Safe Return Doubtful

52 miles (83 km) – Total so far: 1,806 miles (2,906 km)

Today was a ride of three hills. It’s up straight out of Dolores and onto the 184 highway as it goes up 400 metres at 4-5%. Then a fast downhill to the town of Mancos where my route joined the much busier highway 160. This first part was the best riding of the day on a relatively quiet road through typical Colorado forests scenery. After Mancos there is the steepest section of the day, heading up 300 metres at 6%. I rode much of this with a local road bike rider who was good to chat to. At the top he went back to support his wife, some way behind. There then a downhill before the final climb of the day up to 2560 metres, but with a steady 4-5%, by this time of course it was in the 30s, so the steep downhill into Durango was welcome.

Durango is a tourist town with its ‘historic downtown’. It was quite busy today, with many people around early for the holiday Labour Day weekend, but it attracts all year around with the ski resorts close by. There are trendy cafes and several breweries, and I will check one out later on. At first glance though the breweries are pushing their restaurant service higher than their beer output.

Good place to spend the night – recommended when ‘there’s bears in town’

Typical morning riding

Downhill into the town of Mancos

Second of the big climbs, still some way to go…

Storytime:

Smoking

A story here from my mother:
All the brothers had their own rooms and one morning l rushed upstairs to hurry you up for school. I smelt a distinct smell of cigarettes I asked in a very loud voice who had been smoking. No one answered so l asked again

Still no answer. So l said OK it doesn’t matter, I will contact the C.I.D. later today they will come and find out.

Nigel shouted out to me as l walked down the stairs, “OK then, it was me.” He was still wearing short pants with his uniform and cap and still at Redcourt prep school.

It was many years later that we were sorting out the big old toybox. Nigel then was at University. We found several empty bottles of minuture booze. Also an empty packet of ten cigarettes. When questioned about it, he said it was Nick.

Nick’s reply: “It’s confession time………… it was definitely Nige as I didn’t ever drink miniatures and only smoked Embassy filter ciggies.”