Seems like I can work in word which is stable then copy and paste into this.

Going to give it a whirl.

Until then I am now in Bend, OR.

On Wednesday I rode Steve’s trade route on Fox and Chocolate. I put my phone on the handlebar holder and used it to keep my route on course. I made 1 mistake not understanding what the screen was saying that took me to the middle of the route which would have shortened the ride. I retraced my path and figured out my error and continued on. The trail dropped down to Fox TH. A hiker couple watched me descend at great distance. As I neared them the man, who was in front, made good on getting off the trail, his female partner stepped off and turned sideways w/ her fanny pack sticking into my space. I hit the pack w/ my handlebar. I didn’t expect it, prolly neither did she. I kept control of my bar after it was twisted off line. The weather wanted rain which finally started falling as I was climbing the last climb. I stopped and put on my rain jacket as the clouds said I will be dropping wet for a while. Just a tease. I stopped and removed my jacket. I crested the last climb and dropped onto the wonderful downhill. Old narrow single track not beat up by motorcycles. Sweet. Just let the brakes go only using them to control my smiles. By myself I made the choices. When I rode behind Steve he controlled my speed, if he could do it I could stay right behind him. That also worked for climbing. By myself I push too hard and blow up. Steve is more disciple and I worked hard to stay with him. Rain fell in earnest when I got back to my van.

I drove back to Ketchum. I took a shower at the Y where the boys locker room is being remodeled. Today a church group visited and the boys plugged the locker room. I had a long wait time till a shower opened up. Shower stalls were being used as changing rooms.

Dinner at KBs in Hailey, grocery shop at Atkinsons then down to Steve’s for the night.

Wed was a drive day into Oregon. My diesel mileage was 27mpg. I drove hwy 26 towards Prineville. Lots of ranching and farming in the broad river bottoms. Eastern Oregon is sagebrush. I drove into the Ochoco NF which has had several big burns. The ground under the burned trees is green from new grasses etc. I drove over the summit heading down mtn towards Prineville. I turned back up hill on the old highway to find the Ochoco XG right at the start of today’s ride. Senior’s pass lessened the debit. Chilly enough to run the furnace.

Today I drove about 100 yds out of the XG to a TH parking lot as checkout is at 12 and I didn’t think I would be back in time.

Today’s goal was to get to the top of Lookout Mtn. The big loop climbs up Round Mtn then over to Lookout for 29 miles. This time I kept my belly making the decision keeping my eyes on just Lookout via a center paved road. Forest cover is a mix of big Ponderosa pines on the dry slopes and Doug fir on the wet. Big trees. 6.81 miles on pavement. Noticed a steady brown streak on the pavement. Suspected cattle trucks leaving their manure bilge open while hauling cattle. I saw 2 trailers go by that confirmed my suspicion. Raw manure dumped on the road. Above me I could see white on the trees which was from the fresh snow that fell last night. I wore a long underwear top under a long sleeve jersey and knickers for which I was glad as the higher I got the chillier it became.

Next up was the Independent Mine trail to the top of Lookout. Right off the start I encountered winter downed trees that had not been cut out. Lots of them. The last batch I worked my way around had fallen on the trail. The new fallen trees joined a bunch more previously downed. Real bitch crawling over the mess. Mind you my right arm has no strength to lift my 29# bike. I managed.

Snow was still plastered on the branches but not on the trail. I finally topped out on the summit of Lookout. The views were to the horizon except where rain clouds obscured. From the summit the trail drops almost 8 miles back to the bottom. There were several climbs mixed in. Pieces of the downhill smoked. Towards the bottom hail fell. I rode through w/o stopping to put on my rain jacket. Big country ride. 19.23 miles climbing 3640’ for 189’ / mile.

I was worked. My breathing can’t keep up w/ my heart rate.  Today was a big effort ride.

Back at the TH I saw a woman working on a FS fence. I pedaled over to her. Yes, she is FS. I told her about the trees and the manure streak. She didn’t know FS law on manure dropping.

I drove into Prineville where I found a laundromat for my weekly wash. Clean clothes, some hanging inside my van drying. I found a previously read local paper on a table. I read about a bike blitz in Bend today. Race started up high then dropped down finishing at Tethero posh golf course. Just pro racers about 25 each women and men.

Going to paste this in and go to bed as I am fatigued. Tomorrow is house plans day. Rain is forecast. And chilly. Furnace is running now at 10:30. Outside it is 43. The gate that allows access to the FS roads past Phils is locked. My camp spot was blocked. I drove further out of town to the first road. Shit, it’s packed. I slithered between closely spaced trees. Rain falling, mostly sprinkles.

I will add pics later. Pics added

I made Friday a rest day hanging at park in Hailey reading and turning my skin a nice light brown. Hailey community spent $ to build Hop Porter park. It is used. Nice to see a community feature treated well. Cottonwoods are shedding their seeds which are like snow flakes, some entered my van thru the open side door adding to the white shed hairs of Lexi, Steve and Mia’s Jack Russel who graces me w/ occasional visits. I watched the NBA playoffs at their house then slept in their driveway.

Sat I set out to ride another grunter ride here from Greenhorn Gulch. Here in the Wood River Valley drainages are gulches where water flows most of the year except in fire damaged drainages. In the desert the drainages are washes as they flow only after a rain event. Ride went up Lodgepole connecting w/ Mahoney down to Greenhorn then down Imperial back to the van. The TH was packed. Such a big area and many choices for a route that I saw just a few riders. A group of 3 women and 2 men left before me. One of the women looked like someone I have seen in magazines. I had an idea who it was. I struggle w/ the climbs because of elevation of 6 to 7000′ and my 66 years of age. When i was younger I could ride these climbs. I had climbed Lodgepole and was descending the rubble of Mahoney when i head voices, I saw riders climbing up. I removed myself from the trail and let them pass. It was the group I had seen in the parking lot. And they were talking while climbing. Ain’t right.

The trails here are open to dirt bikes which chew up the trail cupping it and dislodging underlying rocks.

FUCKING SOFTWARE ATE MY NEXT EFFORT. WORDPRESS IS UNSTABLE.

 

 

I spent Monday night out off Trail Creek. I took Tuesday as a rest day. Forecast called for possible rain. I worked on my $ in Quicken. I fussed and tried other things and somehow imported checking account info into the software. I have no repeatable process. Serious rain fell in the afternoon. I waited it out. The dog food guy I met at Fisher creek told me to visit him at Leftys on Tues. I drove in. I walked in and didn’t see him. I inquired of the staff and was told he worked last night. I drank a beer. A video rental store is nearby, they actually rent CDs, lots of them, cost more than red box but selection is way better and you own them for 2 days. I chose The Intern which was recommended by AARP for us older people. DeNiro old guy. Great movie, amazing no scary things other than Jules worried about dying alone and buried ina cemetery w/ no family. Serious stuff. Darkness is just past 9:30 which because I can’t darken the interior I watch late at night.

Wed skies were clear, perhaps hero dirt. I drove out to popular Adams Gulch. I planned a ride from MTBProject and the local hard copy map. Plan was to ride up Adams Gulch to Adams rib back. Turns out upper Adams Gulch is not maintained as I learned as rode seeing nary a sign of recent human passage. I hoisted my bike over numerous trees always telling my self I was making progress. A tree about 16″ in dia fell lengthwise down the trail taking several other trees with it creating a mess that Finally turned me around. I retraced my route lifting over same trees from the other side. I came to the  trail junction w/ a maintained trail then climbed again. Today the 6,xxx’ elevation put a hurt on me. Trail went up a gulch w/ flowing water deeply shaded and comfortable. Trail climbed high then exited for return out in the open sage, trees in the gulleys. Not a long ride but big on effort.

At the TH I perused the large trail map and read that the trail I started up is non maintained. I seem to remember riding this once before but it was before these trees fell. MTBProject and the hard map show the trail as existing.

 

At the TH I watched a woman drive an suv pulling a small trailer pull into the lot and park. By herself, opportunity for conversation. License plate is Georgia. She shared that she grew up here but is now living in GA and is on a road trip. We shared some of the same rides and I gave her recommendations.

I drove into Ketchum for a shower at the Y which costs $5. There are no Silver sneaker locations.

I invited myself down to Steve’s to watch the NBA championship game. He fired up the grill. I marinated a large chicken breast and made my sort of waldorf salad. Watched the game. I slept in their driveway.

Pierre invited my for a ride today out in Croy Canyon to immerse myself in the spring flower bloom. 9 AM start before the heat. This area was burned over back in the ’13 fire. Lupine is in bloom, yellow and whites some having already gone to seed. Trails are purpose built by machine. I remember riding here on the brand new trails which were such a scar. After 3 winters nature has imbued them w/ a sense of worn in single track. Tread is hard packed and smooth and bermed. We climbed up into lupine that were still in their prime bloom. Great smell. Hillsides just covered.

Yellow is mostly lupine. Tumble mustard are spindly plants w/ bunches of yellow flowers but don’t add to the color but add to rider frustration after they dry out in the fall and become wind blown onto the trails and get caught up in the drive train such that a stop is necessary to free the chain. People who vandalize trails w/ sticks to annoy mountain bikers only knew that the bigger the stick the more manageable it is to negotiate. The little stuff like the mustard cause way more problems.

Our ride was an up and back, 45 mins up, 23 back climbing 1075′ in 8.83 miles, again greater than the “norm” of 100′ per mile.

I will be leaving here next Wednesday heading to Bend for a Friday afternoon meeting w/ my house architect. I will stop east of Prineville and ride their jewel. The next weekend GOATS, the IMBA chapter I belong to, in Oakridge is hosting a 3 day work party and I signed up to help. My blue helmet will show I have more experience than the green hard hats but less than the white good guy hats.

Places to be at the same time. Riding season in the mountains is short. Places that I want to hang out at like Bend but time spent must be managed to keep moving to ride all the places I want. Perhaps the rest of June will be in Oregon then up to WA.

Did my wash after today’s ride, again, 6 liners hanging on the line. Actually I rode only 5 out of 7 days.

Steve has a Jack Russel terrier that is slowly allowing me to become a less fearsome person. This morning she jumped into my van. I pet her as I am wont to and she responded w/ shed white hair. I do miss my own dog but I am unwilling to add one to my party of one. I tell myself I will befriend a dog when I settle down.

Tomorrow I plan on riding Greenhorn gulch trails, there are some killer hike a bike climbs.

This Gorilla Glue pot really takes the wind out of my sails, immobilizes me. My body feels like a bag of cement w/ about that much movement.

I showed my Terraduros to Chip who is still warranty replacing his. Mine have the revised engineering of a thicker sole and maybe better glued and a re staying together. My experience w/ the old revision I would have had sole separation by now from use. Chip is not a walker like I am which contributes to the delam. I like the shoes.

Last night I watched the Warriors and the Cavaliers play, the first time this year for me to watch pro ball. Quite impressive. I like college ball more.