Yesterday morning was just yesterday morning yet it seems a long time gone.
2 nights ago I was up in the canyon in the cold, at get up it was 37 degrees outside that the furnace kept at bay. I fixed breakfast, ate, and was doing the dishes when I looked out the windshield to see a too late for coffee visitor
I took several pics, it stayed around and I returned to my dishes.
I drove to Pocatello to ride Slate mtn Gipson Jack loop that I picked from MTBproject. A new trail head parking lot has been developed which threw off the starting point for the ride. I mastered what the gps was telling me and found the ride start down a dirt bank and across a creek on hop logs. The trail appeared. It climbed in the shade alongside the creek crossing and recrossing as I climbed higher. The tread is below grade and narrow which made for pedal strikes when I rode just a bit sloppy. The trail left the cove of the big trees for open sage and full on yellow blossoms of the arrow balsam root.
The trail cuts across the meadow. I smelled even the mock orange bushes I have smelled as I traveled north. The trail went into the drainages which were dry and tree covered creating deep shade. The trail as a rule is brushy w/ an almost completely bald tread. I kept mtbproject that kept me on the correct trails. The handlebar carrier is very satisfying.
I climbed and descended then climbed again for the final descent. Big long climbs mountain riding. Ride was 14.8 miles climbing 2367′. I pedaled for 2 hrs 10 mins. This ride was out there. The ride seemed bigger than the actual data. I was out there, I saw 2 people. The final descent was almost all downhill in 4 miles on below grade brushy limited sight line single track that me and the bike ate up. Caution on the corners that were too brushy to see around and heads up for uphill travelers. I did encounter a young man wearing a ball cap backwards and an ear bud pushing a bike uphill. A helmet was not visible. It could be ridden uphill but that ain’t no fun. My 1X11 gearing worked for me.
I started driving to a shower slightly out of my travel line. GPS ran me down a street that was blocked at a bridge out and the road lacked that signage. I bailed on the shower. I changed out of my sweaty riding gear then drove to Kimberly on interstate. Mac Daddy got my air conditioning to work that I spoiled myself in chilled comfort driving into the sun at 83 degrees. Very windy, head wind. Van drives like a kleenex box on a roller skate.
A camp ground that offers $5 showers is at the Kimberly exit that I have used in the past. No Silver Sneakers nearby. Clean I drove thru Kimberly south to the Indian Springs BLM TH. The parking lot will be my sleep spot. I stayed down low instead of driving up higher to another spot. I was glad of this location as during the early evening several groups of rigs drove up to that spot.
This morning started a rest day. I parked on the south end of the lot facing east. I woke up to sunlight streaming into my eyes and the sounds of vehicle doors being opened and closed. I looked out to see several serious horse haulers and working cowboys. They left on horses heading uphill moving range cattle.
I drove into Twin to a laundromat that has a google presence. Clean clothes. I grocery shopped at nearby Fred Meyer. I drove over to Spokeandwheel the bike shop I like. I was hoping to visit w/ Mike who used to work there. He has been out and about bike touring. He happened to be visiting which allowed us time to talk about adventuring.
The fraudulent mastercard charges posted to my account costing me $1,878. I filled out and faxed the claim forms in today. Soon the money will be tentatively credited back until the final resolution. Airline tickets I think.
Temp forecast for tomorrow is low 80s. I’m going to ride here early then drive up to Sun Valley and visit w/ Steve.
My van has been vandalized on only the sliding door where there are 2 anti religious stickers. Something was sprayed leaving like speckles.