Stellar weather albeit lacking moisture. Clear skies, pure blue color lacking influence of pollution. Low humidity & short sleeve riding temps once sun warms up. Sagebrush riding down in Hailey, trees up towards Galena Summit. Trails are dry, dusty, and loose. No organic material to hold moisture. Riding here presents local unique challenges in sharp edged rocks that move in the loose dirt. Seems my recently exposed to skill of identifying then focusing on visual goals has been replaced by past fear skill of looking at the ground right before my front tire. Fear based and a not thoroughly reflex learned skill.
So yesterday I left the Corral Creek campspot for Prairie Creek trail. Previous night’s sunset illuminated the mtn range to the East. Sunrise brightened it out.
TH is at 6900′. I parked just off the pavement to distance my van from opportunistic mischief. I wore Smartwool kneewarmers, a wool light weight long underwear top, and long fingered gloves, all of which turned out to be not necessary on the climb up. I felt that they would be needed on the way down yet I was not too overdressed for the shaded climb. Pretty day again. This time the Boulder mtn peaks were snow free. I followed a hiker up trail w/ a dog but didn’t catch them until he was headed back down. I knew the dog was a water dog because of the wet dog foot prints for many feet up trail from the h2o crossing. I rode a longer version of this ride last year w/ Kyle & co. The down hill from Miner Lake was more survival fall line trail. Riding back down the up trail was more fun.
The ride beat me. My day’s plan was to ride here, drive back to Hailey and do my wash, then do shop ride in the evening. I didn’t feel well. Indecision is the key to flexibility. I lingered where I was parked enjoying the fall weather, being in the woods, and no people around. Finally I drove back to Ketchum to Backwoods to visit w/ Rodger. I met Rodger last summer while he was moored in SV. Moored because he was a wanderlust traveling the US. Last winter he skinned or hiked up Baldy 115 times consecutively. He set out last summer to roam again. He showed up @ Cream Puff and learned he was back in SV. I called Chip to tell him I would not be riding. He told me my ears would be burning from being talked about.Visited w/ Rodger and Brian another wrench.
There are several hot springs in the valley, one I previously visited was out Warm Springs road which became my goal. I thought maybe a soak would would be the poultice I needed to suck out the bad juices. I had the pools to myself for a short time before an attractive older woman arrived. Nice soaking pool right beside the road on the river. I checked the h2o temp w/ my hand b4 stepping in. I limited my soak time to 20 mins to not cook myself rendering my muscles no functioning. The woman and I chatted as almost naked people do. Let my eyes take a walk all over you as Bruce sang in Tunnel of Love. I left to drive down to Hailey to do my wash and finish out my day.
RT 55 which is the main drag thru the valley is being repaved which tied traffic up making for a slow drive down. I was watching my time and the slowness ate at me. Laundromat closed @ 9 leaving me plenty of time for clean dry clothes. I still line dry my synthetic riding clothes on a line stretched across the inside of my van in the back. I Use wooden spring clothes pin that I used for years when i lived at my house. Caught dinner @ a creative burrito restaurant and later a beer @ a brew pub. Past experience was that nobody parked where I sleep so i could linger in town.
During the night my body was responding to something like a flu bug w/ nausea and lower GI gurglings. Whatever it was my body put itself back in order and i was able to go back to sleep.
Today is another sunny day w/ some high clouds, going to make this a rest day to recover.
So here is a question:
The state of Oregon tackles driving under the influence with road signs that read “Drive Sober”. Human nature is to deny wrong doing. You consume alcohol. An officer pulls you over the asks, “Are you driving sober?” Denial. “No I am not.” Is this an admission of guilt?