I mark July 19 as my first full day on my odyssey, hence today marks my third anniversary of mountain biking the states. What a wonderful ride it has been w/ no end in site. Yes I have ridden some great trails in some spectacular scenery places, but the experiences and knowledge gained from the people I have met is special. Many friends made and more sure to come. Leaving to move on leaves the friendship behind. Too many people to revist and so little time. Thanks to all of you whom have shared w/ me. I have lots of stories to tell about people I have met, sometimes listeners know the same people. What stories.
Andrew called, he is meeting me @ the Merchantile in a few. He arrives and I remeet Ryan, Eddie, & Mark. New guy Pete is onboard. Mark knows of primitive camping spots out along the Middle Fork and I follow in tow. Selected spot was right on the lake. Some sprinkles. I set up the awning for a second time as a rain shelter. Those guys know each other, I am the interloper w/ just a few hours of history common. What I share is foreign to their history. It’s the way it is when you have been in each other’s lives for years. I play well w/ strangers. Plan tomorrow is to ride Middle Fork from Paddys Flats which is further upstream than my Sunday MBO ride. Humorous evening listening to the 5 of them kabutz. Late night.
Mon AM skies were threatening rain, fog was low on the hills above camp. Sprinkles. Spirits undaunted we geared up, loaded up, and drove up the river road to last trail junction. Snow still blocks the upper TH. Rain started falling windshield wiper time as we neared the TH. No vibe of bagging it. Rain coats on we pushed off. Hear the sound of 6 guys, 12 feet clicking into various clipless pedals. This upper section had way more unrideable tech sections, one climb was almost using my upper body to pull myself up. Lots of h2o. We rode out of the rain, and took off our jackets exposing our skin to the mosquitoes. I have been carrying the eucalyptus based bug spray on my pack for several weeks now. I have offered it as a choice to DEET w/ no takers. Today my stuff was the only game in town. I find it works to confuse most suckers w/ just a few sprays. The others were happy to be covered. We suffered 2 broken chains and Ryan managed to pinch flat several times on a 29er hard tail. Ryan put his motion camera on his helmet facing backwards to fill following riders. He shot some of me on the nasty upper section. I’m afraid he will have little time of me close enough behind him to make me out. Lower part of trail that I rode on Sun is rideable except for several uphill switchbacks and several stream crossings.
We rode to camp. Pete was the first to check out the lake for bathing temperature. When he came back to the surfacve I heard no brutal cold h2o gasps. Works for me. I slipped in for a free bath.
Hanging around camp for a less winded repeat of last night. Drizzle fell in bursts. We hung out under overhanging conifer tree branches shielding us.
Somewhere around 2:30 to 3:30 rain fell in a gulley washer torrent. I suffered thru several leg cramps waking up to pounding rain. The 5 guys were sleeping in tents reported various “I got wet” news. They packed up wet gear and we all headed for TrailHead for their b-fast. No rain. Road back had numerous fallen rocks per the yellow and black warning signs. After b-fast we said adieu. I tried to start a betting pool on where I will run into any of them again. Ryan is returning to US Embassy in Nepal. I went to the Merchantile to say good bye.
I am sitting in Ray’s grocery parking lot typing this. A familiar face walks up, I recognize him as Matt from Wenatchee. Last fall I met him at an IMBA trail care crew meeting and I parked in his homestead and we rode Horse lake trails. Three other guys were with them.
Derrick said that Alpine trail was not too bad after MBO rides in the rain.
Plan now is to mossey over to McKenzie bridge to ride river trail tomorrow. Weather forecast is for sunny dry day, I’m in on that.