Yesterday was a big drive day. I researched a ride outside Reno, NV. It was a hot and windy drive. Reno was hot and the ride was on an exposed mtn side, I didn’t need nor want the heat. I needed coffee beans. I googled local roaster in Reno. Deep in town. Google parked me at the curb of the closed shop. Lesson: even though web site states open: call. Found a coffee shop back up the street. Walked in to open coffee shop. I bought their house beans. Asked for coarse grind for cold brew. Attendant either didn’t move the selector or failed to remember as it was ground for drip. Pay attention to details. Still made acceptable coffee this morning other than it plugged my filter.
Continued west and north into CA to Susanville on the banks of the Susan River. Grocery shopped with mix of covered and naked going the wrong way shoppers. Called local (only one) found on google search. Learned of a forest area to camp which was above town. P pine and juniper but the smell of forest, not desert. Grabbed 1st spot about 15′ off the FS road but only 1 rig went by. Quite comfortable sleep.
This AM I got after it early to drive back down the mtn into town to the TH to ride the trail system along the river.
The easier was a converted railroad grade and the South trail on the south side of the river was a blue narrow, places exposed, graded to make most of climbs, in the shade mostly. System allowed for route variations. I rode out (downstream) to end of segment TH then returned on the railroad grade enjoying being outside in the forest and listening to the river sounds.
Spring time blossoms
Nose candy came from mock orange and ceanothus.
I didn’t start with much drive which went away after a chunk of time. I enjoyed the coasting and negotiating a first time ride, what was around a bend was hidden from view in many places.
I made the turn around point then started back on the railroad grade, certainly to avoid the steep climbs . I picked a trail connector that climbed up to join the South trail. Working on having fun.
Riding here reminds me much about Riverside SP at Spokane.
Hot day. Packed up. Plan was to drive all the way to Klamath Falls, OR. Route was narrow windy hilly, empty, state highway 139. I asked Google for route to UPS store in KF. At first it was on this road. Then it determined a cut over route to be the shortest. Fine. I turned off smooth no expansion gaps pavement to bumpy gappers. However in very short distance the pavement ended. I looked at the selected route that ran on smaller roads that appeared to be gravel. I had enough of that possibility of gravel road driving. I picked up another state highway to take me back to 139. Fun backcountry state highway drive: up, around down, around, up, repeat in different sequences as I skillfully kept the van between the ditches.
Yesterday in NV on US 95, a major artery, little traffic. A semi was in the other lane descending, I was in the other lane starting a gentle climb. A guy in a white sedan pulled around the semi into my lane and passed. The was insufficient distance for him to pull it off before head on into me. I flashed my headlights and put my foot on the binders and went for the paved shoulder. He kept on. Seems that drivers making an error they keep after it forcing others to take evasive action. Prolly said “sorry”
Highway routed thru pieces of NF. I picked a spot before dropping down out of public land. 4395′ Still in upper 80s. Tomorrow down to Klamath Falls.