Crested Butte, CO that is. Yesterday AM visited w/ Mark b4 heading over the Monarch Pass for Crested Butte. Mark, a full stick of gum is just too large to manipulate while riding. 1/3 seems just right.

Made CB. Checked out Alpineer shop for ride ideas. Then walked Main st. Found another bike shop that sells Truners and has a rental fleet. Wow. Woman employee there is getting a DW Spot and she is so stoked.

Drove up Cement creek for primitive sleep spot. Took m1 1.4 miles below the one where I stayed 2 years ago. Road gets beat up and road is bench cut creating few places to get off the road. Wlaked up the road after dinner and found old spot empty. Too late, just added 1.4 mile to climb out.

Today I ride from the van for Reno, Flag, Bear, & Deadman.4 hours, 3500′ in 28 miles. Big road climb up Reno divide road. Then drop into a drainage then climb out of one, then drfop in and climb out again climaxed by 2 mile drop down deadman’s gulch w/ too many switchbacks to remember. All dirt bike trails which are littered w/ grade dips that all seemed to have left over rain h2o that created mud that splashed me & bike. Beautiful day.

Hung solar shower but I deemed it too cold for an outside shower from the breeze, outside temp was in upper 70s and the h2o wasn’t overly hot. Bailed for $5.50 shower @ hostel. Why $0.50?

Forecast is for 40% possible ehavy rains for rest of week.  Plan tonight is to drive out beyond Gothic for sleep spot and position to ride famous 401 trail. Rides here seem to be monster road rides up to drop in on ST back down. $01, 403, & Doctor’s park are like that.

Grace’s gang will be riding Monarch on Sat now, a day earlier. Need to ride above 3 rides b4 leaving CB.

No internet access back in creek bottoms.

Lots of beaver dams on smaller creeks on today’s ride, kind of like holding ponds or terraces on the creek. Locations are determined by stream flow characteristic and closeness to food supply.

I am using the inhaler several times during the day. I used it mid ride today. I can climb. I suspect that I have had asthma all along as the inhaler opens my lungs… or is it just the drugs? The 3 days of steroids were pleasant as I felt good overall.

Gotta go to grab a sleep spot.

Fri night when i walked back to Ted’s place where my van was parked, a guy party was going on. Yerman, insisted on taking me for a ride on Sat. I said yes but wondered if he would remember making the commitment when he woke up.

He did and we headed up to ride a road climb to join a 9 mile section of the rainbow trail. Turns out I rode the Rainbow in ’08 when i dropped in of Monarch crest. This was a loop ride. Yerman was stronger on the road but once the ST started, i was off. Had a good fast ride. I usually just coast using gravity as my engine. Some more rabid riders assist gravity w/ pedaling. Maybe 10 riders we encountered. Nice 9 miles of trail, open to dirt bikes.

Rode road back to car then drove back to Salida. I had Sat laundry to do. Ted has an outside  clothes line. I schemed line drying my sheets. Missed out.

Walked around downtown Sat night. Was busier on Fri night. Fri night I visited w/ Mark & Brenda.

Sun My ride plan was Bear Creek up to rainbow trail to ride it out & part way back then drop down a secret trail. Big grinder riding the road up. Climbed 3202′. On the return trip i was making 35mph on smooth gravel, that’s how steep it was climbing. Saw just 4 riders. Trail was overgrown and limited sight lines both ways kept my speed responsible.

Back in town. I worked on my bike in the sun. I used the bike stand from Price Point.  Stand is an enhancement. Sunburned my back, will be painful sleeping tonight.

Visited w/ Ted b4 bed. Trail builder from AL.

Tomorrow is Crested Butte for week. Grace is planning on riding Monarch Crest this weekend. Might come back for it.

Actually, it exists where ever there is internet access and people i know. I can access web and keep this blog current  and / or visit / play / party / or ride with them. The web suffers.

SO, Thurs AM I rolled in late to Salida to ride w/ Tony from Arrowhead trail building com. Today was his last day as Pres & treasure of CO. He created a positioned himself for a position w/ IMBA trail solutions and will be going to China to build trails. I drove us up to the Cottonwood TH for a shuttle ride back into Salida. Got a secret handshake trail. We climbed 650′ and droped 2934 to town on a network of cow pathes, old illegal trails to newly made purpose built trails.

Then I forget. Oh, that evening I went to Anton’s hose out on country where Tony had built a pump track. Sun went down and the white christmas lights were strung to compliment the almost full moon. Crazy pump track. No, my bike stayed on van. Spent night in his driveway.

Met Ted works for Tony arrived back from offsite work. We met early Fri for a shuttle ride up to Monarch Crest @ 11,312. Salida is 7,000′ and 20 miles away. Shuttle or kill yourself on ride up. Lots of riders and hikers on the CDT & CO Trail. Jody joined us. Dropped off crest on Fooses trail and then like 12 mile ride back into town.

Shower @ Ted’s and then i walked around town. Ted’s place is 1 block off river and Absolute bike shop which used to be part of chain w/ stores in Flag & Sedona. Walked to Mark & Brend’s to make a date for visit tonight. Back into town 6 blocks away. Bought To Kill a Mocking Bird to reread to learn why it is a banned book. Like most of the books I have, i read 3 chapters and then moved on. Well written book.

Visited w/ Mark & Brenda in eve. We taught XC skiing @ Ski Acres on Snowcrumie pass back in mid 80s. I spent a christmas vaca in Crested Butte w/ them. Mark does this web site for me. Adventerous couple: last 2 trips were to Kenya & Antartica. Check out web link to Brenda’s magazine business.

back @ Ted’s for night.

Got to go, a potential shuttle for A Sat ride on crest again. hence paradox