I have been anchoring in a former neighbor’s driveway across the road from my former house where I lived for 16 years. Connection to a period of my past.

Sunday after pancake bfast I drove up towards MT Spokane state park, the largest in the state. For the most part the park is all about namesake mountain. Park boundary is at bottom of park, everything goes up from there until maybe a lateral trail or keep climbing to arrive at the peak. I parked at The Beach which is a spot off the highway before park entrance fee of $10. Name came from maybe a dinner table sized area on babbling Deadmans creek. Cold clear water maybe mid shin high and for me too cold to sit in. It is maybe .5 mile away from entrance all uphill on pavement. Free admittance to heart propulsion method. I continue up the pavement passing by a trailhead as the first part of the trail ain’t no fun, the road gains the elevation. I leave the road at a spot where the trail almost touches the road. From there on it’s dirt on. Riding well remembered from my past. Deep tree cover in places, the mountain is the southern most peak of a mountain chain so it sticks up into the atmosphere full on exposure. Seems it stops lots of rain as there are many cedar groves and hemlock. No berries either huckle or blue: drought. I was able to climb everything except one switchback

My route mixed climbing with descending, traversing, then repeat. woods dirt for most part. There were downhill sections that really scooted. Again the bike is so super confidence inspiring. Deep woods cover. Familiar trails. 14.5 miles climbing 2904′ pedaling for 3 hrs 25 mins. That’s 200’/ mile, that’s monster big. Park entrance is like 3200′.

This Revel Rail bike and the components  have saddled it with. The suspension say floats over trail features is an apt description that as long as I am pushing down on a pedal the bike is propelled forward and stays in contact with rocks and goes forward. Today I rode out Nine Mile area of Riverside State park which along the Spokane River. Bassalt babyheads sharp angles, lots of them. Path was using the high points and steer my direction. Bike is so stable. Way better than the DW RFX.

Today I drove out to Seven Mile area of park to the shoulder of a gravel county rd just outside the park. Today’s ride would be mostly flat except for steep basalt babyheaded sections out at 9 Mile. I pedaled stuff with more ease than any other bike. And on the downhill over same stuff the bike floats. I chose this area as I wanted to learn of bike’s capabilities and also me. I finished 21.7 miles climbing 1260′ needing 2 hrs 31 mins, flat, 58′ / mile. Rode familiar trails. There appear to be more ridden in trails since my time here, created by horse people riding them in which except for 9 Mile it is easy to do. P pine forest. One rider went by me while I was resting after 1 hr 35 mins of straight pedaling. I was not able to climb Devils Down where I fell years ago ripping up my left shoulder, today the loose softball size rocks were too much to pedal over. My work location was out on West Plains with the park sort of on the way to my former house, I rode the park at least once a week after work while day light savings was in affect. It was about fitness.

I lived here for 18 years. So many memories and so much to say about familiarity. Spokane is not a tourist town so most everybody I encounter are locals, no need to ask where a person is from.

I keep putting off route planning. Spokane is no longer a repair station for me, no need to hang around.

Time to fix dinner here outside the park. The back to Bill’s for the night.

So, Getting started.

On the 25th, Wed, I drove out of creek drainage to Wenatchee. Grocery shopping then stopped at major outsoor store in downtown Wenatchee to learn about Canyon 2 trails which show on trailforks like spaghetti. Listened to shop person tell about rides which trails to take etc. I listened until he came up for breath and told him he had me for the first several turns then my mind went to too much info. I pulled up trailforks and selected someone’s route that we reviewed. He said it will work. I bought a phone holder to attach my phone to me handlebar for route finding. because of the extensive amount of trails staying found and on line is important. If I carried my phone inside my pack I would have had to stop at every intersection then take off my pack, dig out the phone, fire it up, find my location and determine which way to go, then put phone back in pack and put pack back on. Phone holder eliminated most of those steps. Canyon # 2 is namesake, hard road climbed steeply into the canyon. I parked at pavement end, spot was very steep that even 4 blocks under the front wheels would not level me out. Guy told me the road gets rougher beyond which was enough for my stopping. Road seems familiar to a previous drive over from Mission Creek down into Wenatchee. Ride started climbing right off on broken natural rock. Good gosh grunt.

I rode up Stairway to Heaven, all purpose built single track trail that continued climbing reaching an over view, looked down to the Columbia river flowing thru Wenatchee.

The trails I rode were hard packed buff. 8.59 miles climbing 1375′, short time of 1 hr 27 mins of pedaling, average heart rate was only 110. I went downhill faster than a pickup truck controlling a horse trailer.

Because I was in Wenatchee I chose to drive up another canyon to Mission ridge ski area climbing further to Bee Hive reservoir staging for a ride the next day of Bee Hive trail and spend the night. No internet. At the TH was a white pickup with a bike rack on back. A woman pedaled in. I greeted her, she said she fell and hurt herself, her friend was riding down the trail. Woman appeared around my age, she was on an ebike. I watched her put her bike on the rack, she knew the bike went on the back but not how. Yes, ebikes open doors to more riders, many like her are unskilled. The bike got her out and maybe she mastered a bunch of stuff but she was over her head. Her friend straightened out the bike rack..

Thurs day I rode from anchor spot climbing Bee Hive trail to its end at top of Devil’s gulch trail. From there I continued climbing the steep gravel road to the start of Squilchuck trail. Back when I was younger I added this piece to Devils gulch. Squilchuck is nasty rock gardens that gets into larch alpine area similar to Angel’s staircase further north.

The trail starts to drop, it becomes well worn down as a junction to a small lake takes off.

I rode over to the above lake. On the return I made a line choice that connected my right forearm with a hidden dead tree branch that I felt rip across my arm. I looked down, damn blood starting to weep. I stopped and dug out my first aid kit for the liquid skin to spread over wound to stop bleeding. The blood sort of solved the liquid. Blood ran down towards my wrist. Just a flesh wound. Back on the bike shortly I came to a clear running stream where I washed off the blood. An older man arrived. Short story he is a retired anesethologist(sp). He offered to bandage it and I accepted. Nicely done.

Intersected with pipe line trail to take back to upper Devils gulch trail. Then return on Bee Hive which was mostly downhill coast versus huffing up.

Cleaned up then made ready to drive. Today was Thurs and I was in search of a laundromat in Wenatchee. Found one in east Wenatchee across the river. Clean clothes then drove back up Mission Creek for another go at Devils gulch as it is one of my most favorite trails and riding it once and leaving when I had the opportunity to ride it again could not be passed up. I parked in the TH.

Friday AM before I got underway a spotless pickup with a canopy pulled in. An elderly couple got out. They had ebikes. We pedaled away at the same time, in just a few feet they were a dust cloud ahead. Of course i could not keep up. 6.83 miles climbing 1655′ in solid 1 hr 18 mins of pedaling I arrived at my blow spot. This time the THC addled my brain sufficiently to just focus on pushing on the pedals. While resting a rider pulled up. He asked if that was my green van. Yes, I said and conversation ensued. So close to a future article in Freehub mag conversation. He is an ICU DR and said it is not fun being a DR, belligerent anti science patients. His long ride was a stress reliever. Six more hits got me the remaining almost 5 miles to the start of Devils. Today was partially sunny with obscuring clouds that create shadows added to shadows created by tree cover. Shadows hide tread features causing more caution then when previously cloudy. At least I was dry. This bike and my confidence in it is something. I have learned to steer where I want to go and allow suspension to suck up. I do not enhance my speed, pull of gravity is my engine. 11.5 miles mostly downhill dropping 2881′ coasting / pedaling for 1 hr 10 mins. Today’s time was 6 mins faster than 4 days prior. Ride was 22.3 miles climbing 3143′ in 3 hrs 18 mins, 2 hrs up 1 hr down.

Mechanical hauler was still there. Uphill from it the brush still stood.

I dallied during my ride letting time go by, it was almost 3 at finish and I needed to be moving on. Bike is dirty, Mission creek at TH runs with silt, an abrasive, that I did not need to use to clean bike. Drove away stopping in Cashmere for groceries then on the road heading towards Spokane. Climb out of river valley onto to open roling dry land farming.

Years ago I found an anchor spot before Coulee City, today I stopped there again. This area is part of the channeled scablands Lake Missoula flood.

This morn I finished drive to Spokane returning to where I lived for 18 years after missing being here last year because of COVID and smoke. I stopped at Coulee City park and dipped water from  Banks lake into my tree sprayer and sprayed off my bike. I will visit and ride several days while figuring out next move heading east. Going to ride MT Coeur d’Alene which is another favorite.

Interesting conundrum should you want to make it one. Do I ride what I know or go for the unknown. The known has history that I might recall effort and route solution or pick new all with unkowns. Devils gulch was all known and riding it would give feedback on my performance relative to past. New is uncertainty with risk maybe more than I want to tackle.

Off for dinner at The Elk in Browns Addition. Mask mandate in effect.

Sand creek that is and I have my bike. Yesterday after taking care of town support I drove out to TH for Devils Gulch which is back up Mission Creek, the trail stays in name sake drainage. At the TH a guy wearing an Evergreen something was loading an ebike and bob into his truck. We / I struck up a conversation, Evergreen is paying him to do trail work. Grants were obtained for funding. He rode 6 miles up to retrieve a track from their motorized hauler. Remember, 6 miles up from bottom. They were brushing. Weather forecast had no precip in it. I have been packing a wool long underwear top for extra clothing. But no wind shell or rain jacket.

Devils gulch loop is equal lengths of road climb to downhill single track. My rides start at the bottom and finish at the same bottom. It’s what is in between means something. I have ridden this loop many times over the years, it’s one of my favorite trails.

The climb is gravel road 2 miles till it turns onto abandoned FS road heading up the creek. At first the trail is cleared for a side by side, even almost graded. What’s up with this as it is a big improvement for easier pedaling. However, the creek washed out the narrow bottom blocking whatever had made the trail wider. Trail enters into private land and the trail becomes closed beat FS road. Ever upwards, left leg right leg push down on pedals at their turn. Grunt. 1 hr 20 mins I make an overlook where I always take a breather.

 

I went to altered state before leaving seeking bliss or at least distraction during the climb. At the break I Squirted my dry chain which seemed to make the stroke go faster. While the water based lube was soaking in I was soaking in 7 more worry be gone hits then finished the climb. Must have been second wind kicking in as I made it to the top trailhead. During the ride I watched rain threatening clouds move in. But no rain was forecast. Rain would be much appreciated because of a drought here also. I noticed the usual weeds had died at the state where they could pull up no more water. At the high spot sprinkles started falling, I sheltered under cover while taking on nourishment. I pedaled away after solid 2 hrs 11 mins to go 11 miles climbing 2887’ effort. It seemed over the years there had been several burns separated by green.

A gentle rain was falling while I was under burned snag cover. I was getting wet. There were even left over small muddle puddles. The joy of this trail is the 11.6 miles dropping 2822’ all on single track. I squeezed thru many tight brushy spots picking up more water. I was getting cold as coasting doesn’t warm muscles plus wind velocity. I stopped well in time to yield to an uphill pedaler, the only person I saw. 5 miles down I saw the trail cart loaded with brush cutters. Soon I would coast thru an open corridor which because the brush was cut like 3’ each side of trail it became a corridor. Then there were interspersed uncut sections. Brushing is really appreciated but the result is a butch haircut. Maybe just cut a foot each side which would give clearance and the rough feel it had. The brush is more dense from last time I rode here several years ago. The trail has been ridden by dirt bikes for years, Experience here is dirt bikes make non technical features except for whoops. Somewhere down lower clouds parted and no rain. Took 1 hr 13 mins for get back to start. Elevation gain was 129 feet per mile.

I finished like almost 6 PM. Hasty drive down stream to Sand Creek road then up the creek to a TH for Red Hill and Red Devil, staged for tomorrow’s ride. Quick dinner then a washcloth wipe down.

40 degrees this wake up. Ran the heater. Loitered this morning as I had all day to complete this loop of figuring 13 miles. The ride started off with a climb and climbing on narrow ridden in dirt bike track. Bench cut on steep sidehill. This year I stopped several times for a blow. Fast bike but aging engine. Trail enters private land that was clear cut several years ago. Clear cut means nothing is left standing.

Pedal thru that waste land to reenter public land still treed. Trail gradient is all doable, it’s just the distance. Turn onto dashed blue line on Trailforks meaning a trail but condition uncertain yet there is an old wooden FS sign pointing the way to Devils gulch, my destination. I have ridden this ride several times over the years giving me experience to recall. Trail is real fast going down on same narrow  bench cut steep sidehill mostly smooth tread. Seat slammed down, weight firming placed on feet with heels dropped, arms bent, index fingers guarding respective brake levers, with head up looking ahead. Great brakes for modulating speed.

Arrive down on Devils gulch for a short piece before turn on to Red Devil with its climbs. Scenic exposed with lots of climbing on same type of tread. I encountered a tree across the trail, top was prolly 40”, to me it appeared a dirt bike was lifted across. It was a challenge for me. Continuing I came upon the blocker for dirt bikes. For me I struggled to get both my bike and me over. I made it contrary to dirt bikes.

Trail really puts beat on me. The ride was 12.9 miles climbing 2825’, like 229’ per mile.

Saw this interesting something.

I suspect a squirrel had chewed off the branch with undeveloped pine cones then dropped them onto trail. Amazing that the cuttings are lined out.

Back at my van a bright shiny new red car was parked just beyond door swing distance. WTF? Friend Steve doesn’t even park that close. The guy arrived later and I ignored him as I was just so pissed about his lack of distancing that I could not speak. I turned up the radio volume on Outlaw Country station before he arrived hoping that the music selections would piss him off enough to not hang around. He changed clothes then drove off.

This morning before riding I filled my tree sprayer from the creek and sprayed off my dirty bike.

Spending the night here again.

Fruit flies have invaded my van. Dunno if they came on the one peach I bought or if they are so plentiful that they just showed up. They did take life ending dip into my wine glass. I finished their life in my digestive track.