I woke up in Pleasant Valley to the sound of the river moving gently past my tent. After packing up, I got back on Highway 50 and kicked things off with a 1,500 foot climb, nothing too brutal, just enough to get the legs awake, followed by a brief but enjoyable descent.
From there, the road mellowed out and followed the shoreline of Blue Mesa Reservoir for nearly 20 miles. The skies were moody in the best kind of way. Patches of rich blue overhead mixed with dramatic streaks of virga dropping from distant clouds. I caught a few sprinkles now and then, but nothing that got me truly wet. The views were stunning, the shoulders were wide, and even though I’ve driven this road before, it felt like a whole new experience from the saddle.
I stopped at a small general store for a cold soda and a moment to enjoy the quiet. Holiday RV traffic was a bit heavy at times, but there was enough room on the shoulder to keep things relaxed. As the afternoon wore on, a headwind picked up and made the final miles more of a push, but I kept on pedaling, determined to make it to Gunnison.
Rolling into town, I checked into a private room at the Wanderlust Hostel. The staff were incredibly welcoming, and it felt like the right place to land for the night. I wrapped up the day with a hearty pizza from High Alpine Brewery and called it a night.
Rest day tomorrow, time to recharge.