Yesterday I drove up the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene river to ride the river trail. Way out of cell phone coverage as it is because it is all about trees, mountains, clear water and fish, and no people. The road stays almost right on the banks of the river as it did the early excavation work for the road bed.  At one of the sloughs I spied a large black object. Moose. Yes it was, ma and kid. Ma fed on the underwater aquatic plants while the youngster stayed out of the water and browsed dry land brush.

I saw another solitary one further upstream knee deep head under water but kept on driving.

The TH is right along the road b4 the last river crossing. All by myself. trail is open to heart propelled activity and thus receives little tlc. Until the scree slope slide alder crowded out the edges of the trail. Once passed the scree it was weed whacked. I like this trail. I rode to Jordan camp then turned around.

I made my knees bend and my heart kept beating. 13 miles was enough of a test. Saw 2 fly fishermen in the river.

Plan then was to find a camp spot in the river valley. Great having Nat Geo USGS maps in my computer as I researched a spot. Lots of primitive camping right along the river in addition to USFS camp sites. I wanted to be in the sun but above the river. I found a spot above the Shoshone work center at a helispot.

Before sun up this AM I heard raindrops on the roof. Last known forecast called for possible rain on Mon so I did not cover the bikes. I rousted myself and covered the bikes. Just a few drops. I heard several bouts of thunder but no quantity of rain. My plan was to ride Lost Creek today but I let the weather cancel my ride. Well, the clouds blew away making for what would have been a windy dry ride. Dirt bikes have been banned from the single track. This ride is like a 13 mile 2500′ logging road ride to start of 8 mile ST, the last 5 drop steeply back to van.

Instead I drove further down river to Babins Junction to a trailer park for a shower. I drove the back way to Wallace on a road I had never been on before. Tight and twisty up, over, and down into Wallace.

I am parked on a gravel parking lot right against I-90 outside of Wallace which is squashed in a bowl rimmed w/ mountains. Easy to see why Wallace was in harms way during the Big Blowup in 1910. On my Thurs visit i noticed ATVs parked on city streets, mostly in front of bars. Today in the parking lot there are rigs pulling ATV trailers which are perhaps parked in front of bars.

Plan is to hang here resting, perhaps a birthday dinner should I feel like eating. Then camp @ 4th of July pass again. Monday AM I have my knee exam.

Forecast is for hot and blowing wind. Precip has skipped this country also.

Today is my 63rd Birthday.

 

I skipped riding Missoula because of the fire smoke. I did stop @ the jumper base where jumper Sam gave me a personal tour. Similar methodology to McCall. Standardization. I read a clip that the Missoula area is acquiring a 3rd BAE (Airbus) 4 engine jet retardant bomber.

I drove east on I-90 to Lookout Pass on the MT Id border to the Lookout Ski area that runs the Trail of the Hiawatha bike trail. Good to go. Still open for the season. I drove back to Taft exit and drove to the TH which is right @ the Eastern portal of the commonly known Taft Tunnel, 1.66 miles underground, hence the description of tunnel. I camped just below the TH. No internet access.

Yesterday i paid my $10 trail fee and $9 return shuttle fee. The schedule is pacific time although the start is in MT. I arrived b4 the trail opened and waited . Chilly AM. Today I used my DiNotte light for really seeing. I switched it on low which was bright enough. I was almost shivering cold in the tunnel starting on a cold body coasting on 2% downhill. Out in the sunshine I started warming up. This rail line played a big part in the 1910 Big Burn as the steam engines blew sparks out the stack setting many spot fires. Too many details to recount, suffice it to say that it was a very historical experience.

I caught the shuttle back up where you ride back thru the Taft Tunnel.

yesterday was Thursday, laundry day. I continued west dropping into historic Wallace, ID that suffered about a third of the town being burned in the same fire. Ed Pulaski, credited w/ the Pulaski firefighting tool of which i have practical firefighting knowledge of was a local figure and hero. I drove his 46 men down Placer Creek to safety in an abandoned mine audit where he kept them in the tunnel @ gun point until the fire passed. Timothy Eagan among others have written about the Big Burn.

I found laudromat and right across the street was a

health club where I bought a $5 shower. Clean body on clean sheets. I bought a beer from a local brewery replicating historic beers.

I found the trail head for the Pulaski tunnel late in the afternoon. I hiked to 2 miles up to a vista that looked down on the restored opening.

I ended up driving way up a gravel logging road to Moon Pass for the night. Chilly. Rugged Bitterroot mtns.

For several weeks I have had weird fluttering in my chest associated w/ my heart. Concern has been growing to learn what is causing it and if it needs to be treated. Last night I made my mind up to seek medical attention. Which community heading west? Wallace? Kellogg? Coeur d’Alene? The later won the pick because if hospitalization was required I had more options. I admitted myself to Kootenai Urgent Care. The DR did hear a sound from my heart. He ordered and EKG which displayed a fibrillation. He said I am experiencing what some older endurance athletes experience. The auricles and left ventricle are not synched. Right now it is just irritating but not life threatening or performance degraders. Now the anxiety has been abated.

I visited a health food store that is much like the New Frontiers in Sedona. A woman clerk smothered me in alternative health care. I bought some more “stuff” to heal me.

Next I sought out Vertical Earth bike shop in town. Funny, as I was driving to the DRs I saw a vert earth rig and I waved @ the driver. It turned out to be Mike, the owner, who recognized me. I bought a new Continental Mountain King tire that I had been seeking for weeks. I now have a choice of the Ardents that are mounted or the Continentals. Mike said he won his first Cream Puff race, less than 100 racers. Great for him, bad for the race.

My plan now is to drive back east and up the N fork of the Coeur d’Alene river to ride either Lost Creek or the river trail. Dirt bikes have been kicked off Lost Creek which is good for the heart propelled crowd. I will see how my knees feel.

Here’s to speedy complete healing for injured Brown County buddy Phil who shattered his arm on a Brown County trail such that the hardware store inventory was significantly depleted into his arm.

Out of here going up the river.

 

 

sailors’ delight. Sundown filtered thru forest fire smoke made the sun bright red like a cherry. Firefighters’ curse as there is no rain to dampen the fires burning in the west. Tonight I drove back to the pass but drove to a past logging landing where the slash was burned. Right above the XG but well off the summit and out of the wind. Iwas able to watch the sky from my open living room door. Too cold for mosquitoes and flies. I am back to wearing my wearing out Pisgah sweater and some times sleeping w/ a cap.

Today I drove back down to town for one last visit to Helena. I made a provisioning stop @ Safeway prior to riding. in the parking lot I spied this van w/ a wild paint job and the word “Escape” on the hood and 2 mtn bikes on top. I walked over and asked what their story was. Young Belgium couple road tripping. I shared ride info for them and we parted ways, their ride and my ride were not to be the same.

I parked right across the street from Blackfoot brewery on Grizzly gulch for my ride. Beer would be my reward after my ride. My knees really hurt. I took yesterday off to rest and to see if they hurt less. Yes, there was less hurt. Today i needed to find out how much I could ride. I discovered that my seat post slips down lowering my butt and increasing the bend in my knees which is where the pain is coming from…. I hope. After last ride I set the seat height and marked it w/ white adhesive tape for a visible sign and tightened the pinch bolt. I haven’t found the torque value yet: too tight and it pinches the seat dropper retarding its speed, too loose and my knees dance on my chin. Today the seat stayed high. I pedaled thru the discomfort.

I will describe Helena’s trails as “angle” either up or down. I rode up grizzly gulch via Wakina way down to Grizzly up to start of Helena ridge trail. Grunt climb to ridge. My forward progress comes as my body can propel myself, I am slower and not as strong on climbs. Blue bird day, temps cool enough not to sweat, but very windy on the ridge. Zipping down maybe a 16″ wide below grade tread reacting to strong cross wind gusts. Stay off the brakes. An object in motion stays in motion until acted by a greater force. I was heavy enough to remain upright. 13.99 miles in 1 hr 58 mins climbing 2473′. Beetle kill P-pine and doug fir.

I changed shoes and walked across the street for my refuel reward. I was wearing bagging bike clothing that is touted as able to go from riding to sipping in polite company. I didn’t drive anyone away from me.

And then back out for camp.

yesterday I did not even start the engine as I stayed resting. Slow internet speed.

Sat. I rode a longer South hill ride. Up Mt Ascension, down and up out of a gulch, up orifino gulch, up to Staiway to heaven down to Grizzly, back up Orifino then climb back up then down to davis road where I was parked. Thunderstorm, all noise just a few drops. Big hump 13.83 miles in 2 hrs 10 mins 2731′ climbed. Beer again @ Blackfoot.

I bought a shower and soak @ the health club on Sat.

Smoke filled skies forecast heading west. Tomorrow i am moving on to Missoula to ride rattlesnake.

My lifestyle puts a smile on my face. I can be where and when i want to be there. I saw a sunset that people in Helena didn’t see. 2 days ago I was 15 degrees cooler than 85 degree town. I make do w/ what i have in exchange for this freedom. My time is my time. Earning an income takes almost all of your life away leaving you w/ weekends and maybe a few weeks of vaca. I will ride this as far as I can take it.