Out of the mountains on to the flats

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.