Good Bye Santa Fe!

Until we meet again....

Buffalo Thunder... a nice little setup.

How the West is Done....

New Mexico is one of 7 states w/ the lowest population and the most remote regions that will remain pretty much the same over the next 100 years.... for most people this is a place of wilderness and desolation.... for me its the next frontier.

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Hiking east of the 8th hole at Buffalo Thunder Golf Course

Last day here at BT so I figured I'd make the most of it.... doing an end to end from south to north following the barrancas... seemed like the thing to do.

Walked to Pojoaque and will eat at....

... the local favorite... the Roadrunner Cafe.

Don't have to golf...

... to enjoy a golf course!

Walking the Barrancas to Pojoaque

Taking a Hike... on the Golf Course...

Taking a walk around the Buffalo Thunder Golf Course

Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino - Pojaoque New Mexico

Beyond the Golf Course...

50 yards off the cart track, the New Mexican Desert reclaims its desolation.... oh to have been here 150 years ago.... a few more Jigowatts please!

Fore! from Hole 1 of the beautiful Buffalo Thunder Golf Course....

A Golf Course in the High Desert.... I love it!

Heading back down from a great day at Bandelier National Monument!

View of Bandelier Valley from the Alcove

Looking down from the Alcove

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Making the 140' ascent to the Alcove

Looking up to the Alcove at Bandelier

I've finished my Giardia meds...

and am feeling better... hope it stays that way!

Continuing on the Main Loop Trail...

The many dwellings of Bandelier...

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On the Main Loop Trail in Bandelier

Overlook above Bandelier

2 miles to Bandelier on NM 4

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Taking a drive....

From Pojoaque to Bandelier Natl Monument...

On the Plaza Stage in Santa Fe New Mexico....

Part of a 2-day extravaganza known as the Spanish Market on the 400th Anniversiary of Santa Fe New Mexico... oldest City in America!

Well Done... Miss America!

Now it's time for you to ride! Gonna stop at a place called Nino's (recommended by the Hertz rental guy) and get something to eat before I make the drive to Santa Fe.

Got 'er Done...

Thus ends this cross-Colorado Bicycle tour that took me 465 miles over 5 mountain passes and 4 crossings of the CD.... from a low of 5400' to a high of 12000. I'm currently suffering from Giarditis and will likely be for some time... this tour lasted 10 days and started tough and just got tougher.... but those are the days you remember.... so for now I'll just say Good bye Colorado and Hello New Mexico. I'm throwing my bike in the back of a Nissan Rogue and driving to Santa Fe... see ya there!

Entering Monte Vista

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8 mi east of Del Norte

Stopped at Adams in Del Norte to pick up my Giardia Rx

Entering Del Norte

Leaving South Fork CO

1st stop... Del Norte to pick up Giardia Rx... next stop Alamosa to pick up rental car... final stop Santa Fe to meet my wife and daughter.

Beautiful Bluff on 149S a few miles north of South Fork CO

Rio Grande River between Wagon Wheel Gap and South Fork CO on Hwy 149S

Cool place for a Fire Station... Creede CO

Mountains Mist and Mining...

1 mile up the Bachelor Loop in Creede CO

Info on the Humphrey Mill and the Amethyst Vein... in Creede CO

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On the road up the 17 mile Bachelor Loop to the Humphrey Mine...

... to the site of the largest silver mine strike in Colorado... the Amethyst Vein... more to come...

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Gorillas in the Mist?

No... that's the Mountains on the Old Mining Historic Loop above Creede CO.... the next few pics show the melding of mountains and mist on a morning in Creede Co.

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Update on my condition

I pulled in to South Fork CO earlier today feeling really poorly. I've been suffering from severe diarrhea for the last 3 days. It started after I drank water out of the Lake Fork River on 149S about 20 mi north of Lake City. I treated the water with Emergency Water tablets like I've done many times in the past.... 2 tablets per quart of water.... shake and wait for 30 mins... however this was the first time I'd ever done it with a Camelbak... I suspect that the water treatment tablets didn't come in contact with all the water.... bottom line... after getting a thorough checkup from a Dr at the Rio Grande Health Clinic in South Fork CO, the diagnosis is Giardia - a water borne parasite that can wreak havoc on your lower intestines and causes severe diarrhea... so the Dr wrote me an Rx that I'll pick up in Del Norte on the way to Alamosa tomorrow. Don't know what to say... I've drank
mountain water that's been treated w/emerg water tabs many times but there's always a risk - Noted!

I am so sick I can't even stay on my bike....

So I'm shutting it down in South Fork at the Spruce Lodge. I've been sick for 4 days now and it's just gotten worse. I passed a clinic down the highway and may try to get in there and see a dr.

8 mi out of Creede on 149S

Leaving Creede w/ a new plan...

Taking 149S to South Fork and then 160E To Alamosa... if I get there b4 630 I'll rent a car at rhe Alamosa airport and drive to SF... if after 630 I'll get a motel in Alamosa and do the rental tomorrow morning... Alamosa is 67 mi from Creede but it follow the Rio Grande so it's level or downhill.

In the Rain and Over the Top...

... of Slumgullion Pass...yesterday

Storm at 11000'.... I love it!

Here's the beginning of the

Here's the beginning of the video, pics and posts from yesterday from about 11 - 4 MT.

Another Incredible View from Creede CO

Good Morning! from Creede CO

It's cool and rainy and I'm up and battling my stomach disease, but I have a plan. But before I reveal the new plan, I want to send a few pics from yesterday's adventure.

First... let me say...I'M SICK!!!

I don't know what the hell is wrong w/ me.... I've narrowed it down to a couple of things or a combo of the 2: 1) Severe case of Altitude Sickness; 2) Stomach Virus or Intestinal Bug.... I'm running a low grade fever, head hurts, feel weak, can't eat or drink anything w/out instant diarrhea.... which is a hell of a combo when you're trying to do a cross - Colorado over multiple Continental Divide Mountain Passes cycling tour. So what do you do if you're the Wild Stupid Old Fat Man from Texas.... you pick up your ass, sling it over your shoulder and start pedaling.... over 11530' Slumgullion Pass and 10988' Spring Creek Pass both in the rain and then run the Rio Grande River Valley from where the Rio Grande begins all the way to Creede CO.... 51 miles up 10% grades over 2 passes in the rain.... sick.... stick that on your "To Do" list for the day and mark it DONE! Now I'm sitting under
an umbrella in a steady rain at Kip's Grill; don't care if I sh&t all night, it's Margarita time!

at the Blessings Inn in Creede Co

Slowly but surely...

Making my way to Creede on 149S through the Rio Grande River Valley...

Think my bike will fit in this 76 Lancruiser?

He wants $6500... think I'll offer him $5000 .... and drive it down to Santa Fe.... I'm tempted!

12 miles from Creede CO - fill you in on the details later...

Waiting out the Rain...

at the Windy Point Overlook bathroom