Sunday morning after making, eating, and cleaning up scratch made pancakes Sunday breakfast, I bid adieu to Bill and Susan. I continued on my way westward on US 50. There were 2 road construction projects to drive thru. I heard one time the backup was what it was so just 30 vehicles were going thru at a time. Today I scored the almost no wait drive to Ridgeway to trailhead for the RAT system. RAT is Ridgeway Area Trails, a system volunteers funded and built that the BLM is proposing day use fee. I have ridden here several times. I started from the southern end climbing Big Cheese a purpose built for bikes trail. Hikers are able to hike trail also.

Nicely built trails and trails were signed.  My route was shortened by me accepting the sign stating more fun this way. New trail not on TF for validation. It was a narrow trail playing with grade changes but it shorted out a loop. Pay attention, do the work not the fun. Veg cover is  desert of juniper and sage. The Maze trail descends a gulley that the trail played with, pay attention turns. 6.77 miles climbing 666′. I encountered nary a person or beast during my time out. Sunny warm day, temp in 80s at 7,xxx’, October 6.

From previous visits I knew of a camping spot nearby. The spot was empty. First visit here I parked a short distance away and was snowed on. Tonight was warm early then chilled enough for the heater to heat.

This morning I headed back to Montrose to ride the Rimrocker trails that Susan and Bill recommended. This system is new to me. Trailforks shows a spaghetti of trails. I found the TH out west of Montrose. Warm, sunny but hazy. First trail ridden was Electric Avenue, seems all trails here have an electricity name. Great tight single track with lots of small technical problems, blues, not blacks. Juniper and Pinion pine and sage. My proper seat height allowed increasing difficulty tech features. Balance has become more evident as I can power pedal up things. I like these trails. I will return to ride again and stay.

Today my order of Happy Camper bread was delivered to OTE as ordered. I wanted to eat toast at breakfast more than staying for a second day of riding. Rolled into OTE like I never left.  Four loaf order, I can store just 3, I gave 4th to shop guy.

So, now in western CO.

I slept at that elevation just below Monarch Pass. Earlier I rode on the S hill above Salida. I summited Rainer 6 times at 14,410′ but never slept that high. My O2 saturation  remained at 98%. Whatever sleep disturbance I didn’t feel might have been elevation.

Earlier that day, Thursday laundry day, I rode a classic loop around Salida S hill. This was the first ride on lowered saddle height. Right away I experienced more pedal power and prowess from legs in their power zone. Back in my dirt bike days the solution to everything was “gas it!” I found I was able to apply pedal power to better obstacles impeding forward progress. Unfortunately the piston rings are worn meaning diminished power. I still need another measurement to dial in precise height. Rocky trails requiring finesse. I walked what stumped me.

I committed another navigation blunder that I chose to punish myself by correcting my route. I arrived at a marked trail intersection with a trail from the uphill then continuing down and the other traversing the mountain side. A group of young kids blew into the intersection and stopped. I waited for them to go on and I followed. Duh. It was a black downhill, some features I walked. I discovered that this trail did just that: downhill and I was at bottom.  From there it was a short pedal to the end but too soon to quit. I sought restitution for my error by pushing me and my bike back uphill to rejoin the trail I needed to be on.  Trails are technically challenging. 10.7 miles, climbing 1037′.

Back in town which had become quite busy lunchtime crowd. Visited Absolute Bikes, same name used by same brothers owning this location and Sedona and Flag. Google revealed they are a Revel dealer. I added a pair of their socks to my collection.

The local laundromat cleaned my clothes. For me a sad note that I have been separated from my old Turner jersey that David gave to me. This loss happened several wash days prior. I have searched my finite living space to no avail.

Plan was to drive up to Monarch Pass for the night. Mark showed me the old highway, now  dirt, with a gap between the contour lines indicating a small flat spot. I planned on checking it out for suitability. I drove away and upwards with trepidation for van’s performance. I worry about its health when I am behind the wheel. I spotted a backpacker thumbing a ride. I pulled over and invited the CDT thru hiker to his ride to the pass. He was Japanese with little English and I had none of his tongue. Van pulled the pass better than a VW vanagon. Dropped him off at pass then returned to the old pass road. Yes, a small flat spot presented itself. I slept right under  high tension lines.

Going west in the afternoon put the sun in my eyes obstructing the fall colors of aspen golds. Friday morn I headed west to Gunnison dropping elevation. I don’t recall the amount of golden aspens. Wheeled into Gunnison. Downton parking was full. I found a spot in front of the courthouse. I made 2 trips to Tomichi Cycles owned by Bill and Susan. The first was before shop opening at 10. Second trip I walked thru the shop back door and was warmly greeted by Susan. We visited. I enlisted her help to measure my seat high. I needed a straight edge over my hips to assure that seat height was not causing my hips to rock. I made now a proper height. The morning was chilly as was the forecast if 77 degrees is cooling in this extended days of summer highs. I picked the College hills right at town’s edge. Open sage hills. This time I was determined not to add another navigation blunder. I remained found. Ride was uphill then down. A long uphill piece was on Ridgeline, a loose 2 track. I stopped for a blow at bottom of last steep pitch. A rider joined me. He said he had seen my van around somewhere in the country. He owns a shop in ST Louis and we had ridden in many of same places. He is familiar with Switchgrass Flats in Kansas. He dropped me worse than a bad habit climbing. Descent was single track with twists through sage brush. Area is seasonally closed to protect Prairie chickens.

I was parked on the street across from the courthouse. I heard a vehicle u turn then parked nearby. A guy got out and greeted me. He had watched the Freehub film so he wanted to share his thoughts. He said he is going to follow my example in several years. He introduced himself as a county commissioner seeking reelection.

Afterwards I drove to Bill and Susan’s house. I was reacquainted to their 2 sons last seen was several years ago. Kids grow up. Susan fixed delicious dinner shared with their family at a sit down table. The boys left for their adventures allowing us adults to visit around a backyard fire. Fire died down as did our energies. We parted to our respective abodes.

Today I passed on riding for a rest day after 4 straight days of riding. Bill gave me a hike idea that I accepted driving out and into Hartman Rocks rec area. Trail hiked was Bambi’s that I think Susan lead me on way years ago. What was I doing on it back then I don’t know as I viewed it thru today’s lens that I would not even attempt riding it. Sunshine warm enough for shirtless hiking. Aspen leaves don’t hang long after they turn and with a breeze leaves drop. I’m late to the change.

My plan is arrive at Fruita on Mon / Tues.  Tomorrow continue west then drop down to ride the RAT, Ridgeway Area Trails, spend the night then Mon drive to Montrose and ride a new system B&S speak highly of. ( sentence ended with a preposition).

Just beautiful fall weather.

The Scraggly ride left me beat into the evening, sleep was not deep. I spent Monday recuperating at same spot. So nice being out in a forest. My recently resoled Bedrock sandals wore sticky bottom that I tested on various granite slabs nearby. This material far better grippy that original on my other pair.

Tues morn I drove down to Colorado Springs. I was back out there, many mountainous miles dropping down. Destination was a repair shop who said they had the proper transmission dip stick and would measure fluid level. Google adventure directed me to their parking lot. Guy came out with the measuring tool which he snaked down the filler neck. Except it would not pass thru an restriction sim to shop at Cheyenne. Bummer, still no info.  I drove away following google to a Safeway that google shared. Long drive to get to. Water machine broken but no notice of not working. I bought a gallon of preferred bottled water, now $2.39, was up from $1.09. Who responsible for price increase?

My travel plan is to go south past Colorado Springs then go west on US 50. I pick a trail system at Cheyenne Mtn SP right off l-25. I rode here once before. I chose a route from TF. Started on wide smooth trail only narrowing and become more challenging further up. Server not allowing upload. Nice fall day, ran into 2 riders. Rode a loop. Not desirable to ride here again, no repeat.

I steered the van south to US 50 W. Canon City was on way. I needed a book. Google found Cheryl’s book nook selling used books right on Main st. Scored open street parking right at her front door. Whew: stacks of previously read paperbacks not arranged. No way am I going to systematically locate a book. I spied Red Dragon in which Hannibal Lector will be introduced. I will learn what attracts a certain politician.

TF shows many trail systems locally. I had ridden 2 of them, neither did I want to repeat if other choices. I picked the Royal Gorge system outside of town built on Canon City property. A campground was common to the trail system. $20 for night in deserted campground. Heater ran during the night. I dressed in bike clothes as I would ride from van. I selected a route from TF. Years ago I learned the city government realized value of building trails on their property, this system was a recipient. Single track, much machine built not overbearing. Excellent system. I rode for an hour completing the route leaving more miles unridden. Well worth repeating adding more.

Dream Weaver was downhill all the way, grade pleasant enough to pedal up. Crossed road onto Made in the Shade that surrendered more gravity loss. I’m telling myself that there will be a heavy penalty pedaling back up. I pedaled climbing stopping for panting. high point was 6855′.

Next was driving to Salida hoping to visit with Mark and Brenda whom we shared teaching cross country skiing at Snoqualmie back in the 80s. Mark set this blog up.  They were home, we walked downtown for dinner sitting on outside patio right on the bank of season affected white water Arkansas river.

City camping on their curb.

I scored a dermatologist appointment in Grand Junction for next Tues. I will ride, drive, camp along US 50.  I figure October in CO. Still in 80s for start of October.