Might there be another forecast? ( I spent 10 summers in S Puget Sound and know that the sun  does shine and sometimes for way to many days).

Slept alongside ranger Creek Airstrip just down from Cayuse Pass. No airplanes but lots of heavy camper use but wally weekenders were back home messing their own nests.

Last night I studied the Nat Geo topo map and figured I could ride either Suntop or maybe Ranger Creek w/o a map or guide. I was not eager to pedal the 2,000 to 4,000′ feet for either ride so I headed into civilization, first Greenwater and then finally to Tacoma mall looking for Zilly’s guide book. I drove down rt 410 and viewed clear cuts on mtn sides and right on the road. temperate rain forest produces so much vegetation and big growth but it is an asset and is only of value when it is sawed up. I drove these roads and places when I lived here back in the 80’s yet my memory was holey when navigating. I will say this that there are way too many people for me.

Hanging out in Safeway parking lot in Enumclaw w/ screaming internet. Forecast has rain for next several days. Riding Suntop is special because Rainier is almost close to touch. If lost in clouds the ride is just like any other w/ a long steep logging road climb and a forest trail descent. I called Ranger Creek and Pallisades collectively Corral Pass. I rode Palisades back during Boeing strike when TCS laid me off a second time. Again, a ride w/ a view enhanced by some serious exposure as Rick Vance stated.

Ken Kesey’s real Further picture: http://www.born-today.com/btpix/kesey_ken.jpg

My picture w/ newer version driven by one of his sons:

Off to other chores b4 heading back into woods.

Wapati wollens in Enumclaw made my famous flamingo hat.

My 60th b-day is 9/9/09 and my addled brain is considering ways to celebrate. sAnyone want to join me in central WA?

pedal on.

Grace races the Leadville 100 on Sat w/ what’s his face Lance somebody. Smoke him, girl.

Whew, just over a year out of state. Presently parked at Randle for internet before heading over cayuse Pass to Greenwater area.

Rode Lewis River on Fri, what fun to be back in the wet as in creek crossings, the trail was mostly dry but Spot is a bit caked. This trail ain’t flat: ride upstream gained 1958′ and returning same route it gained 1557 going downstream.

Sat I drove to Ape Canyon @  ST Helens, Clouds formed a cover over upper mtn. Decided to wait a day in hopes of clear skies. Hiked up same trail I will ride. Found blue and huckleberries, picked enough for Sun bfast.

Sunday Am the clouds were about the same. I put on knee warmers and longunder wear top and carried rain coat for my ride. Rode in forest into a brief shower, seems to only have benn like a elevation trail shower as once I climbed some more I broke out of wet. Made Plains of Abraham w/ clouds on upper mtn. Riding in volcanic debris of pumice is debilitating: a slight grade is a challenge because of energy sapping pumice. Stopped short of steep steps and turned for beer. Encountered maybe 20 riders and 4 hikers; heavy bike use. I rode against the flow on my way down.

Hot Shower @ van.

Drove back up road to bridge crossing a glacial melt stream and filled a jar of h2o to watch colloidal suspension settle. I need to research the chemisrty of the solution.

Met a Turner rider, John, who is on a big bike tour. We rode some of the same places.

And then the windy, up & down drive over h2o beat pavement to Randle.

Next is Greenwater.

Dinner time, got to do some driving & loose internet.

Sometime during the night I was awakened to sounds of rain drops on van roof. Turn to to put cover on bikes. Just a few drops but I responded to the stimulus like a dog for a bone.

Lee and I took off for downtown business and a meeting for Post canyon.

I stopped @ Mtn View to pick up my heart rate monitor and to have my rear rotor mic’d as I noticed more brake lever travel after Dog River downhill. It measured below minimum thickness and the Avid replacement is just a tag thicker. Brake lever is more to my liking and the brake is more powerful.

Lee arrived and after talking w/ Wes, the owner, for awhile we drove just out of town for the Canyon ride. It is a wooded canyon w/ old trails all over, sprinkled in were various stunts like flattened log skinnies. Out back there are some killer gap jumps. I rode several of the skinnies but this riding I rebel against as it is man made vs what is found in nature. True, riding them helps skills for what nature presents but no, I do not practice on these. Mostly the riding is a big trail system w/ steep downhills sometimes there were less steep ways to avoid the fall line trails. The soil packs out smooth perhaps because of the sheer number of bike tires rolling over the ground. The uphills were ridable w/ big effort. The wind whistled thru the trees swaying broken parts on the forest floor. One section the wind was blowing the dust right off the packed tread and Lee was cutting first tracks like an old etch a sketch. The wind was pretty gusty not like the constant 33 mph winds of Kansas. Riding in the trees during high winds might require more than just a helmet for the head.

Short ride.

Back into town picked up mail @ Post Office, the service projects to loose $7 bill this year. Did wash, grocery shopped and then drove out to Lee’s house for driveway camping.

No word from Dave Waag. Might be heading to WA tomorrow as a result.