Day 1 of 4 on the Colorado High Country (CHC) 1200k brevet was the ride up Poudre valley. 63 miles, and over Cameron Pass and descending into Walden, CO. Walden would be the home base for 3 nights as we do 2 loops first into WY and 2nd south into Middle Park area of CO. Ride departed at 5am Louisville time ( 4am Phx time). Sonja, Landon, and I stayed at KW house, so I had a 3 mile ride to the start hotel of the Quality Inn in Louisville, CO. On the ride there my GPS unit was not picking up the route, so I assumed it had a challenge finding the GPS satellites. I began to worry that I had not loaded the state maps for CO and WY, yet since I rode here last year, I sort of thought CO was loaded. Finally after about 1 mile, the GPS unit found the map. So CO was present, but I was not sure about WY. At the hotel there were about 20 of us getting ready to go. I checked in and entered the hotel to get their wifi info because one communicates with the wahoo gps using wifi. I then tried to download the WY map. No go. Later I realized it was because I did not enter that wifi into wahoo but just into my phone. UGH so when I came out of the lobby, the cyclists were gone, 3 minutes early! So the chase was on! After a few miles I finally caught a group of about 8 cyclists including Mimo. We this group was sucking the wheel of a tandem all the way to Platteville and beyond to the start of Carter Lake climb at mile 61. Here the climbers separated with the tandem leading out and 1 other climber hanging on. I was in in 3rd and just taking my time on this first climb of the event. This Carter lake always impresses me in how it uses 3 dams, and how it has a screaming descent, 42 mph. During the descent, 3 of us assembled for a bit until we got to Sandy's, mile 75.2. My 2 compatriots continued on while I stopped to use the bathroom and pickup a burrito that I ate as I slow pedaled alonge Glade Rd enjoying the trees. Then Horsetooth Reservoir! Mimo caught up on the climb and there were 3 of us that played along the climb and descent, that hit 46mph! Oh a surprise was in store! I knew we would leave Horsetooth a different way than the year before during the Front Range 1200k, yet I did not realize nat mile 89.1 we would have a 12% grade for a little bit! Ouch, yet gorgeous, as we climbed up to the north of Horsetooth. At this point it was David, Mimo and I tooling along the west side of Ft Collins and up to Laporte where David, a local, knew a taco truck would be sitting. We all had a chicken burrito and sat on the sidewalk and ate it. Then we headed out to Poudre Canyon for the 63 mile climb. Last year in Front Range 1200k we went halfway up to Rustic and turned around. It took me 6 hr 6 min riding time (6 hr 40 min total) to reach Ted's Place, ie the start of Poudre climb. This time we stopped at Rustic, taking 2 hr 47 min to get there ( 3 hr 18 min including time stopped at Rustic), to rejuvenate after a hot climb with wind in our faces. I was first then David and Mimo followed. Some ice cream helped as did some other food. I set off for Cameron Pass on my own. It was a nice steady ride up to the pass where I was greeted by lots of mosquitoes and biting flies at the end of that 3 hr 14 min section from Rustic to the pass. Nothing unusual happened on the climb, there were a few rafters to watch and some birds, but nothing special. The best part was the few from the top of Cameron Pass! I actually enjoyed riding the top 35 miles more than the bottom as the road surface remained more constant, there was less traffic, and I was totally by myself and not trying to keep up with anyone. I was a bit concerned for Mimo as last year he was stronger than I. This year he already had a ton of salt on his jersey at Rustic. Now the descent into Walden, CO of 1 hour 31 min. How awesome to get close to Walden and have a group of ~5 other cyclists to ride into Walden after 14 hours 52 minutes, or 8pm, meaning still daylight. There I found Sonja and Landon and our Room 12 at North Park Inn & Suites! It was the furthest room away from the central ride room where the food and checkin was. The CHC volunteers had the Italian night food of lasagne, bread, and salad waiting for us! Yummy. I ate up and returned to the room to get ready for the next day. The room was a bit tight for 2 beds, 3 people, a bike, and my bike stuff. Grapped a shower, set up my clothes, charged my batteries, and went to sleep. Great Day. So thankful that Landon and Sonja were there!