MT Coeur d’Alene hump

Bright moon light lit the outside of the van last night. Quiet, no elk bugle call.

Made scratch pancakes this AM, added blueberries. Huckleberries replaced the domesticated berry. What i use says something about berry success thisĀ  season.

Yesterday I noticed a crack in my rear derailleur jockey pulley. this year the pulley is lightened by drilling out material. Need to replace it. I drove to Wheelsport east for shop opening @ 11:00 AM . None to be had in either of their 3 stores. Decided to ride anyway.

Last night I invited Andy along on short notice. His kids occupied his weekend. He told me his drive on Beauty Creek rd earlier in the week was blocked by a road patching session. Today, being Sunday, the road was opened. The project covered removal of cattle guard and patch all potholes to campground. What a joy it would have been if the entire 6 miles was patched. No luck. Potholes are so old they are plant buckets shooting up weeds.

I parked under cedars. Plan today is to ride up 257 and continue down to hole. Climb out is to be on entire 227 to learn how directisimo compares to gentile road riding. Found moose hulk same place just a little less edible tissue. I inhaled better this time and discovered there is a faint smell of meat rotting. Dropped down into hole. Bottom land is usually very moist for chantrelle mushrooms. None this year because of dry. At the logging road choice of 227 up or overgrown logging road to the right. I put on the big boy pants. Last night I traced the route on TOPO USGS map to learn of the pending effort: 1.6 miles gaining 934′ on single track. Turned out to be 1.9. I used to ride down this trail then up 257. This trail is a bitch to ride / hike a bike up. Maybe a dozen of trees were across the trail. Brushy edges. I walked when i blew up and pedaled faster than walking when body strength and steepness allowed. Hump. Trail 227 up was 4.28 miles and 24 mins shorter. Elevation gain was the same. 246 cals were burned on 227. Anaerobic effort was only 41 mins on 227 vs 1 hr 33 mins on the road. Must have had issues w/ my heart. Downhill was just as sweet. I watched for uphill riders that kept my speed down. No encounters. I saw 4 rigs parked b4 257 left the road.

Really like my bike. Suspension just sucks up the hits. The seat dropper gets the seat out of the way. The frame is stiff. PUSH suspension. Ardent tubeless tires.

Back @ the van a business card was under my windshield wiper. Tim dropped me a note. 2 years ago I shared an unplanned ride that he lead and I have since named: “Tim’s route” which is the road choice above. Missed him.

Drove to Moon Time in C d’A for dinner.

Tomorrow I am driving to Moscow mtn. Late start because I will call N Div @ shop opening to seek pulley.

I entered Bend’s Big Fat Tour 2 week ends away. Rode it 2 years ago. Need route info to decide to ride the epic or the shorter ride on Sat. This means I will be in Bend by 10/11.

 

One comment on “MT Coeur d’Alene hump

  1. Craig, Thought we’d see more of you in the driveway this visit. Good to see you again. Enjoy Moscow Mountain. I rode Mt. Spokane yesterday, did a hard ride up the road to the outhouses and Trail 110. Kept the heart maxed out. Pretty dead tired when I got back. Keep in touch.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *