Day 8: Ordway to Pueblo Co.

50.0 miles, 883 ft ascent, max grade 4.7%, 3:34 riding time, elevation 4311 ft.

Today we departed from the Hotel Ordway at about 0715 and went to a truck stop for breakfast.  Fresh cooked eggs, hash browns and toast.  It was surprisingly good.  We then continued our journey west with overcast skies, temps in the low to mid 60’s and a tailwind :). We have been REALLY lucky to have tailwinds as much as we have.  Our average speed has been significantly higher the last couple days.  The landscape changed dramatically as we headed west.  Farm fields as far as the eye could see gave way to prairie and rolling low hills.  Trees once again formed ribbons along creeks, roads and around pastures.  The road curves more, so we can no longer see where the next town is at over 11 miles away!  

We stopped in the Boone town park for lunch.
We reached Pueblo in the early afternoon.  What a dramatic change going from Ordway, which was a depressed and pretty run down little town, to the big city.  We were passed by hundreds of drivers coming across Kansas and nobody honked at us.  I was barely inside the Pueblo city limit and got honked at and brushed by a couple of impatient drivers.  What a change!  We stopped at a bike shop so that Johannes could replace his chain (they only last about 2,000 miles when bicycle touring), and then checked into a Marriott hotel.  We walked to the Brues Alehouse for dinner.  The food in small towns is simple and filling.  Tonight’s dinner was much different.  I had a Teriyaki bowl with shrimp that was really good.  The restaurant is along the Riverwalk, which is really nice.  I hope to ride along the river as we leave Pueblo tomorrow .

I have really enjoyed riding with, and getting to know Johannes, but alas, we part ways tomorrow as he heads directly west to San Francisco, and Bill and I head Northwest through the Rockies.  

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