Slept @ paid XG. Checked web forecast which called for 70% heavy rains after 1:00 which is also the XG checkout time.

Got underway just b4 9:00 pedaling up Spring creek on logging road and traveled by receraters that don’t understand their rigs kick up dust that I breathe. Missed sketchy turn off road to cross creek and road another 2.5 miles to a road intersection that still had signs. Got out the map to learn where I was. Shit! another blunder. Consoling factor was it was gradual downhill to creek crossing. As I arrived a group of 4 riders where heading up from their shuttle rig. Joined them for the slog up to drop in on Doctor’s Park ST which ends right back @ XG. Dirt bike damage. Upper part was tough w/ loose rock, dropped into the middle section that was less steep and just flowed like a dirt bike trail. Zoom Zoom. All good things end at the steep nasty drop back to XG. I walked a bit of it last night to know what to expect: paver concrete blocks rebarred into the ground on the switchbacks. Pavers can be slippery even when dry w/ sand sized particles sliding over them. Made it down including the 1 wheel sucker.

Drove back up Spring creek and parked @ a wide spot and walked to stream for spit bath.

Headed into Gunnison for groceries, diesel, beer, & ride info on Canyon trail this side of Monarch. At City Market grocery store the skies opened w/o a whimper and dumped. quit for short while, then dump again finally steady light rain. Found street parking right on Main. Walked across street to Tomichi Cycles to hang out waiting out rain and to learn about ride.

Guy started talking about the ride. I said something about driving around the country riding and he said we met on a ride @ Sedona last Jan. he remembered me and ensuing conversations. I had the deer in the headlights look. His name is Bill and his wife’s name is Susan who went to scholl in Harrisonburg, VA that knows Tim & Thomas from SBC. And my afternoon was spent visiting till my throat gave out and time moved on

I learned that Hell’s Angels are having their yearly conflab here outside Gunnison. Me on my pedal bike. Town shuts down.

Have ride invite for Sun on ride I plan  tomorrow if I don’t do it. Got to start early to get off 12,000′ exposude b4 summer lightning hits. Bill invited me for a tour of Hartman Rocks on Monday that will be hard to pass up.

Need to leave town for dinner & sleep spot this side of Monarch Pass.

acid reflux appears to have returned after spicy Philipino meal. On calcium carbonate.

No edit, just a splash and dash to no internet coverage.

Camped last night on Kebler Pass rd where I stayed  lst trip. Had view of peaks to west, lightning moved in and improved the scenery. A bit of rain fell. Nodded of after 9:00. Great night’s sleep. Drug my feet leaving in AM to allow rain to evaporate. Sunny day but chilly, perfect for grind of road climb up to ST for trail 401.

I parked @ lower TH and pedaled up the road. Liking the asthma med as I can power pedal and still have some breathing comfort. passed truck w/ UT plates, guy was gearing up to go. he caught me @ the pass and complimented me on my climbing prowess. He is from ST George & knows OTE in Hurricane.  From pass the ST climbs almost another 1,000′ before dropping traversing the mountain sides. Trail is non tech. What makes it outstanding are the wild flowers and views down stream. Just gorgeous. Rain forecast didn’t happen but biting black flies took up the slack. Had a horse fly bite thru my glove. Flies were so bad @ parking lot that i drove back into town w/o changing clothes.

Shower @ Hostel and life is back on track.

Walked up Main st again and stopped in @ Big Al’s that is a Turner dealer.  Gattis, a wrench id’ed me. he knows Wes from Sycamore Cycles in brevard and wants a Pisgah jersey. Visited awhile. Owner rdies a Spot, gattis is scheming to get one & Loise has one on order. Horray for Turner! Have Formula brake pads.

Gattis gave me a ride idea that is between Gunnison & Monarch Crest. Grace is driving to Kansas City, MO for the night. I meet her different gang Sat at monarch Crest for a ride. These people are not her inner circle gang. This means driving back east for the crest then retracing my path west to UT. Grace is spending about 3 weeks up high conditioning for Leadville.

New ride idea will work. Tomorrow is Doctor park monster road ride for 45 min downhill. Then drive towards Monarch for Fri ride @ White Pine.

Big mountains w/ bare peaks. Still small patches of last winter’s snow. Wild flowers in bloom. Yesterday I lived in the aroma of blooming lupines. Today they were not as smelly noticeable. I saw some Columbine which was the unknown flower I saw @ Winter Park.

Crested Butte is up there, around 9,000′ w/ big mtns around.

Drove over to Taylor River for DR Park ride & stayed in FS XG. Smokey fires.

Crested Butte, CO that is. Yesterday AM visited w/ Mark b4 heading over the Monarch Pass for Crested Butte. Mark, a full stick of gum is just too large to manipulate while riding. 1/3 seems just right.

Made CB. Checked out Alpineer shop for ride ideas. Then walked Main st. Found another bike shop that sells Truners and has a rental fleet. Wow. Woman employee there is getting a DW Spot and she is so stoked.

Drove up Cement creek for primitive sleep spot. Took m1 1.4 miles below the one where I stayed 2 years ago. Road gets beat up and road is bench cut creating few places to get off the road. Wlaked up the road after dinner and found old spot empty. Too late, just added 1.4 mile to climb out.

Today I ride from the van for Reno, Flag, Bear, & Deadman.4 hours, 3500′ in 28 miles. Big road climb up Reno divide road. Then drop into a drainage then climb out of one, then drfop in and climb out again climaxed by 2 mile drop down deadman’s gulch w/ too many switchbacks to remember. All dirt bike trails which are littered w/ grade dips that all seemed to have left over rain h2o that created mud that splashed me & bike. Beautiful day.

Hung solar shower but I deemed it too cold for an outside shower from the breeze, outside temp was in upper 70s and the h2o wasn’t overly hot. Bailed for $5.50 shower @ hostel. Why $0.50?

Forecast is for 40% possible ehavy rains for rest of week.  Plan tonight is to drive out beyond Gothic for sleep spot and position to ride famous 401 trail. Rides here seem to be monster road rides up to drop in on ST back down. $01, 403, & Doctor’s park are like that.

Grace’s gang will be riding Monarch on Sat now, a day earlier. Need to ride above 3 rides b4 leaving CB.

No internet access back in creek bottoms.

Lots of beaver dams on smaller creeks on today’s ride, kind of like holding ponds or terraces on the creek. Locations are determined by stream flow characteristic and closeness to food supply.

I am using the inhaler several times during the day. I used it mid ride today. I can climb. I suspect that I have had asthma all along as the inhaler opens my lungs… or is it just the drugs? The 3 days of steroids were pleasant as I felt good overall.

Gotta go to grab a sleep spot.