Day 14 Gunnison, Colorado

It's funny how things work out. Dave and l woke up a bit miserable today. Don't worry, no sympathy expected from those of you who are at work. Our brief downer related to the frustration of trying to get our tyres from Conway in Arkansas onto our bikes here in Colorado and the fact that we have had too many delays due to things beyond our control.
Anyway, we decided to do a day ride out of Gunnison and ended up having just the best day.
We rode just north of town into some alpine passes. After a lovely ride up to a disused railway tunnel over some epic terrain, we then ride up to the base of Hancocks pass which is cool riding, again pupils very dilated and generally very focused as it is covered in loose baby head boulders. We didn't go over the top this time but may well be back when we come through here on the TAT. You tube did not do this justice and it is certainly a good challenge on the big bikes( which once again impressed us).
Then the usual afternoon convection storms arrived. We rode up over the 12000 foot Cumberland pass. No photos I am afraid due to heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning. Surprisingly, rather than being terrified which is my natural state, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Epic. My hands were so cold on the way down I wasn't sure if I would hang onto the bike. Hard to have any feel of the brakes when you are numb.
Had the inevitable coffee, given to us for free, by Chris at the Taylor park trading post on the way out. Nice man, fellow rider.
What a day!
Tonight we are sharing the motel with hundreds of Harley riders. The thing is that these people are really nice. Average age would be on the wrong side of 60 or more. They are all friendly and chatty. The Harley's are of course brutes of things and how some of these little ladies hold them upright I do not know. Most have trailers! Really.
Actually quite a few are on trikes as well. A nice community. None of this bunch seem to have bandannas.
The theme of people being kind and friendly continues except for the grumpy lady who didn't like us going to the front of the queue at the road works. She chased us for quite a few miles, hooting and carrying on. Have you ever?
Tomorrow we head south east out of the Rockies towards our TAT start point in Trinidad. We are not sad as we are coming back here as part of the TAT and most excited knowing what waits.
Thank you Gunnison, it's been great.
Enjoy the pictures. As usual the reality was beyond what I could capture. Look at the one scenic pic and you can see the trail threading across the face.
It is quite important to stay on the trail in this part of the world. Bernie the winch would need a 300m cable to be any use here!