Contest Winner Greg Bufalini’s Telluride Adventure

PURE. TELLURIDE. EXHILARATION.
By Greg Bufalini.

 I enjoyed an amazing Telluride fall weekend adventure, Sept.9-11, courtesy of GoHawkeye Foundation and their wonderful, life-changing and generous ways. Joined by my good buddy and prosthetist, Greg Mannino, we arrived on Friday afternoon at Telluride in time to be outfitted, courtesy of the Bootdoctors, with a nice Specialized FSR Enduro.  We met up with Will and Craig for some live action mountain bike shoots off of Telluride’s famous bike park.
Descending probably 2000 feet, the course was a great test for my new BTK Crossover designed by Brian Bartlett at Leftside Industries, and it handled the task with flying colors. Its performance factor and durability were subjected to a 220 lb. frame, blasting on very rough and rocky terrain. The formula was well conceived. The BTK Crossover was a true champion. Later, the Crazy Elk in Mountain Village served some great pizza.

BTK Crossover Knee.

On to our bright new day on Saturday morning,  it was off to Trout Lake for some paddleboard testing thanks again to the Bootdoctors.  After some stability practice, we managed to see the BTK Crossover in action with a balance based activity and also proving its waterproof capabilities,.. literally. After an amazing and restful lunch together, Hawkeye, Debbie, Will, Craig, Scott and I went for some great hiking up at Lizard Head Pass. Pristine alpine countryside surrounded us and Hawkeye led the way, knowing every rock, log and stump of his Rocky Mountain neighborhood.
A great dinner and conversation was shared by all at Oak BBQ, with some delicious food and company.

Paddling tips at Trout Lake.

We ended our magical Telluride adventures on Sunday with perhaps the pinnacle of fun and excitement for me!
Hawkeye again blew our socks off with his perfectly planned 19 mile mountain bike trail, up and around Trout Lake and then continuing on down through the most breathtaking scenery, views, ridgelines and forests, all lined in their fall Aspen best.
On through shallow creek crossings and ending with my favorite type of 30-mph dirt downhill, back to our awaiting camp and van, with sweetest Debbie again having our lunch ready just like the kindest Alabama sweetheart she is.

Greg Bufalini, Greg Mannino and Hawkeye on the Galloping Goose trail.

I will have to say, that was one of the best days of my life.
The place.
The ride.
The friends.
The memories.

I need to sincerely thank all involved, beginning with my new brother, Hawkeye Johnson and his wife Debbie, not only for a 5 star first-class weekend at the Hotel Madeline in Telluride but most importantly for what they do with the hearts they’ve been given in this life. They use their own to make other folk’s hearts a little happier, a little stronger, and a little healthier than they once were.
That’s what sets them apart from all the rest.
They are the very best.
My gratitude is eternal.

Also to Will, Craig and Scott who assisted us tirelessly all weekend long. Without them, none of this weekend is possible.
And certainly my thanks go to Fabtech Systems of Seattle for building this amazing knee and to ESI Ergonomic Solutions for donating it!  Also to David and staff at the amazing Madeline Hotel, for such a VIP experience and a time in my life I will absolutely never, ever forget.

Til’ U Ride Telluride, U Ain’t Rode Nothin’  😉

G ☆