2011 Big Dog Ride - Day 3

Saturday morning was a little lazy and started off slow.  Even by 7:30 am, there were few riders up and moving.  Call it old bones and tissue..... or whatever you want, but all the Dogs at the event were dealing with stiffness from the hard riding the day before.

By 9am Dr. Greg Frazier conducted the morning rider meeting and John from the Christian Motorcycle Association blessed us with a prayer for safety, protection and wisdom.  Yep, that is me in the green camp hat.

Today I would lead the A Group Ride.  I wanted some adventure and the experience of trails that I had not ridden, so I stepped up to lead.  After gearing up, we departed Dillon, rode up through Montezuma, around and on top of Radical Hill.  Then we dropped down to Webster Pass and exited the National Forest by way of the North Fork of the South Platte River.  Finally we would do lunch and head back toward our base camp, over Georgia Pass.

Riding up the jeep trail to the top of Radical Hill.

On top of Radical Hill.  Far in the background, the zig-zag road tops out at Webster Pass.

On top of Radical Hill, Terry encountered a sharp rock and "snake bit" his tube, causing a flat tire that had to be patched.  That gave us about 45 minutes on top of the Hill to relax and take in the sights.

Radical Hill came by its name for honest reasons.  This is nasty, steep, scary stuff. 

I was able to ride my bike down, but guys on the bigger bikes had to walk their bikes down the really steep grades.

Click on this pic.  I took this photo from Webster Pass, looking up on Radical Hill.  On the large photo, you can see the road coming off the top.

Webster Pass.

For lunch, we stopped at the Coney Island Boardwalk.  We laughed about Big Dogs..... eating at the Big Dog.

Above Georgia Pass, I broke off from the A Group and rode up Glacier Peak.  Terry took this pic of me making the steep climb.

Back at the base camp in Dillon, Doc Frazier had the BBQ grills stoked and we celebrated our accomplishments with a grilled TBone Steak.

This year's Big Dog Ride was really different in regard to the attendees, but it was a good one and very rewarding, personally...... in regard to the passes and peaks that I was able to conquer.  Great memories were made and friendships were grown.