Distance: 41.8 mi, Climbed: 2,136 ft
Completed: 2,440.1 mi, 110,016 ft
There are tens of thousands of wild fires in the United States each year. That number took on new meaning today as Rich and I rode in clear view of the Aspen Acres fire. It was quite a day.
We got an early start because of the expected hot weather and the 2,000-plus feet of climbing on today’s route. Our ride started out so tranquilly. We pedaled through downtown seeing all that it offers and several beautiful old buildings.
Only when we stopped at the convenience store to get Gatorade for the day did I see the newspaper’s front page — massive plumes of black smoke and whole towns being evacuated. The fire was incredibly serious. We opened the Watch Duty app that our friend Agata told us about to check for local fire activity and could see the fire was ten or so miles south of our route and we were heading north away from the fire at the end of the day. We thought we were good.
We bicycled down tree-lined streets, passing by well-manicured homes.
We rode through City Park, which had a beautiful lake. We stopped to watch the turtles sunning themselves on a tree log and the geese crossing the street right in front of us without a care that we wanted to pass.
After about five miles, we were back riding west on Route 96. We cruised along for the next fifteen miles, slowly gaining altitude. We could see the smoke from the Aspen Acres fire on our left, but fortunately most of the smoke was blowing overhead, and the air was okay. When we were about twenty miles in, cars started to stop us. Do you know about the road closures ahead due to the fire? You should turn around now. There is no way you’re getting through.
A few minutes later, I was surprised to see a fellow cross-country bicycle rider coming towards me as I was just told the road ahead had been closed. Trevor was making his way to RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) and had just come through a mountain pass and had no problems getting through the town of Wetmore.
Rich and I couldn’t understand why there wouldn’t be signs out for a road closed ahead so we called our Airbnb hosts to see if they knew anything. They checked the official Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) app and verified that the road was indeed open, but they had closed one lane for ongoing construction. We thought maybe the reports we were getting about road closures was due to the construction and that the road was actually open. We assumed the official CDOT app would list any closures.
It took us another hour of biking before we reached the intersection in question. When we arrived, we saw flashing lights, a police car across the roadway, and a state trooper speaking with drivers as they arrived. We pulled up to the state trooper and got the bad news. The road had been closed because of the fire. We could not get through.
It was hot, and we were already halfway done with our day’s trip. I did not want to turn around and bike twenty-plus miles back to Pueblo. We let our Airbnb hosts know that it seemed unlikely that we were going to make it to Florence today. They were definitely surprised and though they were about two hours away, they were so nice as they offered to pick us up and drive us the long way around the blockade. However, they could not get us for a few hours, and we were not anxious to wait around in the heat so close to a dangerous fire.
Rich and I tried to hitch a ride back to Pueblo but had no luck. Just when we were about ready to give up and head back to Pueblo, the state troopers inexplicably opened the road. Rich told me to move quickly because the road would likely not be open for long. We hopped on our bikes and restarted our ride.
We continued west on Route 96 and could see the massive plumes of black smoke to our left. If we could just get to the town of Wetmore, we would be able to turn north — away from the fire.
We literally had one more mountain to climb. A 2.5-mile ascent, where the last mile averaged over 8%. It was a challenge, but we were determined to get to Wetmore. When we crested the top, we were rewarded with a fast descent into town. We made it.
We stopped at the local library, hoping to get out of the heat and take a break. There was a sign taped to the door that read that the library was closed due to the fire. Instead, we went around the corner to the Wetmore Baptist Church. The building was being used as a staging area for local law enforcement, and there were dozens of officers resting outside the building. Though the building was locked, there was plenty of shade to cool off.
We met Levi, a kind soul who brought cold water for everyone at the church. Rich and I surely did not want to take anything away from the troopers, but Levi insisted that he had enough for everyone. Thank you, Levi, because your generosity of spirit was truly appreciated.
Rich noticed a truck pulling up to the intersection in front of the church. Out came several workers setting up orange road-closure signs. Rich knew we had to move immediately if we were going to make it to Florence. Within moments, we were back on the road. We would learn later that Wetmore had been evacuated soon after we left.
Riding north towards Florence, it was a surreal feeling because we knew to our south buildings were being destroyed as well as farmland. Obviously, the hope is that no lives would be lost. Here we are riding our bicycles away from the danger when so many were putting their lives on the line to protect the rest of us. Thank you, first responders!
Just thirteen miles from Wetmore, we arrived in Florence where life was continuing on as usual. Rich and I stopped for dinner, and I was met with a slew of texts and phone calls I had not received while riding. They were from our Airbnb hosts. I had let them know that the road had opened and that we would indeed be staying at their rental. I didn’t think much more of it. Well, our hosts, Char and Matt, were concerned that we had not arrived and have been driving around for the last hour trying to find us and get us to safety. What nice people. And, their Airbnb was so lovely, which we really appreciated after a long day.
