Day 46 Breckenridge CO to Hartsel CO

I was up ready for an early start. When I got to my bike, Colorado racer, Paul, had my bike ready, outside with a big bag of sweets resting on the handlebars Very nice!

Much of today’s ride had a train theme. In 1884, the Denver, South Park & Pacific (DSP&P) opened a narrow gauge railway line To connect Breckenridge to Como providing a link to the outside world.

Breckenridge Station with front of engine with huge snow clearing blades

 

Another engine from the line.

Some shots climbing out of Breckenridge

Bakers Tank – on route to Boreas Pass

View south at Breckenridge Pass

Me at the Pass – notice my lunch strapped to my front fork

Boreas Section House

At this unhealthy altitude Boreas was once a small Town of 140 people. Most building have been lost. The building here housed the line manager & his workers.

Rail lines in the South Park area

Descending to Como

Forrests are replaced with arid landscape

Englishman, David Tomkins at the Como Depot & Eating Hiouse

David, born in Nottinghamshire, purchase this private historic site & looking to reinstate 2 miles of track to run his engine

The Depot & Eating House a Como

First JCB I have ever seen in USA

Racing away from the weather

Looking back towards Como

Shots on route to Hartsel

Arid landscape dotted with isolated hunting cabins & farms.

I had filled my notepad with valuable journey info but had failed to secure it well enough from the washboard roads. Despite backtracking 10 miles, it was gone! Also the 20 miles added to my ride meant arriving at Harsel after dark without accommodation.

Customers of the local saloon, Matt & Carrie Stark pus their young employee, Jon, kindly put a roof over my head at their hunting cabin. Well kitted out with old movies & beer, we sat till the early hours chatting & watching john Wayne in True Grit.

M