Velocity aids stability when not misused as a crash cause. Starting on an uphill from a dead stop seeks velocity. The power leg is poised at 1 o’clock, the other creating balance. A moment of truth happens at push off, success is getting the other foot on its pedal then contributing to forward motion, Some times it is easier to push the bike.

Having a sinus issue causing concern of other source. Tried an UC in Spokane yesterday, seen by a PA. I learned that they are only able to treat the symptoms as they lack testing equipment. He prescribed a different anti which I started. Thing is the pain is not constant, while riding other demands push its signals to backstage. If imaging is needed I will return to Bend to be under care of primary provider.

Sunday’s ride on MT Spokane left lingering overuse. I rested on Monday. Tuesday after UC I drove out to Seven Mile for a ride that I struggled with convincing myself to pedal. I would ride because that’s what I do to consume time from wake up to lay down. Today I ended up still riding with gusto, the data reflects that but I was casual. I rode down stream to Sharp Stick in the Eye area of basalt cliffs and gardens. I found more unknown trails. This area is basalt:

Wandered around for 13.6 miles climbing 1214′ on river bottom.

Randy did the work, I just completed the sea to mouth journey of a piece of his salmon.

The last crown of the Spokane area rides is MT Coeur d’Alene, east of here. It is on my way east leaving Spokane. Or, it could be an over and back. Driving directions said 48 miles each way. That’s 4 gals diesel and the van runs great. If I over and back and did the ride my travel direction would be open. I drove over, busy Argonne, and I 90, traffic along twisty lake shore highway was light. Turn upstream on Beauty Creek road with broken patches of pavement. Recently hard packed dirt was placed in those holes eliminating creative steering to avoid wheel sucks. Arrived at parking spot under 2 large cedars. WTF? 2 pick ups occupying the spot. Parked on other side of road. 2 guys where standing outside talking, I saw mountain bikes which lured me to a conversation. Didn’t recognize either. One spoke up asking me if I remembered him from past rides. His voice triggered memory recall as it was Tim, a local. Over the years we have happened upon each other and shared a ride here. Last several years we didn’t connect, every time I always wondered if we would meet up. Well, today he and buddy were going to be pedaling up the road, as I was going to do, instead of pedaling up single track 257. I matched their younger bodys’ pace and able for short sentences. We chatted. He told of his huge effort of cutting out trees on these trails. I told my route, he told me the trail was clear. A road turned right for his ride and mine turned left to go down 257 to the Hole and the start of the pay back. Old legacy hiking trail that dirt bikes have been banned. Deep wild forest. Cedars. 2 large trees had fallen across the trail requiring high lifting or a rough go around. No pics taken. Trees are skinny straight tall perhaps competing for sunlight. Views are of tree trunks. Some years prior when I first rode these trails dirt bikes were allowed and for their interest they cut out trees as carrying a saw on a dirt bike is way easier than on a pedal bike.

My right shoulder has little strength for lifting. I have a difficult time lifting my bike over obstacles. I can not lift it over a regular height 3 strand barb wire fence. Fallen trees could be even higher. Today one fallen tree was bypassed on established tread, the other was on the trail about chest high that was overcome thru several moves. I so wanted to continue my direction versus a blockage too great for me to overcome causing retreat.

For today’s climb out I chose the go around which is on abandoned logging haul roads, bordered and thru sapling regrowth. I followed faint track. Tim showed me a climb out that I anticipating taking that is more direct. However, I pedaled right by that spur as regrowth covered it. I kept pedaling and pedaling. Finally I stopped to look at Trailforks to be found. I was were I was to be. Next time I will ride the trail pushing my bike on steeps which is more direct. I finally finished back at pass where I left Tim and Mark. Funny, a short pedal up the road to the summit there was those 2. My plan was to ride to summit then descend Caribou Ridge which still required about 30 mins of uphill pedaling. They had been sessioning trails, they were finishing their day with descent of entire 257. I put a cork in my mouth to stop visiting so I could get on with my ride. I summited where formerly there was a fire lookout tower. Descent was brisk, arrived at abandoned FS campsite, crossed over road picking up Caribou Ridge that continues descending ultimately to a red colored trailforks difficulty rating, local name is Scarabou. Rating is enough to avoid. Just before trail gets nasty a side trail offers a longer way back down. Forest canopy single track joins another haul road that has been better cut back. Long way, seemed long time to intersection of 257 part way down. 257 is downhill on deep forest cover legacy hiking trail. Dirt was firm, no dust. Whooppeee. Finish on pavement screamer to van, hit 28 mph. Another limit pushing ride of 21.2 miles climbing 3212′ pedaling for 3 hr 22 mins, average beats was 120, recovery was 62 hrs.

Inland Northwest has deep forest cover, moisture, lots of vertical, and lots of people albeit not on trails. Growth is continuing, way too busy for me. While I lived here I was like the frog in cold water being heated until cooked. Present visit is like a frog dropped into boiling water. Just way too busy. Traffic moves along as I drive about the speed limit being frequently passed only to arrive on their bumper at upcoming stop light.

Rain started before sunrise this morning, nice gentle rain, showers continued during the afternoon. Tomorrow will be hero dirt with puddles over hard pan.

I will start my going south travel plan.

Take away of Inland Northwest riding is lots of climbing rides.

Why riding downhill is so much fun is because we go fast with no effort, its like riding a dirt bike but without motor. Shuttles and  lift serviced bike parks eliminate the earning of your turns, either earning or paying result in gravity assisted locomotion.

The earth orbited past the meridian marking seasonal fall. Indicators here in Spokane corroborate except the thermometer of forecast 87 today and 89 tomorrow, Thrs seasonally normal of 67 degrees. Still chills off enough to run the heater towards morning. Ground vegetation has turned as enjoyed up in MT Spokane SP, trail heading to Day mtn.

Dried bear grass stalks indicate this trail was thru their white tops

MT Spokane is the last of the Selkirk mtn chain, it stands by itself meaning it takes the brunt of storms. This pic shows flat land from the solitary high mtn, Day is on shoulder of Mt Spokane.

This ride was Sat. State highway leads to park using the creek bottom for road. I park outside the park at a place I know as The Beach. I geared up then pedaled upslope, passing Bear creek lodge, at at 1 mile the park entrance. Park entrance fee is daily $10, bear creek charges $5. At the park entrance a sign was posted to the effect it was national trails day and entry was free. I kept pedaling up hill. I still would have to ride some of the pavement so free had no effect. 2.27 miles climbing 764′ pedaling for 28 mins, heart rate average was 134. A hump. Then more climbing on single track up to Kit Carson. Side trip out to Day mtn which was my high point. The final descent was a mix of a short piece of purpose built trail then legacy hiking trails, much of it highly eroded without any effort to correct the unsustainabilty. Trail 140 thru the Jedi trees is horrible. State Park neglects, local bike club has no involvement. Years ago in a conversation with a local on trail condition, me explaining sustainability and needing correction, local said what’s wrong with it? Some people get it (me), others don’t whether lack of knowledge of badness or don’t care. I checked local bike club calendar” blank. The decent was all hands on the bars. Nice bike 14.9 miles climbing 3150′, that’s 211′ per mile, that’s BIG. Average heart rate was 131. I was worked.

My rides have shortened. The above ride was the same as years past. What I am noticing is it seems it takes longer to get somewhere even though numbers don’t say. Seems to apply to driving also.

Sunday I sought a less work ride again out at Riverside State Park from Seven Mile going upstream This ride I wandered seeking trails that I had not ridden. Well, newness is caused by creation of ridden in social trails. Lots of miles and pieces. I GPSd my ride and changed the track color to view tangle of trails. I kept the sun bearing. handrails are the river to the east, and basalt cliff to the west, Seven mile rd to north and Bowl and pitcher to the south.

I founded the former bike club, Fat Tie Trail Riders, back in maybe 03. Somehow we scored an IMBA trail care crew visit who led us on a trail build project around Devil’s Down in Riverside State Park. Back in 1980 ST Helens sent ejecta down wind to here. We built the trail over that ash. The “dirt” is like talc, prolly the finest particle size I have ridden.

While here I stay out at Bill’s, my former neighbor, across from my old house. Location is at end of box canyon on gravel road. Primitive anchor spot close to town. Because this spot is as good as a paid for spot in a camp ground only way better, I can  arrive in the evening to a saved spot. I have been visiting social spots after dinner. maybe watching football and visiting. It’s off Peone Prairie, downhill from Francis / Bigelow Gulch road. On the back side of the ridge forming the north edge of Spokane. Close in to town but in the woods. MT Spokane is right here and N end of Riverside is this side of town for proximity. I scored a primo location to live for 16 years.

Friday I scored a chiro a needed  adjustment at Liberty Lake, east of town. Liberty is a county park at the south end of the large lake and climbs a ways up Mica Peak. I rode before the adjustment in case I moved parts elsewhere that could be put back. Another monster climb day of 14.9 miles climbing 2352′, 156’/ mile. Much of the ride is on old logging roads. Heavy tree cover of cedars because of north facing exposure. Wild.

Today is a rest day. The EDGE displayed 72 hours recovery.

I replaced the worn rear tire with same. tread was only worn on the center, the side lugs had no wear. Seems all of the miles on the tire were on dirt, not rocks. I still carve but dirt did not damage the side lugs, The center was worn from traction, either up or down. I still support the LBS which was the first shop I visited when I mover here back in 1990. Ownership changes. On the wheel I broke 1 bead but needed stronger hands to break the other.

I have a bad headache located above my left eye. So far the antibiotics did not clear it up so not a sinus issue. Thurs a dentist examined my teeth: no cause. More investigation needed.

Giving motivational thought to heading out. Fall colors are coming on.

I have used Garmin bike computers for many years. I upload the ride data into Garmin Connect. I viewed my lifetime totals starting before my odyssey. 3202 rides covering 45,437 miles climbing 4,023,867′, riding for 6,293 hours. My spreadsheet states 283 rides covering 4027 miles on my Revel Rail since birth back in June 2021. I started with 3,xxx miles. I have been around, 2 wheels at a time.

I lived here for 18 years, I have been gone for 14. What was is sometimes still is, others not so much as discovered as I drove around. The same is comforting, that’s people and some places.

Tues Happy Hour gathering was gen’d by Les, attended by him, Tom and Dave, all of us former Boeing Spokane associates as we were called in days of socio-tech. We have known well each other for 32 years now. Les and Tom are retired engineers, Dave was a planner such as me. We all skied together a bit, mountain biked with Les and Tom. Tom has my cache of past life mementos in his basement, storing them longer than my expected 2 years for my retrieval. Oh, stories we lived. Old friends.

I rode Riverside SP first. Park is pay to park at trailheads, $10 per day. I learned of a parking spot that is 1 mile of pavement each way to access trails at Seven Mile that I occupy. Seven Mile forms a division of the park. Today I rode downstream on familiar trails until I followed trail 25 which for this part dropped down into Dep Creek then climbed out. Nasty basalt gardens and steep each way. I wrangled me and the bike back to pedalable tread continuing to top of what I know as Sharp Stick in the Eye on a bluff overlooking views over the Spokane River.

I lived in this end of the county.

I picked this ride to ride over several basalt rock gardens to experience the bike’s handling and refinement of my skills. Smiles for both, without me the bike would not have been there and if not for the bike I would not have been there. This bike is stellar. I really realized that per the designer’s suspension, separates pedaling from suspension. Amazing real. Previous DW suspension bikes I would have been bounced around. Today I steered course and pedaled which sometimes was like a track stand for balance over the rocks littered like earth’s teeth. The I9 Hydra hub completed the pedal control, and the RUNT handled the front end. All in all, we earned a gold star for accomplishment. Was a demanding ride with climbing, 12.8 miles, climbing1217′, pedaling for 1 hr 36 mins, average heart rate was 128.

After the gathering I drove back to former neighbors’ driveway taking on what I remembered. Up River was closed moving to another entrance, I turned into Avista head quarters parking lot sort of a maze to get out. Shorter story was I drove up Greene where the someday to be completed North South freeway is having its way with closed side streets and erected concrete overpass piling in place. That’s change.

Wed I met with the guy who is managing my $. Hang in there, soon smiles will change the curve of my lips. Office is downtown. I let google maps navigate my way until being confronted with numerous downtown streets closed for construction. Afterwards I headed back to Seven Mile after finding my way out. Driving my van in city traffic on city wide streets is a challenge, so far I have not caused sufficient alarm in other drivers for their attempt at my behavior modification.

This rode I parked at same place, crossed the river then turned up stream, this area has a plethora of unsigned socail trails, several were ones I opened on deer paths. Wander with direction to Bowl and Pitcher. I wanted to clean the hill that I fell on way back in ’97 that introduced me to orthoscopic surgery to repair my badly torn up left shoulder. At that fall I was riding with Theresa.. I stalled and grabbed both brakes, force vector took over making the bike rear backwards. I was mechanically attached. I fell backwards onto my hyper extended left hand which traveled to the shoulder. Successful surgical repair. Today I made it up to where I had fallen, this time I stayed off the rear brake. So close. I walked partway down then pedaled up, this time I cleaned it. Success. Trails here are mostly smooth pedaling that I used to work my pedaling. Cameron asked me if I count my strokes, no I don’t. had not learned that. Since his lesson this summer I have been more discipled on cadence and power. Seems the better I am at it my breathing doesn’t blow up. A piece of trail is almost in the river in a corridor of green vegetation, I have heard it called Little Saigon. The exit is a short climb to a bench. I cleared the ride when what do my wondering eyes see but:

Maybe 20 feet away. Did not cause it to briskly leave the area.

Ride was 14.1 miles climbing a flat 689′ in 1 hr 30 mins.

Friend Randy invited me to dinner at his house way up on South Hill, I was on the north. I left just b4 4. No rush hour traffic heading into the city. However as the Maple Street bridge neared traffic was backed up leaving the city. Mass, I never experienced this while I lived here and I sometimes drove same. Randy takes a fishing trip to Alaska and returns with selected spoils of his success, as a result salmon abounds and I looked forward to his and wife Lisa’s company and food. Both were great. I city camped in their driveway.

This morning in the dark sprinkles started that intensified to gentle rain. We visited a bit then Randy sent me off with more frozen salmon than my freezer would hold, I threw a package back. Thank you Randy and Lisa.

Today was laundry day, clean clothes would happen at a laundromat on the north side that I use when here. Today’s drive was after rush and it was 1 left and 2 rights, easy peezy.

Fore sometime I have had a headache presently being treated as a sinus infection. I wasn’t improving. Last summer I experienced similar pain which I thought tooth caused, which it was, resulting in an $1800 crown. I was thinking this was again dental. Heading to the laundromat I would go right by my former dentist where I hoped to be welcomed as an established patient. Kondo might have retired. I read the reader board sign for his name: not there. Perhaps a dentist bought the practice and I might still be repeat business. I parked then walked into the office. Two women working the front desk. One looked at me searching her memory: she remembered my first name and I sort of recalled her. She pulled my chart: last visit was 2015. I scored an appointment at noon. Did my wash then returned. Dentist viewed freshly taken X Rays and checked my upper left teeth. Short story, teeth are fine, pain perhaps is still from sinus and I should finish the 10 days of antibiotics to allow medicine to work and if still having pain 5 days later go to plan B.

During Cook’s Meadow ride on RD 44 trails I rode into a horizontal tree smacking me on top of the helmet, like a compression, several days later pain set in indicating a chiro adjustment. I called my past chiro. First opening was next Thurs. I explained my living on the road situation. She said she would seek approval for a 2 day earlier Tues appointment. She called back with approval. Today she called back, I am now in there tomorrow at 2. Yes, horizontal, as the tree grew vertical then turned sideways just short of me clearing it. I perceived the foliage as a branch which would bend out of my way. Not so.

This is the last piece of care or social need so I am free to leave to where I have not decided as I keep putting off deciding. I will head east then south. Air quality is still of concern. Today all is green. Open choices. Price of diesel constrains mileage. I see myself in Wood River Valley ( Sun Valley environs) for fall colors.