Last Sat night it was Downieville, CA.
And my odyssey continues.
At the end of Sat’s monstrous downhill my lower back came up stiff, such that I couldn’t stand straight up. I took Sun as a rest day and drove out of the mountains back towards the ocean. I drove Sun and Monday heading N and west.
On Monday I drove into Chico, CA. I picked a likely mtn bike store and entered. An IMBA trail care crew had worked in Chico which is why I landed here. Bidwell park attached to town was the project. Fog came in that turned into rain. No sucker hole. No riding here today. I stopped @ B&N book store and bought Jess Walter’s newest novel, critically acclaimed novel, Beautiful Ruins. I make very little time to read. I continued N to Redding, another Trail Care crew visit. I found another bike shop where I learned about Swasey rd trails out side of Whiskeytown. BLM land, no camping @ TH. Ah, Whiskeytown is a fed level facility that will accept my senior card. I ended up right above the lake in a self contained unit parking lotcamp ground. $4.00. When full units are parked side by side like a parking lot. I joined another chain fitness facility where I took a shower. I found a sea food store selling fresh Dungeness crabs. The store retrieves live crabs out @ the coast then keep them alive and only cook each day what the demand is. I bought a crab that might have been cooked only hours earlier. Ah, what joy.
Tues AM was overcast and forecasted rain. I drove back to Swasey rd and geared up. Got in a ride on old trails dampened by yesterday’s sprinkles. I studied the trail map then forgot it in the van then headed uphill. Chaparral forest cover. 9.47 miles climbing1337′. Rain started falling just after I made it back to van.
Years ago I clipped an article from Bike mag about America’s newest coolest trail out on the coast in the King mtn range named Paradise Royale. I allowed the GPS to plan the route which was fine until the state highway went north and west. The GPS selected the most direct way to its credit and on paved roads. Beyond torturous w/ just twisting and winding on very narrow double track. The ups and downs were killer steep. The coastal ranges are very rough. Just a long story short it was punishing. A long decent dropped me onto US 101. About 100′ away from the 101 intersection I decided to check the stopping power of the brakes before I faced the busy highway. Shit! the pedal went to wall and just managed to stop the van. I smoked the pads. I don’t drag my brakes, I feather and pump them, never allowing the pads to heat up. Even the friendly use of the brakes failed the steep decent. I drove down 101 to find an open CA state XG deep in the redwoods. $33 a night. Coin operated showers but the building is not heated and it was chilly outside. I did take a shower again back in Redding b4 heading out.
Battery is fading in the computer and I am fading anticipating my bed.
I headed N while snow still covers trails and crews have not been out to evaluate and repair winter damage. My plan was to ride the Umpqua trail but the FS had no trail beta so I moved on up the road to Bend.
I ordered a KS Lev seat dropper to replace my Reverb.
Battery died on Jet pack after I added more info. Spent over an hour typing. Too late and to pissed to type it over. The jet pack dropped internet connection, I clicked on update on the web site to save the draft. The connection was broken and all my info was dropped.
Paradise Royale is a bust.
I’m off for a beer.
Wonderful ski down this face. I had back to back days of over the head face shots in a white out. I followed a local each day. He got first tracks as they knew how to get around a moat and miss a rock outcropping. No harm as it was all uncut. About 400′ black diamond steep face. That was back in the day of leather boots and narrow skis.