Today I tracked the UPS shipment from PUSH who shipped it 2 day air. Status is out for delivery by end of business day. I did chores here @ camp then drove into town. Pulled into Chip’s shop and walked thru the front door. I spied a cardboard box that looked like a fork size and then read PUSH. I now knew that I can ride today and beyond. I visited awhile then drove down to Bellvue to Steve’s house to put my bike back together. Steve visited for awhile during which I learned that I am not good @ a mechanical tasks and concentrating on a conversation. Steve left for work leaving me to focus. B4 I tore the bike apart I took a pic on my cell phone of the spacer stack. I called it up then stacked the loose spacers correctly. I bolted on the factory bled Formula T1 brake. Checked and checked again. I pedaled in Steve’s gravel lot. I cautiously squeezed the front brake lever. Shit: the wheel stopped and the fork compressed elevating the rear wheel off the ground. Sweet.

Bike back on the back of the van the way it should be… unless I am riding. Drove to Greenhorn Gulch to ride the gulch up then over and down Imperial. I wanted a challenging ride but not so much to beat me as a welcome back. Sweet handling bike: the fork is so supple and under control. The front brake stopped the front wheel on a dime and returned change. The pads squeal. Horses have beaten Imperial as it is baked by the sun and no rain has fallen  in almost the entire month I have been here. I continue to beat myself w/ high heart rates on the climbs.  My ride time compared to 3 weeks ago was slower but I did not set out to better the best time. The fork was so sweet, i used about 3.25″ of travel leaving what 1.75 to the full 150mm travel. Only when the fork turned to shit did I notice the lack of travel. What happens gradually to a breaking point: Accept the norm as is or call in the troops. I sent the fork back to PUSH.

I shook the front tire checking the STANS slosh and heard nothing. Hmmm, stuff evaporated or congealed. I set about to inject sealant into the front tire. I use a supplied large syringe screwed onto the presta valve stem after I remove the valve core. I removed the plunger then filled the bore w/ Stans then pushed in the plunger. Resistance (not Good). Pushed harder until the flexible clear hose was forced off the syringe. Stans squirted all over my left leg. Then it congealed like inside a tire. I rolled it off my leg hairs.

Tried another drinking & dining establishment @ Muleshoe on Main st. Still hard to beat burritos @ KBs.

Enjoyable ride, pleasant evening, good buzz on. Now 2 more episodes of Justified.

Alpine lake camp spot

Tuesday I drove over Galena summit, 8701′, to Redfish lake. My plan was to catch the boat ride from the lodge @ one end of the lake to the far end where I would pick up the trail to Alpine Lake. The source of the Salmon river is the Galena summit and flows N. The road continues down the drainage. I made the turn in to the lodge. A reader board displayed the status of the campgrounds on the road: all full. There were several primitive camping spots nearby so i wasn’t concerned. I learned the boat service was to walk to the end of the dock and annou8nce your intentions. $16 round trip, pay your money when you board. Told that I should arrive just b4 9AM tomorrow and I would stand a good chance getting on a boat. I drove back out the road and picked a camp spot off the old highway.

I bought this new pair of fabric hiking boot which I previously wore while inside my van, I needed to find out how they hiked. Seeking assurance that I made the correct choice of footwear I took off on a bushbashing hike. Successful day hike. Tomorrow would tell the tale of the backpack weight.

Wed AM the temp was 33 degrees outside @ 7AM. The fuel valve in the heater didn’t open… again which prevented the heater from creating heat. Bummer. Some day I’ll get it fixed. I fixed Bfast, cleaned up, then drove to the parking lot for the boat ride. Had a short hike to get to the dock. Beautiful day.

Kyle @ Elephant’s Perch store suggested hiking into Saddleback Lakes which is right under the name sake rock face. The trail dead ended into a cirque w/ nowhere to go but tie onto a rope and climb. Alpine Lake was further up the creek and was a thru trail that would allow hikers to continue on if they wanted to. 5.5 miles and 2000′ higher I arrived in the lake basin. The trail was classic old wilderness trail eroded because of poor design. Rocky. The shoes protected my feet. Pass one more test. The trail went along one shore line w/ numerous camp spots. I wanted to find a place less used. I hiked to the other side of the lake and found a small flat spot among the rocks where I could squeeze my pyramid tent in. I set up the tent.

Kyle told me about Baron Lakes that I could see from the divide just another good hump up the trail. I put my rain parka in my pack, shouldered it, and hiked up to the divide. Sawtooths are rugged.

Clouds spit rain drops several times. I put on my parka expecting the skies to dump. I stayed dry as did the skies.

Back @ camp I watched as groups and hikers arrived and picked camp spots in the heavy camped area. No one ventured away leaving me alone.

This time I carried my reading glasses and Kent Haruf’s new book, Benediction, hardcover. I carry a device that converts my Thermo rest into a sort of camp chair. Big benefit is that it provides lower back support. I set it up then put my nose in the book. The chair is so comfortable.

Clouds blew in and out and in and out always showing rain but none fell, just drops. I crawled into my sleeping bag. I slid out from under the front door flap so i could watch the ski. Lightening flashed and a few thunderclaps. Goodie: rain. Again just a few splatters, all noise and no show.

In the AM the skies were the blue sky of the opening pic. Spectacular.

The boat ride is just a speed blur. I have never traveled as fast on h2o as this ride to and from:

I wanted to get into internet range on Thurs to learn if my fork had been shipped. In Ketchum I parked and queried my on line bank account. I saw a transaction from PUSH dated today. Shit: 2 day ship would put the fork here on Monday when Chip is closed. Later I got on line and read the invoice from PUSH that showed 2 day air shipment w/ delivery date of today. Whoopee! Count UPS as done and I build my bike back up for a ride this evening.

I traded Benediction for Ruby Ridge written by Jess Walter. I picked up season 3 of Justified that filled my evening w/ watching video.

Camped out @ Democrat gulch again.

I have been in Wood River Valley for a month now. I did loose 2 weeks of riding. I never did ride after a good rain. Nothing is pulling me forward towards something. No bucket list rides. Maybe Bozeman. W/o a plan I never know if I accomplished anything.

So, I’m off to live and build my bike back and ride.