I rode trails outside Ashland this noon for the final of 48 states. I did not set out to complete the tour in less than a year. I just never learned to hang any place for much time. I like the weather and terrain of the Northwest where a rider can ride almost anywhere anytime. We don’t get the severe t-storms, tornadoes, ice storms, mud slop, and what ever. I have ridden a wide variety of trails over the country, I have been chased, dumped on, slopped on, avoided tornadoes, ducked hail, & bitten horribly by cedar gnats. Give me the Cascades and Panhandle of ID. And I’ll take the season off to ski (undecided). Nah, Sedona, AZ, I could become a better rider there.

Mariners getting trail stunk up. Great XM radio and Niehaus & Rizz.

Pleasant night on shoulder of Mt Shasta. Researched Mount Shasta on internet and found no local trail description and that was good enough for me to get back on I-5 North bound for Ashland, Oregon. Stopped @ bike shop to score a map and local ride info. I picked downhill trail system right out side of town. Big logging steep climb out, 2100′ and then beat up steep trails downhill on decomposed granite. Sunday there was a downhill race on the trails which just rutted them out. Dark shade under conifers w/ splashes of sunlight. Been there rode them, never again.

Going to ride another day here off Dead Indian road just near PCT junction w/ rt 140, where I picked the trail back up again back in 1978 on my way to Canada. Then on to North Fork Umpqua River near Toketee where I worked the summers of 1969 & 70.

Downieville update:

I rode the N Yuba trail all the way into town over the not completed 7 mile section from Goodyears Bar to town. Tough trail, pretty narrow bench cut on steep hill side. Climbed way up to avoid private property & then connect to old mining trail and road down. Trail builders are using some very narrow tracked piece of equipment, never saw the machine. Hot day, tough trail beat me, 17 miles of ST. Hung @ Downieville Outfitters ( Greg’s place) resting and then rode the highway back down canyon into an up canyon headwind; just couldn’t buy a break. Poison oak outstretches the trail. No idea how much contact I had w/ leaves.

Took very quick oh my gosh this h2o is too cold for me in the river @ TH. Followed it up w/ a too hot solar shower in parking lot.

Drove back to camp spot on Cal-Ida road & mosquitoes in the evening. Mornings are chilly upper 30s.

I conversed w/ a gold miner @ TH before starting out. Interesting guy. He is dredging in the river on his gold claim. He showed me a nugget he “mined”, about the size of my little finger tip. Topping that off was a huge nugget he wore around his neck. Gold is heavy.

Thurs. I drove into Downieville to do my wash & call, in the small cell phone location window, my dad to wish him happy birthday. Today I plan on a more gentle ride @ Bullards Bar down river. My navigation execution from trail maps is exciting in that 1 or the other is slightly incompetent. Missed a trail junction and rode down the boat launch parking lot. I sensed a rig pacing me. I looked back & it was a law enforcement ranger. He asked if i was lost. No, the map was. Anyway we chatted about riding and where the trail went. He works on maintaining the trails. After I rode away the thought occurred that I wanted to ride w/ him and listen to his perspective as a law enforcer. i missed the opportunity. The trail is a classic lakeshore in, out, up, & down the drainages flowing down steep mountainside. More poison oak.

I have been riding in poison oak since Sunday and have yet to break out. I do not know if I am no longer sensitive or I have not rubbed plant juices on my skin. Last night in bed I rubbed my leg and felt what might have been blisters. Later in the morning I found the spot again and it appears that it is poison oak irritation.

Spent night again up on Cal Ida.

Friday I punished myself w/ Yuba River to Goodyears and up Halls & Fiddle Ridge. Ball bust 17 miles but 3904′ vert climbed. At the Halls Ranch TH on the highway I saw 2 rigs w/ bike racks. Hmm, wondered if others were ahead of me. Trail climbs steeply & switchbacks up onto ridge. Towards the top several switchbacks short I heard voices. Caught them on last switchback. I rode by last rider. He was impressed w/ my effort. I passed his 3 buddies @ top and rode on. Fiddle ridge has numerous short steep little steep climbs as it works its way back down to river. I was spent and walked several of them. I did ride better this time than last time back in ’07.

Back @ TH I enjoyed a beer and a comfortable solar shower. No dip in the river as the swimming hole was populated w/ several families w/ screaming kids.

Sometime later the 4 riders from earlier rode into TH. I cheered them on and they asked about the Yuba trail was like. They were dragging. They are from Israel living in the states now. I learned that yesterday they tried Hole in The Ground. They lasted 7 hours pushing thru snow. They asked a non local bike shop about conditions and he said the trail was snow free. The guy was misinformed.

I drove back into Downieville & caught Greg before he headed out w/ last shuttle of day. he booked 90 riders and was all smiles. I enjoyed the tail end of the history days and took pictures. I asked Greg about other rides and he suggested Lakes Region on way into Graeagle. This area was written in Bike Mag, so cool, I’ll try it.

I discovered my model:

Highway climbs up river canyon thru Sierra City & finally out of canyon and then North up higher before dropping down to Gold Lake. I chose a logging road off to east searching for a flat spot for the night. I found a spot that looked out @ Sierra Buttes.

Sunday AM my digestive system was acting up, possible GERD. I drove to suggested TH and decided to do a short hike into the basin as a rest day. Beautiful day, incredible mountain scenery.

I found a logging road off main highway for camp on an old logging landing on a bed of bark. Unit had been skidder logged taking large trees in range of big 30s diameter.

ANd this AM I woke peacefully to a chilly morning. At times I am colder in bed than when i am standing in my shorts. Go figure.

Today i will hit Redding. I found a Radio Shack and bought a new charger. Previously I called the customer service number for warranty replacement. I did not receive a call back as I expected so I bought the replacement for $140. Son of a gun, after lunch I received a call from an iGo engineer and he authorized replacement. Way cool. Now the shipment needs to catch up w/ me and i will return it to Radio Shack for credit.

I decided that my gut problem is related to GERD. I saw a doctor in Ruston, LA who prescribed one of the proton inhibitors and my pain went away. I called his office and he prescribed the same drug and faxed it to the Rite Aid pharmacy I chose. My insurance doesn’t cover that med. I called back & he corrected the script for nexeum. Darn, have to get acid under control again.

Checked a bike shop out to learn of rides in area. Whiskeytown is the place. I asked about other places going North for rides and he said Mount Shasta City. I drove out to Whiskeytown TH and saw the $5.00 entry fee. Temp was high 80s and I really didn’t want to ride anyway. So I got back on I-5 and headed North to Mount Shasta City to 5th Season shop which sells bikes as a side line. Only a downhill trail to out & back on was what they knew. Internet search yielded nothing at all. Funky small town @ base of 14,100′ snow field covered peak. Pretty impressive. Drove road up aways on it’s South flank for camp tonight.

And that is where I am now, just  a short distance from Ashland, Oregon, my next stop in my last state to ride in. Back in 1978 on my PCT hike I rejoined the trail outside of Ashland where I was feasted upon by mosquitoes.

Bought fresh strawberries @ a roadside stand. I really like fresh local berries.

Quick note: Back in internet access, however, the battery cahrger for the computer died leaving battery power only.  Tomorrow I will hit Redding, CA for ride info and a Radio Shack.

Great riding in Downieville.

More later.