Day 19: Dove Creek to Cortez

Bike Stats:
Distance - 36 mi
Avg Speed - 9.8 mph
Climbed - 1450 ft
Temps - 65 to 85 F

This was nice easy terrain, with a light wind in the face and intermittent rain. Traffic has picked up considerably, but the shoulders are mostly pretty wide.
I switched my planned destination from Dolores to Cortez because I'd heard they have a good bike shop here. I wasn't disappointed. The fine people at Kokopelli Bike & Board drop what they're doing to assist cross country bicyclists. I had concerns about my brake pads from all the serious cliffdiving in Utah, and they ultimately replaced the fronts but decided the back pads would get me home. Of course, they gave the whole bike a thorough going over and checked tightness on every nut and bolt. I replaced my helmet due to a broken back strap, new gloves, new chamois with wider seat pad area, and new bike lock ( the old one fell apart ). They were happy for the business and I was happy for the great service.

The ride was mostly through a fertile farming area, where they can get multiple crops per season.
I saw new bean crops just sprouting.

Alfalfa fields are the most prevalent. All the crops are irrigated, with the water source being a reservoir at the top of the valley. I could see from the truck traffic that the Hay Crop is being shipped out, probably to drier parts of the region.

This is a really old bike, with tires pumped up, but missing a chain?

This sign spoke to me.

If you've ever wondered what they do with all the knives they confiscate at the airport, the shopowner informed me that the government sells them in bulk quantities to stores like this Antique Store, who then resell them.

The "Board" refers to Snowboards or Skateboards, but not Surfboards.

Ian and Meghan may remember this Fiesta Movie Theater in Cortez that we stopped at during a camping vacation in 1994; and saw "The Mask," featuring Jim Carrey. I don't think that was my idea.