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.

 

 

Been hither and yon. Short term memory moved some experiences to long term storage, others went to the “huh I don’t remember bucket”

Last post was on 9/11. Selecting experiences and thoughts to record.

First is perhaps the issue of trust and credibility. Van issue. I was in Hood River, a newbie to the auto repair community. I picked a promising transmission repair shop as I thought the shut off was related to new transmission as perhaps a similar problem happen during install. Called the shop, guy said yes they worked on Sprinters and had in depth computer scanner to down load error codes and said stop by which I did. Spanish speaking owner translated by mechanic who had to dig around in the attic for the scanner which he plugged into data port. Result was code related to fuel. They did not record the fault code before erasing error. Problem did not come from transmission, I needed a more inclusive repair shop. I picked the next shop, woman said yes they have plenty of Sprinter knowledge and I could stop by for a consult which I did. I waited my turn while a short rain shower pounded on the roof. Rain. Shop owner performed diagnosis without error code knowledge to guide his problem understanding. He could find nothing not performing and would not charge me for his time. Meanwhile the front office was telling me things that should be serviced as maintenance such as injectors and glow plugs. Trust: I have confidence in Import Performance in Bend that I needed to bounce off her items as Import knows the van. Local shop told me to drive it for my visit to see if problem reoccurred then he would have error codes to work with. OK, drive he said. I drove back uphill to rd 44 trails for the night and a ride the next day. Van pulled the climb etc with no complaint. Whew as I was out of cell coverage and fear of being left sit.

In the mean time I made ride date with local Lee for the next day of rd 44 trails. I waited and waited for his arrival. No show and now electronic message. I took off after waiting 15 mins to ride the 8 mile loop. Climbing up Super Connector the phone picked up his text message sent 10 mins after meet time saying guests over ruled our date. I rode the 8 mile loop.

8 Mile Loop consists of an easier smoother tread which is a speedy descent or a more leisurely climb. The other part is more difficult  either way. I chose the screamer descent then paid the price climbing out. The descent is cool as sight lines are open and the tread is smooth. Zoom down. The climb out goes by a fire lookout that can be rented for overnights stay. Today for the first time of  all my rides there someone was in the lookout. Couple had 2 dogs up there that navigated the steep stairs both up and down that the last pitch is just short of vertical. I pedaled up Connector and Knebal Springs up and down to get to 8 Mile. 13.4 miles climbing 2113′ pedaling for 2 hrs.. average bpm was 125 which is my anaerobic threshold so ride was big effort. Spent night same spot at 4235′ elevation. Primitive as I seek.

That night I decided I needed to meet face to face with Import to discuss items HR shop spoke of. Because the possibility of van shutting off disabling power brake controls during the 5 mile steep descent. I worried myself sleepless of what I would do if failure occurred. Wed morn I headed down slope heading to Bend. Whew, van performed as it is engineered to do. I filled diesel for data check on mileage: 26 mpg. Van is healthy. Made Import for face time. One, the HR suggested items would be dealt with at failure versus possible damaging of said items. Two, instruments are so sensitive that failure was caused by tiniest obstruction and is intermittent, should it happen again it would rise to an issue. Comfort is trusting info. I turned around and headed to WA.

So the above happens to me with whatever issue arises wherever I am. I am new to repair community for most places I go. I need to develop a rapport to discern what’s needed and what benefits the shop.

Thurs early laundry day in Bend then cross the River heading to Devils Gulch outside Cashmere, one of my most favorite trails. late arrival at anchor spot at Blewett Pass.

My travel is determined by air quality from forest fires. Devils Gulch was yellow. Friday morn I drove up Mission Creek to TH. About a noon pedal off. This trail is one of few that I have ridden where the uphill distance is the same as the going down: 11 miles each way, however up took 2 hrs, downhill was just an hour. Trail gradient climbs well, I don’t like out and backs or ups and downs. 22.7 miles climbing 3383′ pedaling for 3 hrs 25 mins, average heart rate was 125 again. I beat myself feeling it the next day enough to nibble at the computer stated recovery time of 72 hrs. I spent the night again at same spot. rain fell as did several loud poundings on the van compliments of someone disturbing a sleeper. Just that 1 banging was fortunately all.

Devils Gulch trail had received enough rain to collect in pools up high, then other places running water used the trail which was sane every time I have ridden the trail. Mud puddle water was stinky leaving its smell on my bike and lower legs. At the TH on Mission Creek I filled my tree sprayer with water and spritzed off the souvenirs. I chose to share this pic for drought riders who have forgotten mud.

I searched for trails to ride around Ellensburg, I found Manastash Ridge trails. I called a local shop inquiring about camping at TH. Was informed not permitted. Sunday AM I retraced route back to Ellensburg to trailhead. Trails are on exposed steep sage brush covered ground full on sun exposure, sun warmth would be appreciated. I picked a Trailforks route for my ride. A rider unknown to me was waiting for me to start. He joined me leading me up Chest Pains trail which is the preferred uphill trail. Namesake climb that my body just sent hard work climb. 40year old leading rider talked while I struggled behind rendering my talking almost nonexistence. Trails are on State wildlife land which does not permit ebikes different from state parks. 19.3 miles climbing 2726′ pedaling for 2hrs 51 mins, heart rate average was 128 beats, 3 beats above threshold, recovery time was again 72 hours. Tread was hard packed and fast. Descending Wildcat, the preferred downhill, was a screamer. Thing about hard pack is dirt offers little braking friction, still a whole lot of smiles. However, numerous alt lines were present with no directing signs, the alt lines were steeper. At the TH, which is wide shoulder, lacked signage, I could have spent the night there.

I finished later than I wanted as I planned on driving state highways to Spokane. Instead I drove 3 hrs of I90 to former neighbors driveway. Back in ’92 I had a log house built across the road from them, 30 years ago. I drove though short rain showers none had fallen on their land. WA I90 speed was 70 for cars and 60 for trucks, the slower truck speed was my choice. van performed for 283,xxx miles and almost 16 years of operation. New transmission is such a joy.

So, I am now around Spokane. I have reached out to old friends for visits. Dunno where I will head to nor when next, again dependent upon air quality.

The Cedar Creek fire east of Oakridge has grown to 113,322  acres is 11% contained, 2,577 personnel working to contain it. Fire has burned over the Cascade crest into the Deschutes NF. It’s a big one that only fall rains will put out.