Quest West - A Ride Across America

Pedalists' Pee Pours to Pacific
Gunnison, CO
We got an early start this morning because we knew we'd be going over our highest pass on the trip, Monarch Pass, which, as Tony gave away, is over 11,000 feet and happens to mark the Continental Divide. A great breakfast at the West End in Salida (rhymes with saliva), some bike repair, and we were rolling. The ten mile climb felt endless (there was a slight headwind, to boot), but it certainly wasn't the steepest terrain we've seen, so that was nice. On our way up we could see an enormous black cloud rolling and rumbling towards us, so we shot down the hill before it hit the summit. On our way down we looked back to see some incredible lightning flashes and were told that a hail storm was pelting the top of the pass. We waited out the storm at a restaurant down below, thankful to have completed the descent on dry roads. When the storm finally stopped over us, we continued the downhill ride to Gunnison. Unfortunately another impressive storm was brewing down in the valley. At first, it was quite a show to watch, but then it started moving over us. Lightning and thunder seemed to come at the same time and from all directions, so we quickly sought shelter. Wet and tired, we treated ourselves to dinner at the Double Dragon Chinese food restaurant, where sadly, there were no references to the video game, and a night at the Days Inn.
Theme song for the day: Rocky Mountain High (cheesy, we know, but so appropriate) by John Denver (who may or may not be full of it).