Today I made 65

Age, birthday. The wheels have remained attached to the wagon this long. This is 65:

Enjoyed a ride w/ friend Randy from Spokane who happened to be down doing business in the Bitterroot River Valley south of Missoula. Yesterday I drove away from Helena to Missoula. I had thought of driving up river towards Lost Trail Pass where I was a bunch of days ago as I had heard the standard adage: you should ride here we have hundreds of miles of trails. While in Missoula I searched MTBProject for rides on the Bitterroot. I found one ride down low on the shoulder of the peaks. Randy concluded his work tasks and we met @ Lake Como campground. Paid. Randy hasn’t made the transition to dirtbag yet by primitive camping like on some logging landing. Did have electric for the fridge. Randy brought 2 salmon stakes left over from his annual fishing trip to Alaska. I made Yukon gold mashed potatoes and my signature Waldorf salad. Randy drove his Eurovan Westie, we had our separate homes in the same camp spot.

Today we rode the Coyote Coulee trail system which is heavily horsified. Dusty loose dirt w/ years of manure pounded in. Crossed several just wonderfully clear fast flowing creeks. Randy is riding his new Turner Burner, an upgrade from his former TNT 5 Spot. He learned that he can open his suspension up which makes for a plusher ride. He’s happy. Today was a recreation ride as we stopped numerous times and I talked.

Randy lead me to the Red door bike shop where he bought his Turner. In the toolies away from Hamilton, MT. Shop sells a few Turners every year. The owner rides a 5 Spot like me that can only be taken from him by prying his cold stiff fingers off the bar. He shared geometry lessons w/ me regarding wheel sizes. Today if he could chose between a 5 SPot or a Burner, he would take the Burner 27.5 wheel size.

I bid Randy adieu as he headed back to Spokane. I checked on Anytime and found one S of Missoula. The location works for me as I will be having dinner and a few brews @ a pub in Victor then driving up into the forest to sleep.

Tomorrow I plan on riding Rattlesnake outside Missoula then heading west. I have a 1:00 dentist appointment on Thurs, the 11th in Spokane. Keeping my teeth serviced every 6 months which is better than my bike fork gets. Abe, I will honk as I drive by the ST Regis exit for your favorite ride.

Randy told me that the Lost Creek trail is obstructed by “hundreds” of downed trees. The dirt bikers are now banned from riding the trail. Some of them packed a small chain saw and would have cut those trees out because the FS hasn’t cleared the trail. Scratch that ride.

At the grocery store here in Stevensville I bought a piece of German Chocolate cake and a small cup of Haagen Daaz, no candles.

My breathing is really a limiting factor for my effort. I have diagnosed having COPD. I inhale a steroid every AM to help exhale breathe. I wondered what my saturated O2 level was and if it was low which would be indicative of lung issues. I bought a O2 sensor device yesterday and have been checking my O2. During the ride I was 95 to 98% saturated which means that my lungs are absorbing O2 even when I am winded. Good news there.

Rain is falling and forecasted for Missoula tomorrow. Could either be hero dirt or rained out.

Off for beer & dinner.