Saturday AM the skies were carrying smoke. AQI was upper limit of yellow. Decided good to go with reservations. Needed to drive to Ketchum to Lizzies to buy her freshly roasted and ground beans. Pulled into her lot, strange, no plugged lot. Got out and walked to door, sign said closed on Sat & Sun. Turned around and drove to Alkins grocery then shopped for off the shelf beans. Picked a bag then ground it in store grinder. It will be what it will make tomorrow at breakfast.

Ride plan was what Steve calls the Trade route starting at Oregon Gulch. Small parking lot for the very few rigs that ever park here. Trails from here are less populated and worn. Geared up then pedaled away. Start is Saddle trail that goes after climbing really quickly on cold body. I ate a lunch and waited for about 30 mins before I started. I started on a  full belly while it kept the growlers away it bogged me down. I had energy but couldn’t put it on the pedals. Nice fall day with good colors.

I might have pushed too hard on the way out as the return was some walking and several rest breaks. Smoke was in the air but I didn’t feel I was affected. I thought the issue was inside me as I had not felt this dead in a long time. I finished 12.5 miles gaining 1983′ pedaling for 1 hr 58 mins. Again, distances are short but effort is high. I looked thru records to find last time I rode this which was 6/6/18, today was 2 mins slower and I walked more.

Much of yesterday I felt I was short of wind and I needed to find out if this condition was acute or chronic. Resolution: Ride Curlys tomorrow. I drove up the Valley to Prairie creek rd which is past Baker creek but is less traveled and parked in a spot next to the flowing creek. Smoke was still in the air occluding the bright moon. This AM the temp was 23 degrees and the sky was almost clear. My short wind was gone. I drove down to Baker creek and parked at spot just off the hard road in the sun. I remained inside letting the sun warm things up. Cameron, who works for Club Ride, enjoined me in conversation. He and others were heading to a big ride shuttle. He posted a help wanted for models in the local paper. I had torn it out intending to apply. I showed it to him telling him he needed me as an older fit rider. He laughed, I guess I failed the interview in spite of showing him my flat rippled belly.

Today I allowed about 2 hours after bfast before starting. Instantly I had the hunger pains but had energy. First park of the ride is 3 miles on flat gravel road and well traveled by both dusters and considerate drivers that slowed down. I would watch an approaching driver and the billowing dust cloud created, I would lift my bike and me off into the sage to avoid the dust. Several drivers slowed down as I was stepping off the road. I acknowledge their consideration by returning to the road and pedaling then giving them praise for considering me. Many, however, fell into the it’s about me and you will get that effect.

The pedal turns serious when it leaves this road to the climb up to the top of Curley’s. Today I pushed myself to learn how my body would perform. Nice no stutter bump resource extraction road climb. Today the pedal to the top was 1 hr 16 mins gaining 1426′. All by myself.

Then the descent which starts out gently thru mixed aspen and conifer forest. Colors are very intense.

Spectacular such that digits could not capture all of it.

Last week on this same ride with Steve, who went before me, acted as my canary in a coal mine so to speak. I let him pull me along. Today it was up to me to make my own choices. Lots of choices to be made while going very fast. The trail is narrow and below grade which hides trail side pedal strikes. I let gravity pull me unheeded when I could see ahead but controlled speed on the uncertain sections. There are 2 places on the trail where it pitches fall line and the tread is broken up. Sheesh, hands full. I am a firm user of my more powerful front brake with as little rear brake to prevent brake bumps. On those steep parts I used both brakes pretty hard. Down towards the bottom my rear brake started squalling and seemed to loose its grip. Later back at the van I pulled the pads seeing that meat still remained so it wasn’t metal on metal causing the squeal. My new real Formula rotor arrives at Steve’s tomorrow which I will install plus new brake pads, both Formula products, which should eliminate the squeal and restore the grip. The 2.94 miles of the trail dropped 1184′ took 16 mins. 1 hour 39 mins of climbing generated 16 mins of “pleasure”? Screamer descent, not for everyone.

Hung at the van enjoying fall weather and colors. My effort reconfirmed that my body can still perform. Yesterday’s flat effort was smoke induced or fatigue from Deer creek ride the day before.

Drove back down to Ketchum, bought some groceries then drove out Trail Creek rd looking for a sleep spot with internet. How about that? The long term parked trailer was gone. Score. I have straight view of ski slope and strong internet.

Aging is like a downhill slide. All we can do is slow the descent. It is like laying face down on a pitched snowfield where I have 8 fingers dug into the snow. Try as I might my fingers are not strong enough to arrest my slide, I can just slow it down, I have no idea how far the bottom is, I just keep riding while looking uphill. Only time will tell when I reach that bottom.

Time to fix dinner.

 

Yesterday was laundry day, drove up to Hailey’s laundromat. Washer runs for 37 mins, that is washing. I am sitting in my van out front when a decked out Sprinter parked along side. Guy hops out and starts up a conversation. He hands me a sticker for Dirty Finger in Hood River as if I had not been there. I said I have 2 of his stickers already on the van and Mitchell and I know each other. He kept it. He tried again with a Tomichi cycle in Gunnison, again just one sticker and I sleep in shop owners’ Bill and Susan’s driveway. He kept that one also, he had no others. He said he and his wife just finished a 29 day road trip. I told him I have been at it for 12 years. I guess I won the big dick contest.

Stopped for short visit as that is all it can be at Sun Summit South, Chip’s shop. I asked about Deer Creek, a ride I have not done yet and it is close to Hailey. He said I would need to go ride it to find out about it and report back. He rode it last earlier this what was summer. OK. Drove north out of town then turned west on Deer Creek rd. The road was paved for several miles then became washboard bumping gravel road. Quentin told me about driving the Gooseberry bumpy road was over 35 mph the bumps go away. Shit eye tooth rattling as I sped just over 30 mph. Sheesh. Van and its contents remained in place. camping is permitted in signed sites, I picked 1 which was right on the bank of Deer Creek which was flowing bubbling babbling. I stayed here once before. Last year I scored the first site about a half mile from today. Plenty of sites to chose from further out but I had enough as did my possessions and be satisfied with this spot. The ride tomorrow would continue up the road.

Last night strong full moon light lit the south face of the big hill above me. Appeared to be slightly cloudy. This AM, sunrise 7:48, I peered outside to discern clouds but no precip anywhere in the forecast. I sniffed, can’t say that I didn’t smell smoke but that’s what was in the air. No forecast for that. I could breathe the air which met my need for air quality. I geared up then pedaled away up the road. Washboard chattered even my 27 1/2 ” wheels and full suspension.

Pedal gentle climb yet effort required to N fork Deer Creek TH. 4.46 miles climbing 564′ took 35 mins. Single track took over. Narrow single track, motorcycle worn. Area was burned several years ago which also burned the soil which loosened shattered rock. Energy sucking causing me to walk. This section was 2.3 miles gaining 577′ took 31 mins of panting. Did not ride it clean. Lots of aspen groves decked in gold and some trees showing reddish hue.

Then I began the descent down Deer Creek.

Trail crossed the ever deepening Deer Creek. Rough trail.

Beavers found these upper reaches of the creek acceptable for their home improvement. I watched several fish swirls in the impoundment.

3 dirt bikes used their engines and suspension to climb past me as I headed down. They were the only people seen on my ride. This piece was 6.3 miles dropping 1138′ needed 46 mins of pedaling. Followed by 3.8 miles of gravel bumpy road to van. I coasted over a section of washboards enjoying the suspension isolating me from the chatter. I loosened my usual loose grip even more which let the grips rattle inside my fist. Sweet. Brings to memory recall of a past washboard riding experience while riding a fully rigid bike ( because at that time it was state of the sport) being bounced so hard that the muscles attached to my eyeballs became fatigued unable to hold my eyes. I had to stop to rest the muscles. Same thing happened once I started. Experience that sometime.

Because of my gut issue I am eating a very restricted diet plus gluten avoidance. I have no body fat. I can’t seem to eat enough calories to add storage. I can’t eat Clif bars but I have not sought a replacement. Today I ate what I thought would be enough to last till lunch. I ran the tank all but dry, close to a bonk. I rode this ride last year but do not recall how worked I was. Forgetfulness makes for unintended repeats. However, this year’s ride time was almost the same as last year.

Loaded up then began the washboard. Speed still close to 30, very active suspension. Reached pavement then slowed down savoring the quiet. Drove into Hailey. Reported to Chip. Drove down to Steve’s for the night.

Ketchum AQI earlier was 139, unhealthy. At 9:30 air has improved to 85. just moderate. High pressure keeping smoke in from Oregon fires. Air quality is again a concern. My new brake rotor arrives Monday here so I will stay till then. I checked other locations seeing Ketchum was the worst by far.

Nasty hard ride. Here these rides, while shorter, seem to require more effort than Bend’s pedal trails. At Bend my rides went for more miles as I just sat and spun. Not so much here and the trails are more technical. But the mountains and remoteness factor are greater here.