Take the Long Way Home

Ride the Rockies, Day 5 – Ridgway to Montrose via Government Springs

Today's route is 20 flat miles, plus an optional out and back with a little bit of a climb, and the next two days are filled with more grueling climbs and wind. So my Sweet Lizard opted to take the day off again and spend it with me. This way, he'd get a day of rest before finishing up the tour. Win/win!

We are right in the heart of our favorite part of the state. I'd thought about potential destinations just in case he did keep the bike in the car today. I thought a return to Mineral Creek, where I spent some time yesterday, would be fun, as would the Blue Lakes trailhead up Dallas Divide. Lizard liked both of those ideas, but he suggested a third option... Why not drive up Owl Creek Pass and circle back to Montrose, coming into town on the opposite side, avoiding cyclists and soaking up some of the best scenery in Colorado?


We turned a 20-mile day into a 67-mile adventure, crossing the very same paths we took 12 years ago when he proposed to me. We didn't have time for the same hike, unfortunately, but it was exhilarating to be back in the Cimarron Forks.


We hoped to see some wildlife and instead saw quite a few wildflowers. And dandelions!!! We enjoyed a picnic lunch above Silver Jack Reservoir and playing with lenses and camera exposures in one of our favorite autumn aspen destinations. Some of the shots we took might be fun to do as four-season series!






The wildflowers, not even at peak yet, were outstanding!










We went up the West Fork spur as far as we could. It doesn't get plowed, and winter had not completely melted away.


The most difficult part of the day was leaving Ridgway. We found an incredible hidden jewel in the B&B where we stayed, and we're anxious to go back one day. It will make a great basecamp for all our favorite hikes... Blue Lakes, Highland Mary Lakes and Ice Lakes. Middle Fork, where he proposed, might be a bit too far, but we can always catch that another time.






One of the best advantages to being on the RtR disabled list this year was having the soak tub to myself after the cyclists all left to pedal in the heat. The views were phenomenal!

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