It's the next morning and we're having to leave this beautiful little town. After I jump out of the shower and get dressed, I took the opportunity to take some pics.
I walked down through someone's backyard so that I could get a pic of a running stream. 
Oh how I wished I could have that in my backyard. After taking a few pics, I struggled to get up such a small hill. I was winded. I didn't understand since I climb flights of stairs, up and down, all day long. Well, we are at 7,800 feet elevation and the air is a lot thinner. Didn't realize it but I was having a small asthma attack.
We decided to check out the shops and pick up a few things. I broke off from the group and found me a bench to get my breath back. 
Walked into a store I went into earlier and picked up an Ouray pin for my vest and a tank-top for my friend.
Photo: Left to Right: Lynette, Colleen and Becky
All the bikes were packed and we headed out on the 550 West to Silverton. As we kept riding up through the mountains, the clouds were forming and the chill was in the air. We were reaching elevations past 11,000 feet. Does a number on one's lungs if you're not used to it. But it's so beautiful.
I was riding sweep and the next thing you know, my left sunglass lens popped out. I'm sure if my full-face helmet were closed, that puppy would still be inside and I could pull off to the side of the road and pop it back it BUT NO!!! I knew I looked funny to others as they passed me on the opposite side of the road. Like Becky said, "Ahoy matey!" ha ha
Well, even though I put the shield down on my helmet, it didn't stop the air from creeping in and starting to dry my contacts out. I needed to pull over but there was no safe place. Finally, miles down the road I saw an opportunity and pulled over. I figured the girlz would notice and wait for me up the road. I proceeded to put on my other glasses (so, now that's $100 down the toilet on transition glasses). I was hoping that the other transition glasses that I lost the lens to were on the opposite side but no.
I get back on the road and ride and ride and ride and ride. Nope...the girlz are nowhere to be found. I kept riding past sections of the road and saying to myself, "they could have stopped here!". Then I saw a sign for Durango...28 miles. So, I figured I was going to be on my own. About a few miles down, I see Lilia pass by me in the opposite direction. I finally meet up with the girlz and said, "Geez, how long did it take you to realize I wasn't behind y'all?" They said they didn't have any opportunity to pull over. I'll just leave it at that! *eyebrows raised*
We get to a crossroads. Get gas then head to the town of Silverton for lunch. Cute little town. We take pics at the old jail (dumbass me forgot my camera) then head across the street to Natalia's for lunch. We all had the lunch buffet except Lilia. I think she got a better deal on her meal than we did. The waiter made the buffet sound all that but sorry to say, it was not.
It started sprinkling and we knew that we were going to hit some rain. It was humid so I didn't really much care for a few spitting drops from above. So, off we go heading toward Durango.
We started to leave the beauty of Colorado and hit the flat plains towards the 4 Corners. We made sure we were going to stop there so that we could pay homage to Kaye, who had a day earlier slipped on the letter "A" of Arizona and broke her foot in 3 places. OUCH!!! This one's for you Kaye!I wanted to do a pose that would capture me in all 4 states at the same time and I came up with it alright. :)
I asked Lilia to please take a pic of me. As I started my pose, the girlz started saying, "Oh my!" LMAO!!! Dusk is falling upon us. I managed to switch my glasses out in mid-ride. Not too far down the road, the girlz pull off across the street onto dirt/gravel and I chose to stay on the shoulder and put my hazard lights on. They were switching out there glasses and I just smiled because I was able to do it while riding. That wasn't the case last year during the Iron Butt ride when I tried that and my gas receipt envelope went flying away and a pen wedge in between my legs. That, I had to pull over and put my glasses on. :)
Almost became a hood ornament for a UPS semi truck who was following too close. Becky was leading and we needed to watch out for deer and whatever else jumped in front of us. Becky thought she saw a deer or actually did see one (I was riding sweep) and the brakes went on quickly and all I could see and hear was the UPS truck behind me. I slammed on my brakes and swerved to the shoulder of the road to get out of his way. Flipped the ass-wipe off!
We didn't get into Flagstaff until 11:30pm. Almost a 12 hr day of riding and stopping but we had fun nonetheless. Time to call it a night. We're planning to arrive in San Diego a day early. It's going to be another scorcher of a day.
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