Our First 50-in-50 Ride Outside Arizona

We were thankful to have a cool, dry morning for our ride today. Our plan was to ride about 28 miles in Durango and cover the remaining 22 miles needed to complete 50 miles in Colorado when we get to Denver. Sue has never been on a ride longer than 15 or so miles. She seems a little nervous about whether or not she can make that distance in one ride. We’ll see!!

We started out on a lovely country road. We rode about 18 miles toward Baker’s Bridge (where the famous cliff jumping scene in the movie Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid was actually filmed). Along the way we saw sheep, horses, wild turkeys, red and white mountains, lots of wildflowers, and more GREEN grass and trees than we’ve seen in months! It was beautiful, who knew???

We continued our ride on the Animas River Biking/Walking Trail through Durango and beyond. Riding along the banks of the river, we enjoyed hearing the sound of the water as it passed over the rocks and boulders. We stopped to watch kayakers and river rafters maneuver through the rapids and shoals and fishermen in waders patiently waiting for a bite.

By the time we completed our 30+ mile (Sue did GREAT by the way!!) adventure the sun was shining brightly, and the temperature was on the rise. All-in-all, Durango provided a wonderful start to our 50-in-50 Challenge!!

BUT WAIT……….. the adventure for this day was not quite over!!

During our drive from Phoenix to Durango, prompted by the pouring rain, we discussed the possible use of an enclosed trailer to trail our bikes and biking gear. Bill decided this was a good idea, so he went to U-Haul and rented a 5×8 enclosed trailer. He took Sue’s bike to make sure it would fit and went ahead and secured it and the bike hitch inside the trailer while at the U-Haul place. After dinner, Bill decided he would go ahead and load his bike and the other biking gear inside the trailer since we would not need them before we left Durango for Denver on Saturday morning. Great idea, however, Bill forgot he had already disconnected the trailer from the car, so, when he stepped into the trailer while holding his bike, the trailer tong promptly went up and the trailer started rolling across the hotel parking lot toward another parked car. Bill recounts that for what seemed like five minutes, several things about the situation flashed through his mind — he would just step out of the trailer, stop the trailer from rolling, hold up his bike, and NOT fall down. This plan worked great…for step number one (stepping out of the trailer). After that everything else was a disaster! Once he stepped out of the trailer the tongue of the trailer slammed to the pavement, the trailer continued to roll, though more slowly, toward the parked car, Bill tripped over a concrete curb stop, fell to the pavement and slammed his bicycle onto his leg and ankle. Bill said his very first concern was “Is my bike ok?” Once he was satisfied his bike was ok, he checked his leg and discovered a DEEP depression that didn’t belong. By this time Sue had heard the commotion outside the room and she rushed to see what had happened. Bill looked up and said, “I think I may have broken my leg!” After putting ice in a ziploc bag and helping Bill into the car, we drove across town to the Mercy Regional Medical Center ER because the two emergency care centers nearby had closed at 7:00 pm. X-rays were taken and no broken bones were found. With a diagnosis of a deep contusion, we were given an ACE bandage and sent home. The worst injury was to Bill’s pride!! What an ending to our first day of our trip. Wonder what’s in store for us tomorrow?