Day 1 - Gateway to Telluride

Today's plan was to ride from the hotel in Gateway through the Dolores River Valley for about 35 miles to a spot where we would eat lunch, then drive the rest of the way to Telluride.  We all met in the parking lot and loaded up the two vans & trailers, got a group photo, and set off right from the hotel.

Louise, awake for 5 hours by now, is rarin' to go

David, Donald, Scott, Louise, Tom & Courtney

Courtney, Louise, Tani & Kathleen

Ann, Tani, Kathleen & Courtney

Tom & Courtney

Our leader, John, giving us some instructions before our
first day of group riding, through the Dolores River Valley

I wasn't really prepared for the scale or beauty of the ride, which can best be described by some of the photos and videos that I took.  The Garmin map & data show the profile, which wasn't too difficult.  Most of the ride seemed relatively flat, until the end where there was a short climb and nice descent to the lunch spot.

Again, pictures are better than words:



Dolores River.  You can barely make out the remnants
of a hanging flume on the right canyon wall



After lunch, which included a dip in a nice cool stream just below the parking area, we piled back into the vans for the drive to Telluride.  At first, we were in wide open plains, then into a beautiful green valley, where we encountered the first really nice winding mountain roads of the trip.  Eventually we arrived in Telluride and  the Camel Garden Hotel, which is really beautiful, and very conveniently located right next to the gondola.  In fact, right outside our room is the base of another small chairlift.  Dinner was in town, and we are all ready for the start of the USA Pro Challenge tomorrow.  We will ride out in the morning up and over the Lizard Head Pass.  The racers will go over that pass before descending into Telluride for the stage finish.

The town is getting ready, with the finishing apparatus being set up on the Main St., with barricades and tents much as I've seen in France and Australia.  However, I don't think I've ever seen a more spectacular setting for a stage finish.