River. Today I decided to make a rest day and drive to Twin Falls, ID and the closest Walgreens for me anticoagulant med. Drove out of Steve’s driveway and turned left then straight for like 50 miles to pay $115 for 30 days of meds. Bellevue is at the end of the mountains, from there the land flattens and straightens. Up and down little rollers past lava fields, irrigated fields, and several very very large feed lots. Steve told me that animal care givers remove the cow’s ovararies which eliminates them attracting equipped bulls (hence the name) that harass them for the good stuff, this rebuffing burns the weight off that is being almost force fed into them before ending up as a fatty piece of red meat on your plate.

Picked up meds. Steve told me of a bike trail system right down on the Snake River. I checked it out on Trailforks. High density trails as a loop. I picked the 6 mile ride as digitally defined in Trailforks. I used maps to navigate me thru neighborhood then connecting to main road down the cliff face to the river road which passed a golf course resplendent in lush green, including the fairways from stolen water. Sewage treatment plant on same road. Pavement turned to wash board stutter bumps that shake contents of van, I avoid as much of this road type as I can. A pullout appeared, I steered in. TF showed a trail right above the road leading back to trail system. I geared up then pedaled back up the road to pick up the start of the trail which parallels the road and routed to suit natural features. Deep soft sand was the tread right at the start, fine grain offered little resistance. I gave quick thought to turning around and ride the 1 1/2 miles of road to trailhead. Quit that. Bunch more pedal strokes rolled onto to firmer packed tread. Blue level. Same mountain bike and rider pedaling and coasting sustainably built single track yet it was different.

Both Trailforks and backcountry navigator could not receive gps info rendering them useless. I figured if I kept the river on my right and the cliff to my left going out to end point then switching refence points on return I would be found. I rode a trail named Porcupine, one of namesake scampered out of my way before steering around a small squashed skunk which didn’t foul the air.

I believe I hit the end point then turned around riding another trail back. Many of the trail labels were weathered blank. I just wandered my way back to the van. I rode a new place.

The road from the top of the river canyon descends steeply making 2 real tight sweeping switchbacks. tested my brakes. The climb out would test the drive train. I am always apprehensive of van’s performance. Climbed out downshifted into 3rd. Once on top I drove over to shopping mall which is built almost to the edge of the canyon.

Turned right out of the parking lot heading N back to Wood River valley. I decided I have more enjoyment forthcoming riding out of the valley. Bought propane, 4.4 gallons in a week, burning the furnace.

Riding here, Wood River Valley, is mostly legacy narrow hiking trails deep in the forest. The trails form a network with infrequent connectors which makes for big loops and bigger loops. The Augar trails are more park like with high density. I struggled with riding them. These would be so different and less than Wood River. I persuaded myself for the experience. It is what it is, the locals worked with a piece of land and created riding trails.

Been a bunch of days out of internet service. Tried for last 2 nights out at spot on Trail Creek road outside of Ketchum. Seems rigs pull up, drop anchor, then the residents leave tor return at their preference. Hogging spots when they aren’t even there. I stayed at 1st spot on Corral creek that was just out of range of service. Been riding N of town which is out of cell phone.

So, today Steve and I rode out of Greenhorn again with planned ride up Lodgepole. Our ride time was 10, and for us that is wheels turning. Early start today as Steve is readying for a horse show at Spokane. At my wake up spot at sunrise it was 23 degrees. Greenhorn was considerably warmer but I did start with a wool T shirt under my light weight wool jersey. We pedaled up Greenhorn then turned onto Cow creek trail. 4 archery hunters passed us heading out, they told Steve of sheep up the way. We arrived at trail to head to Lodgepole except it was occupied by a large band of sheep.

They were going the same way. We modified our route to ride Cow creek loop. A small group of sheep headed up our way on and off the trail . Our concern was the single track that was littered with still steaming sheep droppings, we rode over the freshies. My front fender kept my teeth white, didn’t check my shorts. While the fender from Pisgah seemed out of place on these dry trails all summer, I smiled. I am now faster climbing than Steve and he is about the same speed going down.

Steve rides a 29er, I ride a 27 1/2. Wheel diameters make a difference as did the step from 26 to my 650b. Following Steve has made me a bit faster by riding rougher lines as his wheels roll over better than mine. Today insufficient wind kept the dust cloud obscuring the narrow below grade tread with occasional pedal bashers hidden by fall killed tall grasses. A hoot downhill.  Some of why we ride: free speed after earning our turns. We rode this same route last week, today our times were the same : 1 hr 12 mins of pedaling. Steve left and I remained, I set up my chair and sat to enjoy warm temp and sun.

Going back to Steve’s driveway to watch the president debate tonight as he has signal.

Yesterday I woke up at Trail Creek, 27 degrees where shaded by mountains blocking sunshine.

I drove up to Oregon Gulch TH where we start the trade route ride. Today it was ride up the Gulch which climbed at rideable steep. Steepness changed once I turned on the connector over to Fox. Been a long time since I walked my bike so much.

back country seclusion.

A wind event several days ago blew down perhaps 10 trees on the descent down to Fox. Some I slithered under, others I hoisted my bike over. really the shits as the trail was downhill, safety necessitated keeping speed under control inside my sight line. The trail would turn and there would be a downed tree. Shits. Steve and I rode this loop last year, again the ride times were almost identical. 11.3 miles climbing 1873′. I was worked. Rides are shorter than like Bend’s but there is way more climbing, and resulting descending.

The wind event shook loose a brown carpet on a short piece, Doug fir needles.

On Sunday we drove up to Baker Creek to ride Curly’s. Ride was 1 hr 28 mins of climbing, 7.93 miles climbing 1516′. The dropped onto descent which is many places had a sustainable shallow angle interspersed with some steep fall line sections. Seat slammed down, athletic pose, and keeping speed in check. Steve lead again. Descent and short pedal out on Harriman trail was 24 mins. Dropped 1378′ in 3.97 miles.

Fall aspen colors from still green to golden, some still attached to dropped on the tread.

Ate a see food diet down at Steve’s before the debate. I watched and listened to 90 mins of bufoonery and bluster and personal attacks by donald, nothing of significance. Fact checkers will be worn out.

No rain in the forecast here, Bend is being smoked again. I need to drive to Twin to Walgreens for prescription refill as I be needing med and it is the closest. I still do not have a plan. Twin is about an hour drive south out of the valley. Do I keep going or return to valley? You will read my decision.

Off to bed.

 

“They say a person’s personality is the sum of their experiences. But that isn’t true at least not entirely, because if our past was all that defined us, we’d never be able to put up with ourselves. We need to be allowed to convince ourselves that we are more than the mistakes we made yesterday. That we are all of our next choices, too, all of our tomorrows.”

Anxious People pg 325, Fredrik Backman