It is Ride 12, and we were originally going to just ride the 64.66 miles from Telluride to Delores. But like many of the other legs of our magical Tour, we decided to take on the next days ride (Lucky 13) as well.
We started at the highest elevation on our tour at 10,246 feet—and steadily descended a total of 2,263 feet down State Highway 146. Once we hit our destination—Delores, CO—we just kept going down the San Juan Valley and added an additional 45.53 miles from Delores to Durango.
We went by Electra Lake, and rode along the river through the historic town of Mancos. We also went by a family of buffalo, an old VW microbus (that wasn't loaded with rakes & shovels and other implements of destruction) and the constant sound of the churning, turning and tumbling Animas River. Which (to cyclists who like to fly fish) ultimately proved to be too much to take. We're not saying it was the "lure" of fly fishing, but something certainly got our attention....
Within minutes it was bikes loaded, fishing gear and waders unloaded. Sometimes men just gotta fish....
We hope your 4th of July holiday has been great and you are enjoying summer as much as we are. We are back in the saddle on July 8. See the route here.