Day 21: Much needed rest day (Telluride, CO to Telluride, CO - 0 miles)

We definitely picked the best location to take our first rest day.  Physically, Dan and I feel good, but we decided it would be the best for us mentally to have a day without any biking involved. We spent our morning exploring the town, fixing up our bikes, riding the gondolas, and spending time at the spa. But we couldn't go a whole day without some adventure, so we took an ATV tour through the mountains.  It was amazing climbing up steep hills by twisting the throttle instead of pedaling a thousand times.  The views were spectacular.  All those mountains in the background peak at 14,000 feet.  

This is a cool beaver dam we saw at the top of the mountain.  For a mid-ride snack we ate wild strawberries and drank fresh Rocky Mountain stream water. 

After ATVing we came back to the Kramer's beautiful home and the dinner party began.  We joined the Kramer's, about 20 of their friends, and the MIT riders for wine, margaritas, and dinner.  Today was definitely a highlight of the trip.  It is amazing how generous and hospitable people have been on this trip.  Dan and I are staying in the top floor apartment with our own bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, pool table, and massage chair.  This is literally incomparable to the sleepless nights we have had in the past week where we camped on the mosquito breeding grounds in Hanksville, and on the sidewalk of the park ranger office in Hite where it was 110 degrees. 

Tomorrow we are signed up to be in the Telluride July 4th parade downtown.  We are very excited because the parade is a very big deal.  50,000 attend each year.  After the parade we plan to ride to Montrose and see fireworks there at night.  

I can honestly say Telluride has been the favorite part of my trip so far and is definitely one of the coolest towns I have been to in America. Without a doubt I will come back sometime in my life.