Day 21: Fruita to Parachute, CO

A lazy departure at 7:15, with rec path, 2 lane, roads and interstate thrown in for the trifecta of riding options today.  Warm to hot with little to no help from the wind, and I didn’t push too hard, arriving in Parachute after 62 miles for a 2pm check in. 

Other than whoop-tee-doos my elevation change followed the natural course of the Colorado River that I followed most of the day, rising about 1,000’ in 62 miles. 

   
There was a rec path pretty much all the way to Palisade.  Lots of Saturday riders, runners and walkers out, I kept wanting to sing “Saturday in the Park” by Chicago. 

9:45 finds me in Palisade at the 357 Bar/Grill. I don’t think the address is 357, but perhaps a pistol is called to mind? 

  

After a few more miles on local roads I had the choice to either climb 4,000’ and add 30 miles to my day by going over Grand Mesa or jump back on the Interstate through the river canyon for about 18 miles.  I’ve heard from other riders that the Grand Mesa is just beautiful to ride but I chose the Interstate.  I’m ready to get back home, Grand Mesa some other day!!

In De Beque I got off the Interstate and jumped on Old Highway US 6 but not before a Slurpee and Snickers protein bar.  I still had 15 miles to go and it was getting warm!

  

US 6 was such a great highway to ride on, with almost no traffic, so for the first time on this trip and because of the heat, I took off my helmet and felt the wind on my head.  It was very nice.  

I glided into the Grand Vista Motel at 2, hit the hot tub, showered and worked on the blog for a bit.  It felt good to be clean, horizontal on the bed with the A/C on high and off the bike for a bit!

   
I found what looked like an interesting place to eat across the Interstate called Shoomy’s so I rode my bike over around 5. Anything with gravy sounded good and it was. Robin, the bartender, started asking questions about what I was doing in Parachute. When I told I was heading home on my bike, and ultimately where I had started from, she started shouting at Tre, who was sitting next to me at the bar that he better get a fr’king bike and start riding!! They both might have been late into the Happy Hour. We got to talking and after I finished dinner I asked Robin for the check, and she said Tre already had it.  He refused to let me pay so we talked some more about life and then I headed to the motel.  Again, why I like these trips so much is you meet and get to know, just a little bit, so many interesting, kind and gracious people.  Thanks for dinner and my beer Tre!