Yesterday Lenny picked me up in his pickup at O Reillys auto parts where I slept, positioning myself for a buying new battery because around 5PM attempting to start my van in the snap fitness parking lot after taking a shower after a sweaty ride after I chose to stay at a slightly different place past Phils because a guy in a van had parked too close, etc. Some info to follow.
But the cooling off is perhaps more mental than physical after riding for the 3rd time the O’Leary ridge trail above McKenzie Bridge. Jeff seemed to have been the gatherer of riders for this ride, 11 riders rode in the Horse Creek high lifted 4X4 van the very long shuttle to the ride start. Driver Eliza kept the van a good clip on the logging roads. Lots of bikes and people. Ride started off with gentle climb, this year this part was freshly brushed back which revealed the line changing stuff that last year’s ride was almost riding blind. Several riders stared ahead of me. We all made the correct direction change at the first intersection, however, the next intersection as a hard left was part way down a swell downhill on woods dirt. I made the turn as did Lenny. Lenny blew me up on the first hill to which he paid for the rest of the ride. I saw nobody ahead of me leading me to believe that I was getting dropped. No kidding there are some busting hike a bike parts. At the treeless Macduff mtn I parked my bike on the downhill side of the steep rocky trail then climbed to the short pitch to the summit. As other riders arrived I learned that I was off the front as the group ahead of me enjoyed that little downhill missing the left turn we were all told about. We are back together for the upper downhill section. The original trail was CCC built now with corrections to unsustainable parts with hand built full bench cut tread. Old stuff dry rock masonry out slope still bearing up to maybe 80 years of users, however only recently has it been hammered by mountain bikers. Just narrow tread on steep mountain side, maybe 18″ wide, some woods dirt some loose, some loose rock maybe fist sized, steep switchbacks. In the deep forest cover. I rode with maybe 4 other guys out ahead. We all just rode well and fast. There is climbing on the ride, like 1850′ including the 563′ climbed in 2.5 miles, that’s 225′ / mile just before the final downhill off King Castle. Grinder hump. The last return on our sweat equity was the 4.1 miles dropping 1,621′, huh? 395′ per mile? Deep tree cover from some ancient trees. It just kept going and going. What a ride!. My heart rate hit a max of 165 bpm, which is out of my ball park. Ride is only 16.4 miles pedaling 2 hrs 10 mins, humping 1827′ and descending 5150′. $35 shuttle. Just amazing ride. Post ride recovery at the shuttle parking lot.
So, to Friday. I rode from here starting out on dusty FS roads, dust is like talc, to avoid more than I want to do of COD, Picked up new Ticket to Ride stopping at the welcome center seeking trail info. I checked the info board seeing nothing on trail closures. I remember logging on Grand Slam to which I asked about. FS late in posting info. Trail is closed till 5:00 PM fri, open Sat and Sun. This info is important to consider when planning a route. I rode up Storm King into destroyed forest cover from mastication which appears to be like mowing the woods like a yard. Stopped and visited with a man doing the destruction. Grand Slam dead ends on Storm King. This time the FS rigged a closure board that left no question that the trail was closed. At the same intersection I saw the Gnome sitting on the trail marker post. Its found after being moved or moving itself from the upper end of Storm King. The Gnome still rocks.
Gnome on place, FS closure sign in the trees.
Which gets me to my shower at snap and van. After my shower I put the key in the ignition and turned it: no electric to the instrument panel and no signal to the starter. I call AAA to use my membership to tow my van to repair shop that has serviced my van. I called to make an appointment and ask permission to live in their parking lot. Permission granted. Tow truck’s arrival at 8:48. Guy suspected the battery was dead but the instrument never displayed a warning light attesting to an electrical issue. Cutting to the chase ample charge entered the van battery to allow it to start and it continued running which said the alternator was working. Don’t shut it off. I first bailed on the ride as I couldn’t drive to Jeff’s house. I reconsidered by asking if I could be picked up. I drove to O Reillys car parts store on 3rd avenue which is the business 4 lane street. I scored a good parking spot with the van nose pointed at the double outside doors of the store. Took several orange blocks to raise the left rear wheel to level. I went to bed listening to traffic. I missed dinner and buying groceries. Well before my wake up time loud noises were coming from a guy using a power pallet mover moving around stock. Well, I got up. Needing Bfast I googled a feed spot. Black Bear was almost across the intersection. Part store opens at 7:30, time for food and buying a battery before being picked up by soon to meet Lenny. I bought the battery then asked if someone could install it. The clerk accessed data in their data, she said it requires a professional installer. Hmm. I opened the hood and looked at the battery and stuff attached to it. What did they know that I couldn’t see. I asked for suggestions for an installer. She looked up 2 mobile repair guys. Neither answered my call. Hmm…. I know I am unable to muscle around the battery. So close. Then later during the ride I told my story about needing install. Tim said he has skills but not professional grade said he would see if he could make the change. He met me. I was able to loosen the nuts holding the connector to the terminals, easy peasy. Next were the battery hold down bolts requiring a long reach socket wrench. Tim researched the battery install leaning of the tool as I was texting him. He arrived with enough extension to remove the bolts. He switched batteries and reconnected nuts and cables. Now came the moment of next data if the van would now start. Turned the key and the instruments lit up… good sign. Glow plug light turned off, turn the key to start: Contact, turn over, and catch.Van back on its wheels again and I am free to roam the country. Thanks Tim.
I developed a dehydration thirst needing many ounces to finally slake.
Operating the phone camera skills are learning slowly with gaps of frustration of making it do something simple like snap the shutter at what I pointed it at. On Fri’s ride I thought I had it sussed out stopping at FS closure sign and the Gnome. I tapped things starting the camera that I lost control over. I was swearing at it while pushing, tapping to no avail. I succeeded in turning it off. I looked at the place the pics are stored. I saw a selfie. Clicked on play. seems I turned both selfie and movie on. Over a minute memory of my face and voice as I wrestle with the controls. Don’t need to hear my words as lip reading is irrefutable.
Sitting on an open spot nosed into a windrow of wood chips, full sun. Haze from forest fires upwind but only 80 degrees. Haze becoming thicker, now paying attention to smell of smoke. resting today.
