The first order of business today was to get to the REI in Dillion and get my bike looked at once again. I need all my gears, not just a few. It was a nice 8 mile ride from Frisco to Dillion because we were on a bike path that meandered among the trees and was beside the Dillion Reservoir. The bike crew in the REI quickly assessed the problem with the front derailleur and said it was broken. Probably the quickest fix was to replace it instead of trying to repair it. I had them also replace the chain that broke two days prior because the break was adjacent to the master link. It seemed like a week point and the chain was a little worn already. Once the new front derailleur and chain were installed we were off again. I had access to all my gears once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next nine miles were downhill on the bike path through the towns of Dillion and Silverthorne. Then it was back on to CO 9 to Kremmling. For the most part the trip was okay. The road shoulders seemed wider than I remembered and the traffic a lot less than the previous year when I rode west to east. There were a few big climbs but nothing like we had already encountered. The winds were favorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we got into Kremmling the choices to stay were slim. There was a storm in the forecast. But we had heard that before on our trip. We checked out a hostel in Kremmling but the Super 8 hotel was cheaper and appeared to be a better deal. It was a disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we checked into the hotel, the intake staff informed us that it was Kremmling Days only a few blocks away. We needed to check that out. There was live music, beer, food trucks, and crafts for sale. But there was also a storm looming. You could see the rain getting closer and closer. On the western side of town the mountains appeared green and lush. On the northeastern side it was brown and barren. Two very contrasting environments and we could see the rain falling on the western side. The rain made it to the park where the festival was being held. It wasn\u2019t much more than a sprinkle but it was enough to shut down the live music for a while. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the help of another couple we moved a picnic table under a pavilion to stay dry. It was then that we met Erin and Barry. A very nice couple from Lincoln, Nebraska who were vacationing in Kremmling. In reality they were using Kremmling as a base to see some cool spots and taking day trips in their vehicle to some places where only 4 wheelers should go. It sounded like a fun 3 week adventure they were on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now back to our accommodations. Super 8\u2019s are hit and miss and this was a miss. It was supposed to be a 100% smoke free facility but was not. It does not seem like previous guests smoked in the room but clearly the people directly opposite of us did. They propped their door open to let the smoke escape their room. The hallway reeked of cigarette smoke. The way the air pressure worked in this particular room the cigarette smoke was wifting into our room. The window would not open in our room so it was rather unpleasant. To make matters worse, the people directly above us had a dog that started to bark at 4 am. Not a good night of sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s stats: 48.85 miles, average speed 13.6 mph, elevation gain 1332 feet, descent 2818 feet, maximum speed 33.3 mph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n