I’m now in Bellevue, ID, at the valley opening by the Big Wood River enjoying comfort of level driveway at friend Steve’s place. Two nights ago at his place rain started falling as I heard it on the van roof. After a while there was no sound. When I opened my eyes Sat morn about 6 and looked out the windshield I saw snow held up by the windshield wipers. Snow at 5080′ May 22. Peaks got dusted.
A volunteer work project was scheduled for Sat to cut back sage brush on city trail Toe of the Hill. Steve and I arrived at TH joining maybe 15 other volunteers. Today’s work was to cut back encroaching sage brush. Provided tools were short handled loppers and folding hand saws. We all walked out the trail then picked a spot to work from.
The sage was weighted down by the new snow. Cutting instructions were to cut back at base of plant and leave no stobs, distance was to be far enough back to not grab bike bars. We were on our knees forcing our way into the base of limbs then cut off which would reveal the big trunk that was cut out with the hand saw. In short while I was wet, my gloves were saturated and my hands were cold. The work project time line was a rolling start and finish: you showed up during that window and left when you had enough. Steve and I worked for almost 2 hours, our plan was to work till either of us had had enough. Whew, don’t envy Steve for his back issues but I accepted his having had enough. Cutting that sage was labor intensive. For me, my body had not been subjected to that amount and kind of work. To me it was funny that when I had money I would have paid someone to do this work that I was now doing as a volunteer. The snow melted off during our effort.
I have heard about health benefits of CBD for among others, muscle aches. Because what I did was above and beyond accustomed activity I was concerned that my body would be sore the next day so I decided to give CBD a go. I shopped at local pharmacy as I felt that they would have better CBD than grocery store. I used it 2X yesterday resulting in a normal feeling body this morning. That means 2 possible things: 1) I did not hurt my body sufficiently from overuse and / or 2) the CBD worked. I do have satisfaction that I did add my labor to a local project, the first opportunity since last summer.
I called Atkinson’s. the local grocery store chain, to ask about Copper River salmon. Score, it’s in. I treated Steve and me to a 3/4 #, at $59/lb, piece that Steve grilled to perfection for our dinner last night. So very good.
This morning I returned food sharing with Steve for my scratch pancakes. I gave him a van life breakfast in his driveway.
Going back in time to catch up.
Steve met me at Indian Springs S of Kimberly on Thurs. for a ride. Some of the trails are official but not well marked and are on Trailforks. However, open grazing cows walked in their own path that confused with bike trail. We rode thru several gatherings of cows. One place there were 2 bulls. Steve told me the range bulls could be nasty. I listened to Steve from the bike shop tell of his violent encounter with a bull on one of these trails. He said the bull charged him, stomped on his bike damaging it, and chased him. Tgis Steve told me to just ride by the bulls and get away.
We put a hump on our ride of over 2 hours with breaks only being to study Trailforks on my phone. The trails are hand built social trails that show little wear. I like these kinds of trails. Drawback: cow shit on my bike.
I found a laundromat in Twin Falls for clean clothes then drove to Steve’s south of Bellevue.
I have used Steve’s address to receive my new bike parts which he is storing in his barn. I got to touch a new dropper, cranks, bottom bracket, chain ring, and the boosted I 9 rear wheel. Score for the parts, next will be the build to ascertain the correct parts. I haven’t decided what to do with the RFX frame and parts. I could buy parts to rebuild the RFX as I have the frame and another set of I 9 wheels instead of trying to sell piecemeal.
Friday I rode by myself out on Croy trails outside Hailey. Weather forecast called for precip so I packed a rain jacket. Most of my previous rides here have been following Steve’s navigation. Today I had an idea of what I wanted to ride but was confounded by choices once I started. I wanted to see what vegetation returned after the burn. Great to see lupine regrowth:
The bloom is location sensitive as plants higher up are behind those lower.
No rain fell.
Which brings us to Sunday morning with a watchful eye to the skies and weather radar to see if it’s possible to get in a ride before next precip event.
Yesterday during the work event a mother and her son passed us on their way back. I asked if I could have a grandfather moment with her son to commend him for volunteering. He smiled and she thanked me for speaking to him.
I have never ridden this Revel Rail bike I will be soon riding. Steve suggested comparing the bike’s geometry which will give some indication of differences. Data revealed almost identical numbers. The real difference is in the suspension solution. Frame is to be delivered to Soul Cycle in Prescott on the 28th and will be shipped to a shop in Bend for build and my first ride.
Gotta go ride in open weather window.
Change: how much effort and time working on your local trails? You should have a good idea how your trails ride, they are what they are and as well as you take care of them. A touron rides you local trails then posts a review which is their prerogative. I read a review of a local trail here in Wood River Valley who shit all over a trail. Visitors need to understand local effort on that trail. One local’s trail prolly has similar issues to someone else’s local trail. What’s worrisome is riders who piss about conditions but don’t invest equity to make them better. Volunteer helping your local trails and enjoy effort from local community on trails you ride as a visitor.