Blog Post Day 51 – Wheels Go Round in Circles
Colorado Springs.
A quick jaunt up to Denver. Just follow the mountains – straight up the road.
I logged on to Google Maps to show me the shortest path – clicked on the “Avoid Freeways” – and Bingo! – the perfect route, Route 83. A straight shot from Colorado Springs to Denver – 65 miles away.
I called Ian to start making plans for my arrival in Denver, and hit the road for the easy ride ahead.
I made one minor mistake when I hit the road. I forgot to fill my water bottles.
So as I rode out of town, I found myself getting thirsty and needing a place to stop and fill up. And then, the answers to my prayers. A lovely church – the New Life Church – a huge place with 3 large buildings – a large boxy corporate looking building that appeared to be the main offices, a large “tent like” building that seemed to house the chapel, and “The World Prayer Center” with offices and meeting areas for multi-denomination prayer meetings. I decide this will be the perfect place to cool off and fill up my water bottles.
While inside I met some lovely people (people tend to be so nice and friendly at the “multi-denominational” prayer centers along the way), filled my bottles, and made my way back onto the road for the long ride ahead.
But a funny thing happened on the way up to Denver. Along the way I rode past this TREMENDOUS planned community, out in the middle of nowhere – called Flying Horse. It’s barely begun construction, but you can get a sense of what it’s going to be in a few years. Giant mansions spread out over hundreds of acres – with large community parks, a fitness center, tennis courts, a golf course, etc. – heck, it even looks like they’re building their own K-12 school to take care of the local community. Truly a huge, and pretty spectacular, undertaking.
And as I continue down the road – and up the hills (I didn’t realize it, but there was a 1,500 foot climb to the highest point of today’s ride before heading downhill into Denver) – in the 90 degree heat. I notice a strange sight ahead…
Just down the road, over the hill, I see ANOTHER New Life Church in front of me – a mere 20 miles away from the first New Life Church. And this one’s just as big as the first.
Now that’s odd. All I can think is – wow, these guys are even more successful than I thought – to have TWO huge congregations within 20 miles of each other. I’m very impressed.
And as I get closer, I realize that this New Life Church is also made up of 3 large buildings… just like the first New Life Church near Colorado Springs (must have used the same architect)…
And that this main building seems to be a large boxy corporate looking building, very much like the one near Colorado Springs…
The that the other building is a large “tent like” building – just… like… the one near Colorado Springs
And the third building is
a… large…… “World……… Prayer………… Center……………”
Holy @#@$%^!
I just rode in a 20 mile long CIRCLE. UN-Be-lieve-able
A while back, in Idaho, I did a quick post about being in the “Twilight Zone” (as I traveled along my many “roads to nowhere”). Well it appears I’d found its little sister here in Colorado (Welcome to “Twilight Zone 2” along The Dog Cancer Ride Across America).
Still cursing, I turned my bike around and got back onto Route 83 (this time going north – I think – and making my way towards Denver).
But the giant “loop” had taken a lot out of me – and for the first time on the entire ride, discouraged and dejected, my legs were sore and achy and completely drained – I had nothing left in them.
I barely made it back up the hills to the high point in today’s ride (which had now become perhaps my most challenging day of the entire journey), and I was fortunate (and grateful) to discover that the final 25 miles of road really were all downhill into Denver – allowing me to coast into town, about 2 hours late and completely drained, but finally here to meet up again with my team (and get rid of the 30 pound backpack I’ve been carrying on my back the past 3 days) and enjoy dinner and a good night’s sleep at the home of a friend who was kind enough to offer to host us as we rode through town.
Tomorrow we’re off to take care of a few interviews, shopping for some much needed supplies, and then working our way down towards Kansas. Hopefully this time in a straight line…
From The Dog Cancer Ride Across America – just this side of The Twilight Zone – this is Ted Schneck saying good night…
And we’ll see you down the Vortex.
Bye for now.
