I made Sunday a rest day. I lingered @ camp spot in democrat Gulch. Two riders descended the short hill on the gravel road to my spot. I heard a woman’s voice I recognized. It was Mars from Spokane. I heard the she and friend Rick where somewhere near but no connection was made. They rode this ride because Rick’s truck’s electrical system took a holiday and left them stranded in downtown Hailey. I kept to my rest as they rode away. We ate dinner in Hailey later in the evening and I went back to Democrat. I offered to drive them around on Monday while the truck was being repaired. Monday Mars called to say they were going to stay close to the repair shop so they could dash out of town heading back to Spokane if and when the truck was running.

I had Monday to  myself to attend to my non resolved breathing issue. I drove to the clinic in town, no longer is there an urgent care facility. Holy cold stethoscope: I scored an appointment for late afternoon w/ a DR. He spent time listening to my breathing which is clear. He believes my dry cough was not killed w/ the 3 day does of antibiotics so he prescribed 10 days worth. The chest pain is perhaps from deep muscle strain of the rib muscles. I accepted the chest Xray to learn if there was something else causing the pain. So, 10 days of antibiotics, musenex and an Xray for today. Last night I noticed freer breathing causing me to look forward to today’s ride.

Warm enough last night to sleep w/ the slider open covered by the netting. Plan was to get riding by 8:30 from camp of the Croy canyon trails then go into town for the Xray.

I pedaled out on time under a cloudless blue sky, low humidity and rising temperature. The ride went up Lambs gulch where 2 hibernaculums for rattlesnakes are known to exist. The trail is in the bottom of the canyon, some of it narrow single track below grade bordered by dense sage brush, perfect condition for rattlesnakes. I found the above beauty fortunately on a double track section. Excellent trails here. I saw 2 women riding together and we stopped to visit. They have seen my van around. While we were talking a wasp dug a cave in the dirt in the trail. It’s goal was to stuff a katydid into the cave. My biology knowledge recalled parasitic wasps that sting their specific insect prey that paralyzes it. An egg is laid in the prey which then supplies nourishment for the metamorphosing wasp. Nature’s way of taking care of things. I continued on my ride of 14.97 miles climbing 2179′ but burning only808 calories in just under 2 hours. I sure was dessicated from the heat and effort.

I drove into Hailey to the clinic for the Xray. The order didn’t get communicated so no photo shoot, come back in an hour. I visited Chip’s shop biding my time. Back again for the Xray. No info shared other than the tech and I looked @ my right previously fractured collar bone which still shows unknitted bone ends. It didn’t look good.

Next up was driving to Ketchum Y for a shower. Friend Steve and Mia are taking me to dinner. Mia was playing @ the Farmers’ Market in downtown. I wandered around the market. Steve arrived. Mia’s gig was over, we helped her pack up her stuff and load it into the car. Dinner @ an Italian restaurant. They returned to Bellvue S of Hailey. I drove out to Trail Creek camp spot. Still warm enough for the open slider.

Tomorrow is a ride up here then back to Hailey for Chip to change the fork oil.

NOAA forecast for Hailey called for highs in 70s where I would like to be as the valley temp was in the low 90s.

Comfort and discomfort are relative and individualized. To me the 88 degree rides are hot. You chose your response depending which side of the heat index you favor.

Friday I went back for another climb up Baker Creek then down edge of the world trail Oregon Gulch. Met the shuttle downtown @ 8:30. Marc was one of the guides. Bus dropped us off @ the hwy. We pedaled up Baker creek rd which is gently climbing 2 lane all weather gravel rd to a left turn up the south fork which is single lane gravel RER. Continue climbing, the top takes less than 90 mins solid pedaling. Today’s ride was catered mid ride @ a quasi yurt camp serving brats and lemonade. The Czar rider was along again as was the Sultan rider. 3 Turners on the ride.

Same story: killed on the climbs but faster on the downhill. Upper Adams Gulch is double black diamond and downhill direction recommended. Wide handle bars help keep the front wheel pointed in the general direction. Down and down and down the trail lead us until the up hill edge of beaver ponds then it gentled rolled to the TH. Still climbed 2,000′. The climb took maybe 2 times longer than the downhill. (DUH). dropped 2586′.

The shuttle truck arrived after maybe 20 mins w/ ice cold beer in 22 oz bottles. Same brewery that supports GOATS.

Back in town for a shower @ the nice Y. I didn’t dwadle because i wanted to get to the preferred spot out on Trail Creek. Kevin beat me to it so we slept in the spot. Angela is a Cat 1 mtn bike racer racing in the national marathon race on Sat. Marathon because it is about 50 miles.

The temp dropped to 40 degrees while i slept chilly in bed under my summer blanket. It just isn’t wide enough to double over for entire bed width. If I curled near the wall I could get the most double coverage. I put off getting up. I started the heater once out of bed. Angela pedaled off warming up for her race. Kevin left shortly after to perform his support crew member role for her race. I lingered over scratch made pancakes: lip smacking and metal plate licked clean. I stopped @ the race venue expecting to see some vendors, after all it is a national championship. I found Club Ride, a local rider apparel maker. Today the company representative was Mike, the founder. he remembered me from prior visits which was better than my recall. Mountain Flyer interviewed him and wrote a story about him and his company. Angela hadn’t finished.

I drove down to Greenhorn Gulch for a ride. today my plan was to ride up the other side of Greenhorn Gulch then come down Imperial. Up Mahoney continuing up on Lodgepole to connector to Imperial. My effort goal was to keep my heart rate below the upper threshold. Grunter up. Ride was only 16.01 miles taking 2 hrs 21 mins but climbed 3172′, high point was just under 8,000′. The higher elevation is affecting my breathing. Had the trails almost all to myself. Dirt bikes are allowed that set up short shallow rollers that create porpoise like motions. Trails go thru the 2007  Castle Rock fire burn. Imperial is drier than the ride 2 days ago. Still a smiley face ride. Still in upper 80s @ the TH.

I drove down to Hailey to Chip’s shop to visit and get h2o. Fun visiting w/ Chip. I walked up town to Power House for dinner. I lingered waiting for the sun to drop behind the peaks above where I camp for shade. At the parking spot a guy was just finishing up his ride and owned the Element occupying my parking spot. It was Brian from another bike shop in town. We chatted about his wild really back country rides on the black dashed line trails. remarkable. He left. Comfort is improving as the night is chilling.

I have ridden 4 days straight. I should take tomorrow off.

Going to bed. First rinse off the sweat and grime w/ air temp h2o from my tank and a wash cloth while limiting the dripping onto the floor.

Drove up to Ketchum. Learned of the stoker rides and I joined one, Fox peak on Wed. I made the bus pick up in time along w/ maybe almost 20 others. Bus shuttled us out to the Baker Creek road and dumped us out. Ouch! I been here b4 several years ago. So much for the bus even dropping us off @ the start of the climb. Banish my wishfull thinking. The shuttle just saved driving out to the TH. The ride finished back in Ketchum.

The ride climbed up logging road a little over an hour of solid pedaling. The the road dropped a bunch of elevation climbed only to be made up in the dirt climbing over the upper shoulder of Fox Peak. New trails for me. Big umph. Trails traversed a ridge that dropped down to the gulch divides, stronger than little punchie climbs. Gotta love the Sun Valley trails: lots of smoothies, narrow, some under dry land forests for less than dusty tread. sage brush cover. Sunshine. Views over the seas of peaks. I was crushed on the uphills but stayed w/ the fast riders on the downhills. Am learning the dirt. Ride finished in town finishing on Adams Gulch: 25.23 miles in 3 hrs, climbing 3163 and descending 3948′. I met Kevin and Angela from Bend. No pics as I pushed to stay ahead of the slower downhill riders. Seat dropper.

Back in town a road bike criterium was racing on a small section of downtown Ketchum streets plus some street vendors. Steve joined sporting a small cast on  his right hand, the remnants of surgical repair of a game keeper ligament tear in the thumb. Marc for Ketchum was a member of a relay team for the mtn bike criterium race that was like an intermission to the road racers. Crazy. A guy approaches me making eye contact, he is zeroing in and and am backpedaling racking my brain for his name. i came up empty. he was Zeke from Tennessee that I met for the first time on the Haas Ridge ride outside oak Ridge. Wow.

I drove back out Trail Creek road and found an open spot. Kevin and Angela joined me. Two Sprinters cluster. We made ride plans for today of our own as opposed to the stoker ride that was a rehash of the climb and a shorter downhill.

Temp drops to light blanket sleeping. Weather forecast continues to call for like 30 to 40% chance of heavy rain which threatens but never falls.

Today i drove Kevin and me to Greenhorn Gulch. Steve suggested it yesterday: Climb up the gulch under tree shade then punch over to Imperial Gulch up and down hill back to the van. Grunt of a doable climb on the gulch. Imperial was just a hoot to descend on reconstructed trail that is weathering in well. I rode most of the new on Imperial as it was being made, great to ride a bedded in trail. The ride was just a reduced effort, 10 miles in 1 hr 26 mins climbing 1850′. Hot.

Drove into Hailey, shopped @ Albertsons on N end of town. I parked all afternoon in the parking lot. The town was plugged for the parade on Main St then another criterium race. Hot sweating. Waited till most of racing was over then drove down to laundromat for Thurs wash. Ran into a couple that are touring in a truck camper.

Computer dumped a bunch more. i am quitting.