Hot Hood River

Saturday’s ride w/ Les was in WA back across the river, at a place called Hospital Hill in White Salmon. Les rides a what 6 3/4 travel big which is pounds heavier than my Spot but he can make it go uphill. Maybe our ride was a throw down: his challenge of my riding expertise chiseled from a year plus of riding 4 to 5 times a week on all kind of different technical challenges vs his I ride when I can on a big hit bike on trails that I know. Les pushed me way hard per my heart rate data. I sucked his wheel on the uphills talking to him hoping to shorten his breath. Telling was the sketchy exposed sidehill switchback climb on 9 year old trail built by a woman. Oh, poison oak on the trail edges. We both blew up on the switchbacks, some we made. Trail dropped almost onto lumber mill property and the uphill. Steam and sweat dripped from our bodies. I was completely sweat soaked, my gloves were slippery on the bar grips. Then the downhill, I’ll take my Spot among other reasons but trail didn’t require the beef he rode. While I do not practice Les’ training it served hi, OK in our 2 hour ride. Great trail system, tread mostly friendly, sparse cow plops.

Drove back to his campsite for a shower and then back into Hood river to find Gloria. Getting hot and no wind. On the river is the national sailboard competition w/ low wind speeds. Les went to glop onto his sailing friends and I made the scoot to the mountain bike scene.

I went to Mtn View Cycles as they are a Specialized dealer for my shoe replacements. A desirable woman waited on me. I asked where she came from and she said among other places Mammoth Lakes. I mentioned Brian Davis and she said he makes guitars. Fun talking w/ people that share connections. Mark was my local rider there.

Hot & still in town. Plan is to drive up to Surveyor’s ridge TH for night and ride on Sunday. TH is about 35 miles out of town and up into mtns @ 4000′: trees and no pavement. Found camping spot just off pavement. So nice to have only forest noise and coolness.

Sunday after a scratch made pancake b-fast I rode back out road to TH. I thought I camped on the trail road and was curious why no riders had gone by my camp. Oopps, another navigation lesson. I was @ the TH parking area small as it was and where the trail took off from. Rode nice trail out & back in & out of deep forest and out into open sections on narrow exposed trail to power lines and back. I climbed 3100′ on a ridge trail while already being on the ridge. Hot. No Les today so I was purposefully able to rest my heart sort of.

Back @ camp i waited for the sun to go behind the trees to cool things off. A hot solar shower washed the caked on dust off. No mosqs, warm sleeping weather.

Today I drove down mtn to HR to deal w/ my shoes, laundry, & groceries. Hot! Forecast temps of 100 degs. Replacement shoes will be here later this week so I am heat bound. Being caught by a weather phenomenon that I am choosing to stay in.

Run down laundromat, populated by a western states who’s who in license plates. Sad impression.

Today is a rest day. The massage cleared the pain from my hip until the end of Les’ & my ride. Today it hurts almost as if nothing was done to  my body. Darn.

No maps exist for Hospital Hill as property owner allows bikes but doesn’t want it mapped which will attract more riders. As it is Les, who has ridden it many times, explored a new trail w/ me that lead to the hellish switchback climb out of river.

My clothes supply is 5 days of bike jerseys, 8 of shorts, 10 of socks. The jersey count drives wash day. I have undershort supply of 6 days but then I can wear them for several days because I spend so many hours in bike gear which i will only wear clean. A sweaty, salt streaked jersey just doesn’t cut it. Underwear is OK several days worn. Laundromats are in big cities, not in the outlying areas usually.

Off to some errands and make ride plans for week and find coolness.