SALIDA, COLORADO 8-20-01

Last Friday I walked 10 miles up Monarch Pass. It was hard, difficult, tedious, toilsome, arduous, laborious, strenuous, exhausting, fatiguing, wearisome and rewarding.
I was out of breath, gasping for air, huffing & puffing and short-
winded all the way up. It took me almost 6 hrs to go 10 miles.
I was tired, weary, bushed & totally worn out when I finally reached the summit. I was so happy to get to the top!
It had started raining about an hour before I reached the summit. There’s a gift shop/souvenier shop/sandwich shop up at the summit, and I pulled in there to dry off and to try and catch my breath and slow my heart back down. From there I had 3 more miles to go down the mountain to reach Monarch Lodge. After taking an hour long break, I headed back out to go down the hill. I barely got across the road & started walking when Ron & Jen Becker from Canton KS drove by. I was sure surprised when he honked, pulled over and jumped out! I was thrilled to see a familiar face from Kansas. So we all headed back inside the gift shop and visited over some nachos & pop. I told them I was heading to Monarch Lodge and they decided they'd stay there too. So we all headed for the motel & got checked in. All I could think about was taking a super-hot bubble bath. I was so glad to be there!
We called up Rons sister & her family who live a couple hrs from Monarch and decided we'd all get together on Saturday. So the next morning Kevin & Linda and JoAnn came to the motel & then we all drove up to St. Elmo where we had a picnic, did some hiking, and waded in the ice-cold stream. What a wonderful way to spend a day in Colorado. That evening they hauled me back to Monarch Lodge. The weather was really cool and I usually had the heater turned on.
On Monday morning I walked 12 miles to Poncha Springs. The maintenance man at Monarch Lodge hauled my cart to the Visitors Center in Poncha Springs. When I got there -- downhill all the way --
I decided to go 4 more miles to Salida. The Super 8 Motel had me down for the 22nd & 23rd for free, so I paid for the 20th & 21st and will still stay on the 22nd & 23rd for free. So I'll be here for 4 days.
The Epilepsy Foundation in Pueblo CO has made many contacts & reservations for me from Salida to LaJunta according to my schedule.
Right now I'm 2 days ahead of my schedule, so I figured I'd stay put and let my sched. catch up with me. So I'll be here in Salida for 4 days and take out on Friday. Here's my ph#: 719-539-6689 Rm 218.
Y'all take care and have a great day! KB