EasePease life: Jordan bikes to Arizona

After a few ice baths and hot tub rotations, Jordan received a restful night’s sleep. I awoke at 6:30 AM with a pessimistic outlook due to the heavy rain and the low temperature of 43 degrees. Given the inclement weather, I began organizing the gear while Jordan slept. Additionally, the hotel provided a laundry room for guests, allowing me to wash our clothes.

At 8:30 AM, Jordan awoke, and we discussed the day’s plan. Although his knee still felt slightly sore, it was improving. He would ride around the parking lot a few times to assess his ability to continue the ride. Subject to his decision, we planned the day while having breakfast. We would depart Durango and head towards the Four Corners monument. Google Maps indicated that this was approximately 90 miles, with a few minor mountain climbs. (Please note that these were minor to Jordan, but they would be challenging for me.)

As Highway 160 west of Durango was a busy four-lane road with debris-filled shoulders, Jordan offered to provide a safe ride about five miles out of town to Highway 141. At 11:30 AM, he commenced the ride at Wildcat Canyon. The ride began with an uphill climb into the wind.

The road was safe, and Jordan was able to ride 12 miles before we turned onto Highway 140. However, the highway was heavily traveled, and many trucks posed a challenge due to their limited space on the shoulder. Trucks are typically dangerous without the wind. The wind, combined with the swirl created by a car traveling at 65 MPH within 3-5 feet of you, is sufficient to cause you to lose control of your bike. Consequently, we opted to load the bike onto the truck and have Jordan ride that 4-mile stretch.

We proceeded approximately 3.5 miles; however, the road conditions deteriorated as we ventured further. The car was covered in clay, rendering the tires slippery and ineffective. I was concerned as we were in a remote area with no phone service, resulting in a significant delay for the day. Even a fat tire bike would have been unable to navigate this terrain. As evidenced below, the decision to turn around was made for us, and we are grateful for our choice. Google Maps’ bike directions proved unreliable.

Upon finally escaping the arduous clay road, we meticulously assessed the extent of the damage. Without a car wash, we had no choice but to return to Durango. Upon our arrival, the process of removing the clay from our vehicle and bicycle consumed approximately 30 minutes. The aftermath was quite disheveled. Fortunately, the situation concluded favorably, avoiding the potential predicament of being stranded in the middle of nowhere amidst the clay.

Jordan cycled for eight miles when the road transitioned from gravel to clay. The road had recently rained, resulting in a wet surface. Consequently, we decided to load the bicycle and drive the remaining distance, although we were uncertain about the location of the pavement. Google had recommended this route as the “Recommended Route.”
It is important to note that we are following a Google-mapped bicycle route. Due to the limited planning time, we entrusted Google with our decision. However, we will soon realize that this was a significant error.

Following the completion of the car and bicycle cleaning, Jordan expressed a desire to embark on a journey along the renowned Million Dollar Highway for the entire day. As previously mentioned, the Million Dollar Highway comprises a series of mountain passes characterized by a base elevation of 5,600 feet in Montrose and 6,500 feet in Durango. The majestic Sultan Mountain, Kendall Mountain, and Storm Peak encircle the region.

The highway features three prominent peaks: Coal Bank Pass, Molas Pass, and Red Mountain Pass. Each pass stands at an elevation of approximately 10,640 feet, 10,970 feet, and 11,018 feet, respectively. Notably, there is a significant drop of roughly 2,000 feet between each pass. Given the challenging nature of the terrain, particularly after traversing over 200 miles and navigating several major passes in recent days, this journey presents a formidable challenge. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the same road experienced a minor blizzard the preceding day.

Upon concluding our day’s adventure, we endeavored to rectify the missed experiences of the previous day due to inclement weather. Despite the relatively short distance of 67 miles, the day was characterized by four arduous ascents. While descending proved to be a more manageable task, it was undeniably perilous. The accompanying video, albeit somewhat lengthy, provides a visual representation of the descent. The scenic beauty of the route is evident, but it is crucial to maintain constant attention to the road to avoid potential hazards such as rocks. Notably, the descent was achieved at speeds exceeding 40 mph.

He hit speeds over 40 MPH on this descent.

Here is the video leaving Ouray.

Upon completing our journey, we were still debating whether to camp or explore available hotel rates. We discovered a four-star hotel in Telluride, a name that resonated with me. The hotel was priced at $90, which appeared to be an exceptional bargain. However, upon arrival, we were informed that it was an error (the hotel’s usual off-season rate is double that amount). Nevertheless, Jordan presented the hotel’s phone number, and they honored the discounted rate.

This establishment is exceptionally luxurious, as evidenced by its website.

Below are some photographs I captured today. These images were taken directly from the camera without any editing.