FCBA Day 32- La Junta to Florence

We’re halfway in time and distance, or close enough anyway. The folks in La Junta made us breakfast and set us off on our way at 6 am for our 96 miles to Florence. I volunteered or sweep today and was accompanied by Kert for the task.

Goat-heads are new to me. These are the local equivalent to Florida sandspurs, but tougher. They will cause flats, where sandspurs are better described as just a nuisance. One did me in today at around 40 miles. That’s my second flat during this ride so I consider myself fortunate.

My tires are a light but durable racing/training style that I chose due to the higher pressure they are rated at and the experience I ‘ve had using them commuting. If I am lucky they will make the 3,700 but at this point think that is very unlikely. I have a set of worn tires I brought along that hopefully will make up the difference but even those will be done at trip’s end.

Today’s ride was across the prairie and before it was halfway through the Rocky Mountains were in the distance. As we approached the prairie has gotten drier until we came to Florence. This valley is the headwaters of the Arkansas River, rich with water, lush, and cooler than the highlands. I’m used to a river being a trickle and growing as it moves along, but this one is flowing here but as we’ve seen in the towns downstream it is virtually dried up before it gets to Kansas. Anyway, this is like an oasis and I can see why early settlers found this home; it is quite beautiful and the terrain is getting more interesting as we approach the mountains.

Tomorrow is a big day; plenty of miles and climb. We’re headed for the hills.

Side adventure: I’ve needed a haircut and so have a few others so I bought some clippers. It was a lot of laughs cutting each other’s hair and I think I’ll keep it shaved through the summer.