Where the idea of living on the road was first for me discovered. I met a guy in the campground that had been on the road for 33 years. I was just a weekender and short vacation road trips “liver” at that time, I started later, I am working on 12 years.
Internet signal at the pass.
Ramble recollections.
Spokane visit was pleasant. I drove into town Tuesday morning traveling US 2 across dry land wheat farming on huge acreages with hardly a house in sight. Land is flat with a slight hill rolled out. Can’t see any vertical relief. evidence that that heavy thunderstorm on Sat washed field dirt across the highway such that it had to be lowed away. Lunch at Ultimate Bagel a favorite connection. Met with $ Dennis for $ chat, drink beer, and visit. Several hours later I met with Tom for yearly 2 beer payment for storage in his basement. Learned about the Perry st area. Checked out Bike Hub bike shop. Dinner at a bistro. Arrived late at my former neighbors’ house and driveway. Tom told me berries were killing it up on Mt Spokane. Next ride.
Wed I scooted early for MT Spokane. I parked at what is called “The Beach” outside the $10 entrance fee for the park. I put my berry picking baggie in my pack. This will be a big hump ride to get up to the berry patch elevation. 20 mins of road pedaling to drop off onto the dirt. Right away the runoff impact was noticeable as there was a flow track on the trail. Down low the path was narrower than higher up. Pedal hump up. At berry picking spot a local guy said he lives at the bottom of the mountain that captured 3″ of that rain. I picked maybe 4 hand fulls. Several others were picking. Lots of them in places but not overly large. Looking forward to my scratch pancakes tomorrow. At Smith Gap I tired into the main downhill. Trail is a piece of shit from sustainability, so badly eroded. dark under dense tree cover. 12.7 miles climbed 2651′. That’s a lot of elevation per mile.
Dinner at The Elk, a long time favorite. Dale is still there. made it back early enough to visit with neighbors.
Thurs was laundry day and a Riverside State Park ride. I use the same laundromat in the past. Years ago when my right arm was not working the ladies there helped me fold my shirts and sheets.
Drove out to Seven mile area parking off a side street. Geared up. Pedaling I was hearing a metal against metal again like yesterday as I was finishing my ride. I stopped and spun the wheel. Hmm, dragging. Restaged the brake caliper, no change. The hub has problems. I pedaled back to the van. I googled I9 to find a repair shop. Bike Hub was one. I called the same Perry st location. Danny answered my service call. He called me by name because my voice is distinct as he remembered me from a previous shop I used. Plus the phone had caller ID. I plead my situation. He said bring it by and he would see what he could do as he was down 1 wrench and time was booked. I arrived at the shop. We greeted each other like long lost buddies. He finished the bike in the stand then he moved me next. Pulled off the rear wheel, yes, something ain’t right. Pulled it apart to find one of the bearings had grenaded and was in pieces. This explained the noise I heard. Bearings… He read the numbers on the bearing. I called a local bearing company. They had the bearings. I drove off to retrieve. Using google maps took me to places in Spokane I had never been. I was not a wanderer when I lived here. He put in the new bearing and the hub is back to being happy. My bill was partially paid by beer. I thanked all for the help and the juggling they did to fix my hub.
I walked back to the Perry ST brew pub. I sat at the bar. a guy took the vacant seat to my right. Shortly i Started a conversation that started rolling. I needed to find dinner. I left before I could drink the beer he was going to buy me. Later I drove to Millwood to a new brew pub. Late night back to sleep.
Friday I was free to go. I drove away for Spokane and my old neighborhood to ride Mt Coeur d’Alene another favorite. It’s on the east side of namesake lake. Drive up Beauty Bay road for a little ways negotiating numerous wheel traps in the broken pavement. Parked at same spot under very big shade cedar tree. Geared up and pedaled away climbing right away. Dirt bikes no longer can ride these trails. Trail is under deep tree canopy, conifer forest, cedar, Doug fir, tamarack. Trail also was washed clear. Ride up 257, ride a short connecting piece of logging road to continue down to the junction of 227 for the monster hike a bike climb out. Numerous fallen trees across 227 presented a challenge to my weak right arm in lifting my bike over the trees. 2.52 miles climbing 1227′ to that dirt road. Very serious hump, mostly all rideable. However 22 up was worse: 2 miles taking a hard 39 mins climbing 1627′, much of it was hike a bike steep. 227 connects with caribou ridge for downhill fun.
Wild deep tree cover.
Back at the van. Next up was the drive to Helena, MT. I 90 driving. Over 4th of July Pass into Silver Valley then climb up Lookout Pass then descend into Montana. Long drive. I stopped to prepare a late dinner then finished the drive to MacDonald Pass and the continental divide.
Moved ahead an hour. The new 7 AM was my 6 AM.
Learned that a bike hike and beer festival is happening in Helena today. Notable are more shuttle seats. I dropped the 2,000′ feet to town. I parked near Blackfoot brewery. weather forecast wanted 40% rain. In town the skies were not threatening. An older guy stopped to visit. I checked the shuttle web site to learn a 10:00 shuttle, I had 30 mins to get ready. I made it. Mountain flyer is a free shuttle that carries riders and bikes the 8 miles up the road to the start of Helena Ridge trail. Van was packed. Ride starts climbing right away. Tread is broken rock. Hump. Earlier I had 1 hit of extract which puts me over the edge. Too much good stuff. Trouble pedaling a good line over the chunder. Local conditions. Once on top the trail runs the ridge with several short ups mixed around several long downhill pieces. amazing skilled 7th graders caught me and showed me nothing but fleeting glances. They stopped at one point and I joined them. 1 boy, who was riding a hard tail, asked if I had a multi tool as he had no rear brake. What a rider using just his front brake. He used my tool to move the lever away from the bar to engage the brake. Then they were gone again. We rode Show Me the Horse trail which drops back down to gulch road. At the road I turned uphill to climb up to another ridge. Beetle killed P pines, many had been felled to reduce fire hazard. Another downhill over this broken rock. Learned from watching the boys is to aim where I want to go and let speed increase the gyroscopic effect on the wheels and be gentle on the loose. Finished with a pavement coast back to my van and brew pub. In MT at brew pubs a drinker is allowed a set amount of beer, the quantity is written on a chit you carry. As I stepped up to pay my 1 beer tab the guy I met earlier stopped for a visit. He bought my beer.
I chose to drive back up to the pass for the night. I am outside the campground. Chilly. At 10 PM it is 50 degrees. I ran the furnace this morning. I will use it again shortly after I close the door.
Tomorrow is another Helena ride I hope to score another shuttle to ride the same trails. Monday I will head to Bozeman.