Thurs eve my little sister, Lise, called me for her b-day call to me. I call her the night b4 also. She caught me out beside a Yokes grocery store hunkered in the shade w/ internet access while I was fixing dinner. I decided to have wild Gulf shrimp and to make a new dinner. I researched a web site and picked a simple dish using zucchini I paid for, no connections to the ubiquitous home gardeners supply. Saved a shrimp for Toeless, Bill & Jenifer’s super special cat. My treat to him. Later when he visited my van I presented it to him. It was untouched when i woke up. So much for a seafood treat to a cat.

Drove to Bill & Jens for the night. Bill is laying in his chair suffereing from a damaged hamstring suffered @ work. Laid up he is. Crutches, the whole bit.  Visited for awhile then walked “home”.

Fri AM my Dad, living in East Coast time zone, calls me @ 7:00 just as I am crawling out from under the warm covers. Some time passed as I gained traction to start the day. Chatted.

I needed to keep  moving to meet Jeff @ 10:00 for a ride on Mica peak. First I needed to do my wash. Ah, clean clothes. Jeff caught me as I finished. We put my bike on his bike rack and headed east. Today is another 90 something degree day. He used the air conditioning thus isolating what would come @ the TH. Plan is to replicate my previous ride plus the summit. Jeff is recovering from Shingles @ his tender 30 something years. He is normally beyond way stronger than me. Today I stay ahead of him. Hot day that cooled as we climbed. Jeff called for a break right as we arrived at the K intersection. I picked a spot of ground to sit on. I checked it out for sharp pokey things. I sat down then felt repeated pricks on my left cheek.  I jumped up as it was. I searched the ground and found a small bumblebee that I had sat on. First time I have ever been stung by one of them. Jeff wouldn’t look @ my butt for damage. Darn sting was right on my saddle contact patch. Neither of us really needed to ride to the summit. Pointed ’em down. It took us 1 hr 40 mins to this point. It took 20 mins to drop down to the bottom. Frequent worn down nasty waterbars controlled the speed. Somewhere part way down we hit the open oven temp layer. Upper 90s.

Jeff dropped me off. I drove to insurance agent and paid my yearly premium. They did a creative job to get insurance on my one-off vehicle. Stopped @ Bicycle Butler for a shower. Cleaned up I drove down to The Elk for a birthday dinner. To my birthday I added a shot of Lafroig. I made mention I was 62 today. Kyle read the intent and comped me. I sit @ the bar usually where there is a greater likelihood of conversation just like tonight.

Middle sister Lynn called me on the way to Bill’s. Different kind of conversation. She is president of our Dad’s aluminum foundry and times are hard. Dad’s father bought a 3 man nonferrous foundry during the Great Depression. Dad grew it during prosperous years. Lynnie gets this economy.

Bill fixes up old cars. He restored a Henry J car. Does nice work. Today he showed it @ a vintage car show.

Jennifer worked out a surprise B-day party for Bill today.

I left for a ride on MT Spokane to pick berries. I rode up to the outhouse. Along the way I hit berry patches that I stopped to pick. 2 riders arrived. During our conversation one guys asks if had read about me in a mag. Yes I said. I spent maybe 2 hours picking berries. I found some loaded bushes and many huckleberries. Lots of time spent for small reward. I justified a shorter ride today because of yesterday’s 3100′ climb. I rode back down 110 that I rode up on. I climb up this trail and make a big loop from other trails never riding down this trail. I chose riding down it for enjoyment. Down towards the bottom my line was just at the edge of the brush where I caught a broken branch right on my left middle finger tearing holes like a cheese grater would. I held on until I could look down. Just blood seeping out a bunch of punctures. Later I picked several pieces of wood out.

B4 starting I filled my solar shower from the creek then hung it to heat from a rain gutter on the van. Hot day and I needed a wash off b4 Bill’s party. 3 hours of direct sun does not make steaming hot h20. 90 something heat made up for what the h20 lacked. Made Bill’s party, maybe 30 people, several were my former road neighbors. One, a woman, is a bailiff for a female judge. Both prefer to be called “sir”.

Freezing berries in small batches. Fridge is doing good job of staying between 35 and 40 in these 90 degree days. I will keep the fridge.

My old house is on the edge of Peone Prairie where several thousand acres are planted in wheat that is now being combined. Several days ago I drove thru a patch of chaff that was so thick it turned the sky brown.

So I head out from Spokane on Wed.

I ordered a Road Id elite identity band that provides a link to my on line medical and contact info. It arrived today and it is now on my wrist.

Yesterday’s ride at Beacon was  a flat day for me, the ride didn’t speak to me. Today I planned on making amends by a long slow ride @ Riverside then drive up South hill to listen to the Spokane Symphony outdoor concert.

My ride was enjoyable in the heat. I checked the forecast for Spokane and Sedona: same temps but Sedona was getting monsoon weather. I pedaled slower but harder as the heart rate data recorded. I played as I rode. Time flowed downriver. I determined I needed more time to get to the concert etc than I had left. I made a black bean burrito  craig special then hit Bill’s house b4 the magical 8:00PM when they head to bed to support 3:00 AM get up. A short visit and shower and then out to the van. XM reception is picky where I park, amazing a few feet one way or the other determines no cut out music.

Riverside SP is the second largest park in the state @ 8,000 acres after MT Spokane @ 13,000 acres. The tree cover is open P-pine w/ some dog hair thickets. Parts have been burned since I arrived in Spokane. South of 7 mile the trails are less technical and are fun to  spin on. I also used the focused vision technique to get me over rough spots. Fun. I was surprised @ my hi heart rate for the fun I had.

Tues was a no ride day. I visited REI b4 my hair cut appointment w/ Renee who has been grooming me since 1990.  REI is air conditioned and has lots of neat stuff. I scored a new pair of Patagonia standup shorts my size on sale to replace a pair that are truely worn out. You can’t but this worn out look. Oh, you want my 30″ waist 5″ inseam collector shorts? Well, let’s talk.

Coiffed I headed to Terry and Meg’s place for dinner. They moved onto Doak rd just across Argonne where I used to live. Beautiful place w/ a skyline view of MT Spokane. Terry is a basketball ref for greater Spokane area. He loves the game. He reffed Morrison who incidentally lives like next door neighbor. Then back to Bill’s for the night.

Today was the fridge appointment, the all day we have your van and no you can not be in the service area living in it. Cal rescued me w/ a shuttle ride to Riverside for a short ride. He invited some of our Boeing buddies for lunch @ the Elk. Tom and Mel joined us for a mid day beer to return to work.

Now, caught up. Temp is in the 90s and forecast the same here in the Inland Northwest, summer’s last hot go. Temp in 50s @ night and low humidity. Sleep in comfort and sweat evaporate during the day.

I ordered a Roadid elite identification band. Neat. I have an account on line where I enter medical and contact info. I will use this as my coumadin notification. Medical personnel can access this info on line or over the phone.

My drivers’ license is in the mail. I ordered a new XM receiver that is to arrive Monday. I will visit Andy & Jen in C d’A Wed as I head on down the road.

Hey readers: My travel plan is Coeur d’Alene then Missoula then down the Salmon to Stanley, ID. Next is Sun Valley area. From there maybe Pocatello. I am thinking Steamboat, CO for fall colors. I ahve heard a good and a non plus vote for Steamboat. I am asking yall for ride recommendations along this route. Or, if your idea is so over the top and the drive is not spendy I would take you up.  Just add a comment @ the bottom of this page. Thanks for ideas.

Didn’t snap a pic.

Oh, the fridge: The tech discovered that the main valve off the propane tank was 80% open then opened it wide open. The fridge is working the way it should. Leave the temp setting on 5 out of coldest 9 and the fridge temp will fluctuate w/ the van interior temp. It should hold a food range temp. I have peace of mind that the fridge works as it should. Thanks to the other mfgers suggested by readers. Going to stay w/ Norcold gas absorption fridge until it craps out. The 20% gain will increase fridge cooling.

Hunkered in the shade just off Whitworth University campus in a gravel surface lot. I am having trouble getting my head around how young these college freshmen look.

Friday is my 62 birthday.

I was getting ready to head out when my phone rang. On line was Joe from Jim Thorpe, PA who helped me back in 2008. He saw my van as I was backing out of the cty park where he works. I was leaving because I couldn’t part w/ the camping fee. He invited me to join him in the park’s car. When he learned of my adventure  he literally collapsed in envy. I learned he was care giver to a son w/ a crippling disease and a wife. He had obligations that kept him from adventuring. He was envious and supportive of my life. He aided a free campspot that came w/ a shower. I have never been so cold as I was in that hot shower. The next day I rode the disappointing best ride in PA. He called the next day to check up on me and offer his hospitality. I thanked him but spurned his offer as he was not “one of us”. He called me this AM because he found my card and wanted to know how I was doing. He still can’t go. I have learned there are many people who want to do what i am doing but external / internal issues prevent them from embarking. Almost 3 years later I have amassed many stories to share w/ people such as Joe for them to perhaps live vicariously in my adventures. Today I would have accepted Joe’s hospitality and shared w/ him my stories. Go Joe.

Great to see Bill and Jennifer. He was living across the street when i built my house. I lived there for 16 y3ears. Along the way he married Jennifer. They are the second storer of my stuff.   Both left for work the next day while i was enjoying sleep.

I putzed around until my 3:00 appointment w/ Dennis who is investing my $. Drank a few beers @ Fast Eddies. I am still solvent waiting for the economy to grow. Good conversation. Walked downtown along the river to Pig Out in the Park, a traditional Labor Day splash in Riverfront Park, site of the smallest city’s World’s Fair. Listened to a bit of Charlie Musselwright playing blues harmonica. Stood listening till after 9:00 then drove back to Bill’s for the quiet sleep spot.

Friday was another rest day. I scored a DR appointment w/ my Spokane primary care dr to address my burning eyes. He referred me to an eye dr where I used to go for mid afternoon. DR says I am doing OK. Eye dr saw my van b4 my appointment then during introduction he told me he started riding. My eye problem became secondary as I helped him w/ some bike info. He said that the burning comes from bacteria on my eyelids and prescribed care to correct. I drove to the pharmacy where a wonderful woman of my dreams works. She was there and my heart melted again. In the intervening year her guy put a ring on her finger. May he appreciate his luck.

My XM tuner is fading away. I found an audio installer near where the previous one was that did prior work. I learned that the owner of the former place died suddenly last year. This guy worked there then left to start his own company. We scheduled a Sat Am appointment to see what was up.

Next was a 7:00 meeting again @ Pig Out to meet Tom and Cal who I worked and skied with, Lopper Ball mates. Leon Russel was the main event. Drank beer and shouted over noise while in the beer garden. The acoustics sucked. Lost interest competing w/ all the distractions so i drove back to Bill’s.

Sat AM off to the installer. All the connections are secure. He remembered my from the previous place. He was an air force brat and traveled the world b4 anchoring in Spokane. We talked of travel experiences.

I moved on to ride from Liberty Lake up shoulder of Mica peak. Big grunter climb. Took just all of 2 hours to high point. Decent over way frequent deep h2o bars took just over 20 mins back to van which included maybe a 5 min climb. Sweet ride: I dropped the seat a bit and just porpoised over the bumps.

I called the XM help line. The Droid dropped several calls. I ended up w/ a guy speaking English but not comprehending what he was saying. Very frustrating. His fix didn’t address my issue.

Jennifer invited me to dinner. I arrived early and visited w/ she and Bill. They have a 100% black male cat I named Toeless because he is missing a toe. He is a great cat. He remembers me that allows me to have a cat fix. I miss not having a dog and cat. Someday when the anchor drops.

Which catches us up to today. After a morning visit I split for Esmeraldo golf course for a ride on Beacon. Hot and exposed to the sun. My mind was not in the ride so i cut it short & returned to the van. Lots of biker built single track to choose from. Dusty.

Enough of a ride. I drove into town seeking Larry and Teresa, old original Spokane friends. I found both @ work: Larry @ a vet clinic and Teresa @ Mountain Gear. Managed a bit of visiting in. Might see them later.

I ordered a new XM tuner from Crutchfield where I bought my stuff previously. Won’t be here till 9/13 all the way from the east coast.

Forecast is for increasing 90 degree days this week w/ temps dropping into 50s at night. Last 2 AMs @ Bill’s the temp was in the upper 30s.

Back to Bill’s for the night.