F…..g Flies

Yesterday I was able to buy a jockey pulley from N Div bike shop then headed south.

Plan was to ride Moscow mtn going south. Only I did not recall the road to go to the TH. It took me a second try to arrive @ deserted TH… except for a Missouri Show Me State tagged pickup truck that was over the edge into a ditch front first. No body there. Show me. And nobody @ TH. Decided that I wanted a pain free day so i turned around and drove to Moscow. I just passed thru the town

My Fitness Program showed a Snap Fitness in Pullman. I called and learned that the facility had a shower. I’m in. I just drove thru the city to Snap. Didn’t explore college campus scene.

I drove south on WA 195 that connected w/ US 95 back in ID and dropped down the Lewiston grade to the Snake River. 4 dams on the Snake make Lewiston an ocean port. Scenic drive on US 12 along the river for a ways then moved inland. Down to Milton Freewater in OR. Darkness setting in and I am not at a sleep spot. I bypassed Pendleton and drove to I-84 interchange where a collection of hotels offered spots. I chose a short dead end road parking on the street. Beautiful view of rising past full moon. In the AM I was awakened by construction equipment tearing up the motel parking lot on the other side of the sidewalk.

Forecast for today called for blowing dust propelled by 30mph gusts after 11:00. I needed to get my Echo ride in b4 the dust storm. I found the TH under clear skies and gentle breeze. The trail system is on private property on non tillable land. Hand built purpose built trails w/ several side loops. I kept turning onto the loops just wandering. Every loop brought me back onto the main trail. I rode 14.4 miles, missing a loop that might have made 20 miles.

rolling terrain @ Echo

My plan was camp @ the TH and leave tomorrow for Hood River. Forecast kept calling for strong west winds in the gorge, headwind that would just eat up diesel.

While @ TH Shane rode up from town, he owns Echo Bike and Board in boarded up downtown Echo. He and buddies built these trails. He knows Fuzzy as he rides and sells 49ners. I sat in the fall sun.

The midwest had houseflies that bothered me. I bought fly strips in Watford, ND and used 1, the others went into my junk drawer. Several nights ago I purged the remaining strips as I thought I was out of fly territory. Big time wrong. I left windows and door open in my van after my ride. Flies accepted the invite. I have never seen so many flies, way more than midwest. It’s 9:00PM and chilly. The flies have gathered in the back of the van perhaps the warmest spot. Another gaggle is on the headliner above the driver’s seat.  Oh for a vacuum cleaner. I will be picking fly carcasses for a long time. Several times a day a stink bug from Liberty lake emerges from hiding.

flies

Tomorrow is the Mariners last baseball game, end of the season. Same time as 1st debate.

Tomorrow I head for Hood River.