Day 25 Granby to Grand Lake

26 miles (42 km) – Total so far: 1,324 miles (2,131 km)

Colorado’s schools go back on Monday so resorts like Grand Lake have quietened down, but it may still be a busy weekend.

I had only planned to ride up to Grand Lake today so it gave me the chance to attend to an infected mosquito bit on my hand. I have had it a few days now and it is only getting worse. I remember one of the girls on our Bike New Zealand course getting a similar thing and it got a lot worse and almost stopped her from riding. This took me most of the morning, getting antibiotics from the clinic and pharmacy. I had been to the pharmacy yesterday and got some cream, but of little use. I asked the pharmacist’s opinion and said it may have been a rattlesnake. He said he doubted it,and couldn’t quite get to grips with my humour.

Thankfully I’m a couple of miles out of Grand Lake itself. It is far more pleasant than Granby, but still is busy with tourists and is the sort of place with Crazy Golf and Go-Karts.

Distance 26 miles, Ride time 2 hrs and 8 minutes, Average speed 10.6 mph, Max Speed 23.4 mph, Departed 1:15 pm, arrived 3:50 pm Altitude 2640 metres.

Am I allowed a second opinion on Grand Lakes town? I had a choice last night of a burger bar a couple of hundred metres away, or the town back down the hill two miles. I am pleased I chose the latter. The Sagebrush bar and grill was busy but room at the bar. Ranger IPA from the New Belgian brewery in Fort Collins and Wooly Booger Brown Ale from the Grand Lake Brewery here in town. Combined with a bit of bar chat and the Reds and Rockies baseball it was a good night, and not too tough the ride back up the hill.

Lake Granby on a cooler and thundery day.

From the just after the pass I was at yesterday this track winds it’s way over Stillwater Pass to here. On to mountain bike this would be the way to go, it goes to over 3,500 metres