Rained pretty hard in early evening. In the get out of bed AM I saw the moon and then the clouds closed back in. Told myself Suntop or bust.

Rode Skookum again then turned uphill on logging road for Suntop. 90 mins of baby chain ring grind up constant climb on logging road. Great that everything was wet from rain and no traffic. No point riding the 1.5 miles up to the lookout from the saddle because the view of Rainier in the fog was just as good w/o riding the extra. Dropped into forest to almost deep dark to the point of needing a headlamp. Trail was washed clean leaving about 8″ of buffed tread that I threaded. Found some unripe large huckleberries. Fell on a right hand switchback due to mental lackadaisicalness: just brain farted and turned too sharply stalling the front wheel and inertia took a header over the handlebar splat on soft ground. No one saw me so it doesn’t count as a fall, my rule.

Drove down to Greenwater for another 50 cent shower and then into Enumclaw for groceries and wash. Girl who issued my $30 forest pass at Diamond Lake punched 2009 as hte year the pass is to expire. I was outdate the moment I signed the debit slip. A FS person here issued me another pass w/ 2010 punched. This avoided an issue w/ a contested  citation somewhere down the road.

Yesterday there were 6 land yatches parked @ Ranger Creek XG. Another joined today. From a vantage point in an old clearcut I saw their parked rigs. At first i thought it was a cluster of buildings. Diesel pusher rigs, different set of retired people.

Back up into forest again w/ hopes of dry weather for Palisades ride tomorrow.

Roots on Skookum took concentration to stay upright although I never experienced a slip out.

And on the ground. I am in Crystal ski area’s parking lot for screaming internet access and gently falling rain on the roof. Reminds me of my 1978 PCT hike thru here.

Yesterday I rode from Ranger Creek airstrip where I camped to Huckleberry road #73 for Suntop lookout. I rode Skookum Flats which is a lot tamer than I remember from first & last time I rode it. Fun ride on present bike setup being able to sit up more upright and greater ease to loft front wheel. Still rooty. Started misting part way thru and then morphed into a gentle mist. Clouds were down which would obscure signature view from Suntop. Revised ride plan to stay down and ride the trails on far side of road. I turned down mtn thinking the Palisade trail was that way; the needed map was in the van. I rode back a FS road that parallels hwy 410 and saw all these interesting cabins. Talked w/ one owner whose place reminded me of perhaps Hansel & Gretel’s wicked witch house. He built it 40 years ago. Learned that I should have turned up river. Passed a woman meter reader doing the electronic sit in the cab meter reading. She was reading an article in Nat Geo Adventure mag: what to do when lost in the woods.

Found the trail entrance off hwy & rode rooty trail back to it’s exit @ Buck Creek. Too cold for an outside shower so I drove back down to Greenwater for $0.25 for 5 min hot shower. Checked out Wappiti Woolens where they marveled at my faded pink flamingo hat and reattached the wooden bead that holds the tie downs as a cinch. I always feared my had would fly off during a telemark figure 11 move.

No internet or weather radio reception. Previous forecast was for wet. Drove to secluded campsite off Suntop road but XM radio reception was broken up and I wanted to listen to the Mariners game broadcast by Niehaus and Riz. Listening to human talk stimulates my social skills, music just pacifies me. Drove back  to Ranger and parked on an old concrete pour pad for reception and dead level sleep. Mariners lost in the top of 9th.

This morning rain fell w/ conviction: no riding today. I drove up Crystal rd and found internet connection like I expected. Forecast is for partly cloudy on Friday and the quandary as to life plans. The views from Suntop and Palisades are first rate. I suspect the roots have to be slippery when wet. I can hang here and see what Friday unveils or move on to the dry side of the Cascades and ride tomorrow for sure. I am soo stressed from not having a schedule forced on me and I lack the desire to create one for myself. My life is basically find a ride, ride it, buy groceries, and camp, and to it again the next day. Its not like people are derailing my simple life choices.

Might there be another forecast? ( I spent 10 summers in S Puget Sound and know that the sun  does shine and sometimes for way to many days).

Slept alongside ranger Creek Airstrip just down from Cayuse Pass. No airplanes but lots of heavy camper use but wally weekenders were back home messing their own nests.

Last night I studied the Nat Geo topo map and figured I could ride either Suntop or maybe Ranger Creek w/o a map or guide. I was not eager to pedal the 2,000 to 4,000′ feet for either ride so I headed into civilization, first Greenwater and then finally to Tacoma mall looking for Zilly’s guide book. I drove down rt 410 and viewed clear cuts on mtn sides and right on the road. temperate rain forest produces so much vegetation and big growth but it is an asset and is only of value when it is sawed up. I drove these roads and places when I lived here back in the 80’s yet my memory was holey when navigating. I will say this that there are way too many people for me.

Hanging out in Safeway parking lot in Enumclaw w/ screaming internet. Forecast has rain for next several days. Riding Suntop is special because Rainier is almost close to touch. If lost in clouds the ride is just like any other w/ a long steep logging road climb and a forest trail descent. I called Ranger Creek and Pallisades collectively Corral Pass. I rode Palisades back during Boeing strike when TCS laid me off a second time. Again, a ride w/ a view enhanced by some serious exposure as Rick Vance stated.

Ken Kesey’s real Further picture: http://www.born-today.com/btpix/kesey_ken.jpg

My picture w/ newer version driven by one of his sons:

Off to other chores b4 heading back into woods.

Wapati wollens in Enumclaw made my famous flamingo hat.

My 60th b-day is 9/9/09 and my addled brain is considering ways to celebrate. sAnyone want to join me in central WA?

pedal on.

Grace races the Leadville 100 on Sat w/ what’s his face Lance somebody. Smoke him, girl.