The Continental Divide

After checking in with RAAM HQ Durango around 5AM,, the three vehicles caravaned to the nearest motel. 

June is a busy month for tourism in Durango and beside it being selected as a major check point for  RAAM,  it's also the finish line for the Race Across The West, which runs concurrently with RAAM.

I was able to acquire only  one room.  Cassie got it.  Kat had decided that we should let her take a real shower and then give her tbree hours of sleep. 

We all found nooks and crannies.  I went out to #1 van and got almost a whole hour's rest  in my position seat.

Cassie was roused at 8:30 and we had her out the door by 9:00.  Since we were now #3, the three of us scooted up to the room.  Mike hit the couch, Kristy jumped into the bed, and I curled up on the floor like a puppy.

We were on the road about 2 hours later and caught up with the rest of the crew and Cassie at the bottom of THE climb.  The continental divide separates east and west in the U.S.

The route over this section in the Rocky Mountains took us over 10,000 feet to the summit.  It's a killer if you're a cyclist.

We reached the summit around 4PM and 12 hours later, still riding, Cassie ran out of steam trying to climb one last summit and fell from her bike.  We had to shut her down.

We're in Kansas now.  I'm sitting with some very nice ladies manning a welcome wagon.  It's 4AM and they are demonstrating the kind of volunteer spirit that has made America great.

If only there were more of them in this country.

Next up:  The halfway point!