2015-07-01 Day 3: The Burro Capital of the World, Guffey to Fairplay, CO

Miles today: 46 Total Mileage:139

After yesterday, Jon and I opted to start late today since we felt we needed a big breakfast at the Guffey café. It opened at 8:00. A huge ham and cheese omelet, hash browns, and toast got my spirits a bit higher. However, when we rolled back down onto the route and continued the climb, I could tell that I had nothing in my legs. The slightest incline required me to drop to my lowest gear (Gear 27). I am telling my legs to push on the pedals but it is just not happening. Our first mountain pass is still 10 miles away and almost 1000 feet above us. It is just the beginning of Day 3 and I am physically and emotional really at a low point. Just keep spinning. Jon quickly has pulled ahead of me and is now waiting at the top of the next rise. He asked if I was OK. I told him I have nothing right now. I hope that when breakfast kicks in, I will get stronger. I did rally over the next 2 hours. When we crossed over the first high pass, Currant Creek Pass at 9,404 feet, I got an important emotional lift. We could see for the first time snowy crest of the Continental Divide reaching into the sky off in the distance. I continued to get stronger throughout the day.

We finished the day in Fairplay, Co in the region known as SouthPark, the self proclaimed Burro Capital of the World. It is the location of the grave of Prunes, the burro....but I am getting ahead of myself. The story actually starts in 1859 when gold was discovered here in the South Platte river. During the 1860(s) gold was found in several other locations in SouthPark. Fairplay became the hub of all mining activity in the region. Along with the miners came the burros which were left to run free as the gold production diminished. Fairplay decided that tourism would save the town and placed the heavy weight of expectations on a burro, Prunes, that had just died. The town fabricated ever more exciting stories of the adventures that Prunes had mining in the region. Prunes became the Lassie of burros saving miners from dangerous predicaments. Prunes was buried right in the center of town and a monument erected for tourists to visit. And that is how Prunes saved the town. My hotel is next to Prune's monument. So I guess you could say tonight I am sleeping next to a dead burro.

Fairplay is at 9,953 feet above sea level. We are well positioned to cross the continental divide at Hoosier Pass at 11,542 feet tomorrow. We rode for most of the day with views of the very top of the Rockies. It was beautiful.