This shouldn’t need a caption. It’s The Pizza at the Denver airport. Five minutes after this photo was taken, this box was empty and I was eyeing my carry-on’s potential to hold another. Riding up Maroon Bells with the Susan G. Komen Ride for the Cure. This would have been the TT course for the stage race, but I was happy soft-pedaling up while taking photos and stopping to harass wildlife. Marmots are just asking to be hugged. My Aspen Valley Hospital teammates Amber and Abby rocking the ride. The view was breathtaking. No, wait, that was the lack of oxygen at the high altitude. But the view was still awesome. Apparently Abby was so moved by the ride with Amber that, upon reaching Maroon Bells, she proposed against a backdrop of live music and the majestic mountains. Amber said yes. Not sure if she’s mentioned this to her husband yet. The team (minus two members who aren’t in town yet) at the top of Maroon Bells. Not pictured: five minutes later, when we raided the aid station like enthusiastic hobos. At the top of the next long climb, we paused at the aid station and I inhaled half a watermelon and freshly-baked coffee cake. I could get used to these kinds of rides. I’ve always wanted to try a Parisian macaron and, when we rolled into downtown Aspen after the ride and set up at a local coffeeshop, I finally did. Also, it would appear that today’s ride was merely a string of food stops connected by some bike time. I don’t see this as being a problem.
aaahhhhhh. Discovering new vistas, one food product at a time. Happy trails!