a picnic table and fall fast asleep as the hot wind rips through the park. Tonight will be our redemption for the mistake we'd made the evening before. 90 miles to Pueblo. Good thing we just changed out the batteries in our headlamps.
 Nap time to prepare for the night ride |  Flats and Dirty B call Keith dad, and for Father's Day they got him a card |
To be continued...
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