Tuesday I left Oil Well Flats driving into town to right at edge of town to ride south hills ( I think). I rode this 2 years prior, again have some recall. Parked at TH. Sunny warm day.
Rode a green trail to the start of black rated Hard Times to climb out of canyon to get to other trails. Trail is worthy of its rating. I was able to ride sections, others were nasty yank my bike over or up something. I remembered the trail but this was one way to get up.
I rode Hard Time connecting to Great Escape to a short piece of Hard Time to exit on Redemption, descended a road then took Scheppe ridge to van. Purpose built, some machine tread, lots of rock features to figure out. Bike was very stable for what I continue to pass the test, confidence inspiring.
Cleaned up then drove up the Arkansas River canyon to Salida to join Mark and Brenda, long time friends for way back in the ’80s as ski instructors. Forest fire named Decker continues burning above and behind town, some 6,xxx acres and burning for a month.
The main fire is behind the ridge. Some days the wind blows the smoke away from town. Today the sky in town was clear and no smell of smoke. Later that evening Mark lead me over to a nearby school yard that had a clear view of the fire. We could see fire at the spots seen during the day plus from the main fire when a patch of trees ignited sending red color against the smoke. Spent the night sleeping on residential street.
My shock was not waiting for me. I checked the tracking info to correct my misunderstanding, it it to arrive on Wed. I am captive in town till it arrives.
Weather forecast was calling for freeze your nuts off cold and snow. My next stop is Gunnison on the west side of Monarch Pass that could have slippery surfaces which I do not care to drive on. My departure time narrowed to a small window to beat the weather change.
Mark lead me on a ride on the S trails which are right above town. Trails here are rocky as in embedded sharp edge rocks. I bobbled several moves when my motor ran out of push to climb over whatever it was. Earlier this year these trails experienced a major rain event which washed rocks loose and dirt between others to increase the difficulty kept in perspective by local riders. To me my knowledge was blank so for me, this was just what the trails are like. I do not wear pads but if I were to ride here I would consider wearing as the opportunities for slow speed falls abound. Brenda volunteers as a trail angel adopting Sweet Dreams. She has a work project this Sat to repair damage.
We did ride down Chicken Dinner which has lots of Chunder. Bike and me met what was under its wheels.
Back at Mark’s my shock was in Brenda’s hands so I was free to leave just before 3 PM enabling me to drive over the pass in spectacular fall aspen colors, green conifers, and sunlight lighting it all up.
Rolled into Gunnison at Tomichi Cycles, Bill and Susan’s shop. They invited me to dinner and a sleep spot in their driveway.
I am now waiting for dry clothes at a laundromat. Weather is to be warmer and drier tomorrow. Clean clothes and the new shock on the bike await me.