Slept undisturbed in parking lot. Might try it again tonight.
Today is to find powerHouse b4 ride. Researched mag articles I had for address bu town was misleading. I checked address in Hailey, no way was house the business. Drove up to ketchum and tried same w/ same results. Shop opens @ noon, my plan was to set myself to ride and check in @ 12:00 & ride of. Elephant’s perch is a repair recommended store in the mags, picked this shop out of maybe 10 in area.
Walked into The Perch. Greeted a young man, Kyle, wearing a 2010 Cascade Cream Puff T shirt. He raced it this year and last: he went thru my aid station 2X, but we didn’t know each other then. We talked about the race for awhile. I bought a trail map and we talked longer as he laid out several rides, albeit from Ketchum (more later). He’s from Vermont so we rode some same trails back there. Learned that local Y sells showers.
Drove out to Adams Gulch TH just short distance from town. My front wheel and fork require a Rockshox Maxle axle, part of which is the quick release lever to secure the maxle in the fork. I tightened the QR when the 9mm axle snapped. Second time I broke one. Damn. Drove back to perch, met Jason who found a close substitute and will order a replacement on Mon. drove back to same TH now about 1:30. Summer heat in force.
Ride climbed from edge of parking lot. ST shaped by large wheels making a radiused tread. And smooth. Took a left when i should have stayed straight and climbed some more: 1,000′ in 3.3 miles. Back into forest that had burned previously. Still live trees inside burn created fleeting shadows. Corrected my mistake and descended then climbed up new trail in Eve’s Gulch. Goal was 2 hours or 2,000′ climb. I was cautious on descent because replacement skewer didn’t fully cam over to lock it in place. If it loosened the maxle might loosen, meaning ultimately a nasty fall when the front wheel let loose. Not likely to happen but I treated it as so.
Took a $5.00 shower. Checked out cost benefit of joining but for just a shower it is cheaper to pay as I go.
Clean and drove back down to Hailey seeking Powerhouse part bike shop part food / bike/ Belgian beer tap room. Sean told me that Chopper, an advice column writer for BikeMag hangs out there. I am seeking his autograph. Outlandish questions answered by wit & strangeness is his column. I sat @ the bar and sought education on the beers. Expensive. I picked a $6.50 beer in it’s own distinctive glass. Different, definitely not American hand crafted. I asked the bar keep about seeing Chopper. He says i am sitting next to him. Oh. I introduce myself and words flowed. His own person. He’s off to Oakridge for Bike Oregon weekend on Smith optics dime. He autographed my Bikemag issue w/ my story.
Hung @ bar to engage in conversation w/ a guy who hangs here. He spent 10 years in Coeur d’Alene giving a chance for shared knowledge of a place not here. He said most people around now are not from here. he said sheep guard dogs have attacked riders making man’s best friend more dangerous than furtive gray wolf.
I was parked on street in Ketchum w/ side door open. An older man excitedly greeted me. He has been traveling the world and just the western US. He decided he needs to learn about more of America. My van struck causing him to start a conversation. He’s not a rider but he is a kindred spirit in world of vagabonding. He will have stories to tell should he call me.
I parked in front of Chip’s store in Hailey. A car pulls behind me. I get out, a rear door of car opens and out steps a maybe 13 year old. He read the Bikemag article, his dad said i am his idol. I told him to keep his eye on the prize and someday it will come to him.
Weigh 145 which is where i want to be.
Tomorrow another ride.
Woods river valley, where i am, eventually reaches galena summit. The river flows into the Snake. On South & East facing slopes it is devoid of trees. Not much precipitation falls here. What i thought was going to be all trees is not true.