Day of rest Pueblo, CO

Today was a day off, Saturday June 27th and a day of rest for Marilyn. Unlike in Salt Lake City where she got up early and played tourist, this time was rest......She swam in the pool, went to the sauna, then back to the pool, had lunch and rested. Isn't that what we are suppose to do on our day off. She is in Pueblo and all the other riders went sightseeing.

If you are following the map the majority of the week was in Colorado another beautiful site.

Friday was a scary ride for Marilyn, they were riding into a canyon, very narrow windy roads, 2 lanes only and no breakdown lane. She was riding alone and all of a sudden there was a tractor trailer on her left, very close on her left. There was no time to think she just reacted by braking & rode into the canyon rocks & bushes. Fortunately for Marilyn she was safe and came away with bruises. Of course her first reaction was to check out the bike and then she realized she should see if she could stand and walk. If you look at the description of her ride it is called the Cross Country Challenge and this is one of the reasons. Her bikes brakes were pretty messed up and had to be replaced. She really thought this could have been the end. The sag wagon was just a couple miles ahead and they helped her out.

Marilyn has been riding most of the time alone because she is fast for the last group and not fast enough for the next group ahead. On one day the organizers allowed her group (the last ones) to leave early so this way the faster riders caught up with them and they were able to ride with someone new for some of the ride.

They have been riding on Route 50 and the rules are if there is no other access road you can ride on the highway. There was one day when they were in the breakdown lane and then all of a sudden there was another highway coming in from the right so there they were right in the middle of 4 lanes of road.

Marilyn sees a lot of prairie dogs on the side of the road watching her ride by.

The road up to the Continental Divide was narrow and again no guard rails and just enough room for 2 cars.

Marilyn saw the chiropractor on Friday for a tune up and this has been helpful. She continues to sit on ice every night to prepare for the next day.

I asked Marilyn if she was tired of riding and it was a decisive and definite NO, what she is tired of is living out of a suitcase. That is getting old. Everyday on her bike is a new adventure, following different maps and routes. She has also discovered by sharing a room that she snores and on occasion talks in her sleep but she is sleeping so that is a plus.

I will do my best to get in touch with Marilyn if she doesn't call me every few days, this has a long time between blogs.

So tomorrow and the next day will be over 100 miles each day and tomorrow will be her last day in CO and then into Kansas.

She has had 2 more flat tires this week riding on Rte 50 which is filled with debris.
She sends her best to everyone......