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.