Habitat 2500

2 Responses on Welcome to the Habitat 2500 blog

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  By tim at July 2nd, 2009

  Day 1 – June 27, 2009
  Alamosa to Walsenburg
  Twenty-six riders met me at the south end of Cole Park in Alamosa to start the Heartland 2009 ride. Several riders started out ahead of time: Bill Brinton and Kris Steinberg on their tandem and Amanda Pearson on her recumbant. Everything came together wonderfully, weather, rest breaks, no major mechanical difficulties. Special thanks to Audrey Liu, Sam Wisener, Marci Lierly, and Rick Dunnahoo for all of their hard work in organizing the ride. I met Michelle Le Blanc at race break one. Michelle has been an important piece of bringing the Heartland ride together and has arranged lodging with her parents in Hildreth, Nebraska on the Heartland route to Minnesota. I was happy to catch up with Lance Cheslock and Bob Linden and we made it to the top of La Veta Pass together. On the downhill side, I was very pleased to see two bikers with one bike who turned out to be my neighbors and friends Kris Steinberg and Bill Brinton. Fun lunch at La Veta Inn. Thanks to everyone who joined me on the send-off ride! Alone in La Veta I wandered around and discovered the Book Nook, used books for sale from friends of the library. Not a good combination for the beginning of my bike tour, but I could not help myself. I bought enough to fill a medium sized box and made an arrangement to have them taken to almosa.
  On to Walsenburg. I felt a little lonely after the excitement and comradery of the group send-off.

  I met up with my host for the night,Robert Schulz and had a very tasty mexican meal in Walsenburg. Thanks for the first nights lodging, Robert.

• 
  By tim at July 2nd, 2009

  Day 2, Sunday, 6-28-09 Walsenburg, CO to Ordway, CO
  79 miles.

  Before leaving Walsenburg, I stopped in at the local Safeway and picked up 2 quarts of powerade. I was concerned about the lack of services on hwy. 10 heading east and 167 north to Fowler. Not much out that way but wide open space.
  It was a hot one. It felt great to be on the way.
  Very little traffic. I mostly had the road to myself. Passed by several small groups of antelope.
  On 167 north off of 10, horned toads started to appear along the road. Exotic looking creatures. Almost all had been flattened.
  A few miles south of Fowler saw a baby antelope. It looked ridiculous. The creatures back legs resembled gigantic qtips. Made it to Fowler with half a quart of powerade left. Nice.
  Pedalled past two prisons on the way to Ordway. I forgot to mention that Robert Schulz in Walsenburg lives right across from a prison. It’s lights burned all night long outside of my bedroom window. Prison theme so far on the ride.
  Ordway – Lodging with Gillian Hoggard from New Zealand. Gillian hosts cyclists that come through Ordway. I was lucky to be the only one on sunday. Gillian kept me entertained with adventure stories from her life. She has travelled all over the world, has many years of sailing experience, and has lived for 10 years on a sailboat. I was impressed. Cyclists passing through Ordway look up Gillian Hoggard.