Spokane

Saturday I drove down the steep twisty gravel road down to the Methow River then down to the Columbia and out into the dry central Washington desert. Continued all the way to Spokane. Randy’s city place up on south hill had shade. Just plain 90 degree hot.

A brew fest was underway downtown. Randy contacted UBER that is pretty cool. Driver and car showed up carrying us downtown. Sampled a few beers. Most were hoppy that I don’t care for. Not many ales. Hung there for a while. Lisa picked us up and drove us back uphill. Randy and Lisa made dinner of the last of his salmon. I spent the night in their driveway.

Sunday we drove over to Farragut SP in Idaho. Randy rides a large Turner Burner, I ride a medium RFX, Lisa rides a small 5 Spot. We were papa, mamma, and baby Turner sizes. I missed getting our pic. Farragut trails have  numbered intersections with arrows pointing to respective intersections so you are always found when you make sense of the map. At the start leadership was being contested. I suggested that what we do is first person picks a direction of travel, we ride that way until the next intersection where the next person in line would chose which way to go, their choice. This would let each of us lead. Worked for a little bit until others figured out the map and planned a route. We rode along the lake shore, some of the trails were part of a race course I raced on years ago. After our ride we enjoyed a cooling off immersion in the lake. Lots of people. Back in Spokane a clean shower then went out to dinner. I slept in their driveway again.

Monday was a rest day in town. I drove out to my former neighbors’ house to check out sleeping in their driveway. All cool as in a bit cooler in the canyon. I slept in the driveway.

Tuesday PM was my money man meeting which is what my hard schedule created. $ doing conservatively fine, will not be eating dog food. I drank only 1 beer as there would be enough time post meeting for a ride at Riverside SP. 96 degrees at the start. I worked to keep my effort easier. Hottttt. I pedaled for 1hr 36 mins, when I finished around 7PM the temp had dropped to 77 degrees.  Amazing.

Wed another 90 something day. I chose to ride up in MT Spokane SP hoping to pick berries. The park road is closed right at the ranger station which prevented me riding the road part way up. I stopped at the RS where a ranger was just getting on a Rokon dirt bike. I asked him if there was another way to gain access to the trails other than riding the piece of shit abused non sustainable trail. He allowed me i time to ride then push my bike up a closed road. I gained the trail I wanted then continued to climb up to Kit Carson outhouse. I know of a berry patch along the way. I saw berries enough for speculation. I stashed my bike then hung my berry bag around my neck then waded into the brush. Pitifully small amount of berries. There are years when the bushes don’t produce fruit as was this year where I picked. I did pick enough for a pancake bfast this AM.

Today it is 93 again. Just too hot to ride. I did my wash in an air conditioned laundromat. Then I searched for bike parts. I searched for Formula brake pads and presta valve cores. As a rule Spokane bike shops are lacking which is beyond sucking.

I am parked on a side street under tree shade near the Elk, a favorite Pub for chill and dinner.

Hot forecast again for tomorrow and thru the weekend of the Ironman in Coeur d’Alene.

Yesterday I started researching where to go when I leave here. I originally thought about dropping down to CO for fall colors. Amazing what a map of the US shows: CO is way south and North Dakota is way north. I don’t like to wander drive so CO is scratched. I have no real plan. MTBProject is not populated with a lot of ride choices. I will start w/ Cd’A mtn and river. Helena.MT is still running shuttles.

This issue of Bike has a 2 page political screed about the election. It doesn’t pick either major candidate.

Just hot.

Spokane is the biggest town I have been in since the last time I was here. City and some urban streets are torn up for repair. Argonne going up out of the valley is down to choked off 1 lane down from 2 each way. Lots of drivers competing for space.

I have ridden 103 rides and 1650 miles on the RFX to date. I shared it with Turner.