Thurs the Chiropractor went to work on my hip, when i got off the table i walked almost w/ o pain. Said things got twisted over time. He made a few adjustments and then went after the tight muscles. Made 2 more appointments next week to finish me off.

Rode Beacon messing around.  Down near Boulder Beach I screwed around too much & Stuffed the front wheel and flung myself over the bars. My eyes plotted my trajectory onto the bulge of a rock right into my left rib cage. I fell that way. Big impact on left chest and a splatter on my left forearm. And I was tied up in the clipless pedals. I kicked the bike free and felt for damage. I took a short tentative breath to learn if my chest would rise. It did. I moved my left arm and it raised & turned like it should albeit sorely. I was afraid I might have joined Mars on the injured bench. I rode 2 step challenging hills to test my body. All sore things worked.

I drank a medicinal beer in the Esmeralda parking lot before heading to Mars house. Earlier in the day Rick said something about riding Moscow Mtn on Fri and I wanted to be all over that ride. I fixed a bulghur dish in my kitchen for Rick. He liked it. I did too.

Tom Zysk invited me to dinner and a driveway for Friday night. Rick cruched the time and temperature numbers and said if we leave @ 9:00AM we could ride a 4 hour ride and be back in Spokane @ 5:00. We drove out of the driveway right on a 9:00 schedule. perfect timing and completion of prep & loading tasks.

Moscow Mtn is to the North of Moscow, ID. Jim LaFortune negotiated w/ the timber company land owner to build mtn bike trails. I met Jim when he hosted me back a few years ago. Over the years I rode it several times while never finding the Cave trail. Rick sorted out the old map & the web updates and figured out a ride. Beautiful day, cold, blue skies, fall light. 24 miles, 4110′ 3 hours 35 min of riding time. We booked. Rick is a bit stronger and more technical rider than me but I was never too far behind. This ride was one of my best interms of trail. Much of the trail was in second growth dense cedar / hemlock forests, some places it was pretty dark. I took a few pictures but the flash chased the shadows away. The dark wasn’t quite as dark as the broadleaf forests of the east & midwest. Hard ride.

Made it back to Spokane 16 mins behind schedule.

Stopped @ Rosauers up on South Hill for Waldorf salad fixings. Tom grilled salmon. We goofed & carried on over several glasses of wine. After dinner I visited w/ my skis down in his basement. I told them next year they go back into play.

Dave, aka fafu, all the way from his Everett commute stopped by before he made his home. dave is one of maybe 15 people from old Boeing Spokane that got rehired by Boeing where they work during the week over in the Ouget Sound area and live weekends in Spokane. Future is brighter w/ Boeing than TCS who bought the plant from Boeing.

Sat Am the temp was 22 degree, approximately 20 degrees cold than normal. Slept w/ heater on low and 1 layer of down blanket. Visited w/ Tom awhile after bfast and then I took off for a ride @ Riverside. My hip is bearable. Beautiful day that needed to be ridden in. While I was getting ready @ the TH somebody called my name. i saw Bob & Julie who invited me along on their ride which was trail 25 in the park. I rode a few new sections & rode stuff I hadn’t ridden for maybe 18 years. Out @ 9 Mile there is some tough technical stuff on basalt, some big pieces anchored in the dirt and some softball size blobs that moved around. Bob has a carbon Ibis w/ the DW link rear end. he let me ride it and I headed for some basalt chunks. What I experienced was excitement for a new Turner Spot w/ the DW link. The suspension appeared to “float” over the rocks. Turner will give me $850 for my present Spot towards the new DW. My Boeing stock won’t quite cover the difference. Which piggy bank do I tap into for the new frame?

Spokane river:

Beautiful chilly tights & long fingered glove ride. Beer in the parking lot. A visit w/ Bicycle Butler for a shower. I gave Tim a stickie. He told me of his downhill race last Sunday @ Silver Mtn.

Forecast is for slightly warming temps. Stanley is still cold. I will be here until at least Friday morn. I will leave here before I get snowed in. I had a passing thought to contact 49 degrees ski area to do my trade work for my season ski pass in case I “decide” to spend the winter.

Still here. Tomorrow a chiropractor is working on my hip, last go. PT & strain Counter / strain hasn’t freed me of pain. I can pedal thru it but walking is not as  enjoyable. Perhaps because I would rather ride than walk. If I were on a long distance hike and had this pain I wonder if I would keep hiking?

My rides here w/o Rick and not riding MT C d’A have been easy so to speak. The forecast for Stanley, ID is now for above freezing temps, time to experience their fall.

Monday I hosted Cal & Mel on a Riverside ride. Guy called in sick. Cal captured me post ride:

Tuesday Randy LaBeff squired me around the High Drive trails and on his built trail. High Drive is mostly sand on step side hill above Latah (Indian name, white man name Hangman) creek. A bit of basalt sprinkled in, much of it cast in the dirt which made for great traction on sharp edges. Randy fed me some of his Alaskan caught salmon,let me shower, and stay in his driveway overnight.

Today was a rest day in spite of beautiful weather. Allan from Stylin Designs completed my stickie:

The start of branding JP Nuts

Monday, where did the weekend go? Was there a weekend?

Forgot.

Sat. I rode Beacon later in the morning waiting out rain forecast. Larry’s car was in parking lot, I parked right next to him. I hung in parking lot waiting out a shower hoping for a sucker hole big enough for me to get the Spot off the back and my leg over it before next drop hit. rain quit. No Larry. Rode off after a conversation w/ Dan from the local mtn bike club about their trail work.

Stooped @ BB for a shower and drove out to Mead Yokes parking lot for dinner & internet access. Part way thru fixing dinner Larry called & invited me over to crazy Joe’s for pizza & beer and jollies. Drove back into town & shared evening w/ folks I have skied w/ over the years. Us older people, some w/ kids small & big, still goofing enjoying life.

Drove back to Bill & Jennifer’s for the night.

Sunday is my MT Coeur d’Alene ride w/ Jeff Vogel, the youngest of my buds @ 38. Big strapping guy, excellent skier and great for breaking trail. Very strong. And Larry called to join us. I get to take 2 new guys on this trail network. Cool, being the local guy again. Chilly but beautiful day with high winds up higher on the mtn. The wind blew down several trees across the trail. We cleared up several that we could muscle out of the way. Rode Rick’s enhancements. Picked some past prime Chanterelle mushrooms down in the Hole. And then the 2 mile grind climbing out after enjoying the wonderful downhill single track. Larry rode the troublesome new switchback. Jeff stalled @ a root cluster and I went by. I pushed on w/ a pounding 158 beats per minute heart rate for almost 20 mins. Strong ticker but I think the piston rings are worn. Flew down trail 257. Larry is a beyond excellent skier and I spent my skiing w/ him back in the cut over powder. Today on the bike I ruled. At last I was faster at something. Jeff is riding a full suspension this year parking his old rigid Bridgestone w/ rim brakes.

Drove Jeff back to his house for a previously negotiated shower for driving him. He fed us on top.

Today had a list of things to do: Wash, PT on South Hill @ 1:30, and a ride out @ Seven Mile w/ Mel & Cal @ 4:00 to beat out sunset. Mel bought a full suspension bike after riding for years on a rigid bike. He is getting over shaken hands from the rigid rides.

3.1 gal of propane in 2 weeks makes more sense than previous 1.1 gals in same time.

Bid adieu to Cal & Mel, next year @ the Loppers Ball festival. Oh, Mel Declared me the 2009 Loppers Ball Reposado Award winner.

My hip still hurts. Arch gave me several exercises to do however the van is a bit tight for full range of motion. Just ride w/ the discomfort.

Tomorrow I get my haircut by Renee; she cut my hair the entire 18 years I lived in Spokane.

Getting cold @ night. today it was 30 degrees. Clear nights letting heat escape. Forecast for Stanley area is temps below freezing during the day and snow flurries. I will learn what I can ride there.