End of July 17th Day 35

Apparently at some point I got a day off in counting. We'll have to go back and fix that at some point.

Very limited time to write this, but feel like should at least give brief update.

We left Canon City and headed up to Guffey. This was our first big climb of the rockies 3000 feet in a little over 30 miles up to about 8200 I think. I will only be redundant by saying that we were just freaking amazed by all these mountains, and I think (several days past now) that we are just starting to realize that we are next to them and not looking at some blown up poster.

That said, we were still cursing (me silently, Andy had the lung capacity) as we went up to Guffey. These were some of the steepest grades we have encountered in the Rockies, and although still kinder than the Appalachians, the whole not breathing thing made them difficult. Everyone we talked told us these were a nursing dog of a "hill" and that we were crazy. One guy couldn't make it up in his truck and had to come back down to load up his bulldozing passenger.

After a flat tire, many gasps, cold wind, and some rain, we were almost to Guffey when Colleen (the owner and lovely host of our hostel for the evening) pulled up in her little coupe/truck (I know there is a word for those cars but I don't know what they are) to check on us. She told us what we wanted to hear, that we were about 3 miles from Guffey, half was downhill, she would put a fire on in the "Honeymoon Cabin" (we were planning on staying in the bunkbed hostel part, but apparently that was no longer an option) and that in fact the Saloon was still open for food. Hot Dog.

Our muscles were super cold when we got to Guffey and the rain then did really start to come down. The cabin was super cute, all sorts of recycled everything put together and most excitingly a pot belly stove with a fire going. After we calmed down, we walked down to the Saloon, where we dined happily on chicken friend steak (andy) and green chili burrito (and warmed up with coffee). Our map had no mention of any food in this town, so we were pleasantly surprised to find this place open and welcoming, well sort of. We were to learn that the people in Guffey are some of the sweetest nicest people you will ever meet, but they want to be left alone. Their favorite time is winter when no tourists show their face. (We hate being tourists).I had to call Coleen to let her know the shower was locked, which she told me where the key was. Then she called the saloon back and let me know that she would just worry so she was going over there to unlock it. Feeling much better, we walked slowly back up to the cabin, took hot showers, watched "Chicken Run," and crawled into our electric blankets.