Stage 28 - Hot Sulphur Springs CO, 65mi (105km)

I learned from articles and other blogs that Westbound cyclists often have difficulty finding the way out of Frisco onto the bike path to Silverthorne. 

Tim & Debbie

Today, on a early chilly morning, I met Tim and Debbie, who helped me find my way on this path. They themselves were on a morning ride and we rode together the 6mi towards Silverthorne. 

For the benefit of cyclists coming behind me, here is the route: from 5^th Ave, turn right onto Main St, cross SR 9, and turn left onto bike path after the cemetery. At the far end of the dam wall, take the signed turn hard left down the steep and twisty path to Silverthorne. Ride under I-70 and exit bike path by turning right onto Wildernest Rd then left onto SR 9. 

Here are some impression of this morning:

A chilly morning

Bike path towards Silverthorne

I like that sign

This morning, the Route 9 was busy. I pedaled along the Blue River valley in a NNW direction at a average speed as the wind still was blowing into my face. The highway follows the east side of Green Mountain Reservoir. 

I turned off with the TransAm Trail to go along the even quieter west side towards Heeney. The Trail returned to Route 9, which by now had lost its shoulder and even acquired some traffic. At Kremmling, I finally left Route 9, which I had been on much of the time since Royal Gorge two days ago. I made a ninety-degree right turn here and headed, most unusually, eastwards on US 40. Now the wind was on my favor and the 17mi ride to Hot Sulphur was a blast! 

I cycled over the Colorado River and after it I followed the river upstream towards its headwaters in the Rockies. Road, railway and river occupied a broad valley, which, approaching Hot Sulphur Springs, squeezed together through Byers Canyon. Tomorrow begins with a long climb up to a second crossing of the Continental Divide.