Dateline: Loveland, CO, PUSH Industries parking lot.
Made Wilson State Park out in back roads Kansas. Empty XG, no water until next weekend. Washed bike w/ake h2o, all the clingy mud is gone. Only camper in subloop right on water. Walked a bit before dark. Found perhaps a heron skull & some beaver cutting chips. A brisk on shore wind but in early evening the wind died & then picked up w/ an incoming thunderstorm. Van was rocked by the wind and thunder. Not a bad light show but most intensity went somewhere else.
I checked out Wilson town to see what was downtown. Just a community that has lost it’s economic engine.
Drove out to park. Entrance is on a hill and the road drops down to cross the lake on a high bridge. Controlled burn made the trails stand out. What a fantastic trail system. One of the best i have ridden. Just a few technical rock problems but all about riding. The designer, Bob Nicholson, the park’s trail coordinator, used the topography very well. 14.6 miles & close to 2000′ vert all on short climbs, lots of climbing switchbacks. And it was not kansas flat. It’s worth making a stop on your way somewhere.
I joined the central kansas mtn biker club and linked up w/Jon Shank for a guide to meet at noon on Sunday. While waiting for him I rode 5 miles of trail. Wow.
AN adventure race was going on while I was there. 16 teams, they mtn biked, paddled a canoe or kayak, ran 5 miles & finished w/ more mtn biking. I recorded gusts of 35 mph. Several of the canoers capsized.
I learned that an Army Corps of engineering XG was nearby w/ year round water & showers so I split for it. Nice shower and then off to find the world’s largest ball of seizal twine. Have pictures.
I drove furhter north to the geographical center of the US and spent the night in the middle of America.
Today I worked old US highways to Loveland, CO to PUSH Industries who will overhaul my shock & fork tomorrow. Drove past maybe 5 VERY large cattle feedlots. Wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t a thousand cows wallowing in their own waste fattening up for your dinner table. And the stench!
GPSd the post office & picked up my mail. And then found PUSH back on their cul de sac. While my suspension didn’t jump up & down, I smiled. Talked w/ Jimmie & master mind Darren who all remembered me from my Labor Day visit. Spent time learning from Darren what he is getting & future able to get out of suspensions. Very talented & intense but fun guy. I am more impressed. To those of you who have had your suspension PUSHed, be sure to return them over time as they will include the updated parts for an even better performance.
Darren is stoked on his Turner Spot w/ the DW link. He is friends w/ David Turner & Dave Weigal, the DW link guy. Best Turner yet he said.
In mountain time zone, fall back but I am tired.
The snow covered mountains finally revealed themselves well into CO as they were hidden by scattered clouds that blended w/ snow. 72 degrees after snow last weekend.