8/20/2013 Ch-ch-ch-changes

Monarch called to us, so the first thing out on Tuesday, we climbed to the top of the pass. From 90 degrees, we rose to 40 and in our hot weather tank tops, we were chilled. At the pass we chatted with another biker from the area. He doesn't own a car, so the bike is his life and he lives it every day. Talking about the rain looming everywhere, he echoed our sentiments exactly. " Cold or hot, wet or dry, riding is still what it's all about".

Back down the sinuous curves of the pass, we ran onto route 50 again into the best canyon yet. The Big Horn Sheep Canyon runs forever along the beginnings of the Arkansas River. Great for intermediate enthusiasts, the river was crowded with kayaks and rafts. Although we saw no big horn sheep, we kept watching the cliffs overshadowing the road, as they were prime territory for them. On and on the river cuts the rock, until it creates the Royal Gorge. 

Showcasing one of the world's highest suspension bridges, The Royal Gorge is a great draw for tourists and we had visited the north rim years ago by car.  A small, unimproved road announced the south rim, with a sign that read "bridge closed". Jules thought that this was a good omen to see the other side. The road twisted up and up, navigation made difficult by washes of gravel across the road, caused by erosion from a recent fire. As we rose in height, the destruction from fire was complete. No recovery or green was apparent.  At the final turn into the gorge, we were met by a ranger and told that the park would be closed indefinitely because of the fire that had taken place in June.On the way down, we hiked out onto seared barren ground to find the gorge. At 100 degrees plus, it felt like the ground was still hot. We could not see the gorge, but we experienced , first hand, the total devastation a forest fire can bring.

Through Canon, we headed down to Pueblo. Here the air is cheaper and we can sleep at night. Sheltering from the heat, we made the decision to bag our plane tickets and ride East, based on several factors. First, we needed air. But most importantly,  we decided to take Magic home, rather than catch the plane in Durango and have her hauled cross country for her last ride - because we are getting another bike. Magic has been so good to us. All we have ever had to do is add gas ...but at 65,000 miles, it is worrisome to be 20 miles in the middle of a burnt forest on an old lady that might say she's too tired to go on. So crossing America, we will ride with her for the last time. What a great bike she has been!