And on the ground. I am in Crystal ski area’s parking lot for screaming internet access and gently falling rain on the roof. Reminds me of my 1978 PCT hike thru here.
Yesterday I rode from Ranger Creek airstrip where I camped to Huckleberry road #73 for Suntop lookout. I rode Skookum Flats which is a lot tamer than I remember from first & last time I rode it. Fun ride on present bike setup being able to sit up more upright and greater ease to loft front wheel. Still rooty. Started misting part way thru and then morphed into a gentle mist. Clouds were down which would obscure signature view from Suntop. Revised ride plan to stay down and ride the trails on far side of road. I turned down mtn thinking the Palisade trail was that way; the needed map was in the van. I rode back a FS road that parallels hwy 410 and saw all these interesting cabins. Talked w/ one owner whose place reminded me of perhaps Hansel & Gretel’s wicked witch house. He built it 40 years ago. Learned that I should have turned up river. Passed a woman meter reader doing the electronic sit in the cab meter reading. She was reading an article in Nat Geo Adventure mag: what to do when lost in the woods.
Found the trail entrance off hwy & rode rooty trail back to it’s exit @ Buck Creek. Too cold for an outside shower so I drove back down to Greenwater for $0.25 for 5 min hot shower. Checked out Wappiti Woolens where they marveled at my faded pink flamingo hat and reattached the wooden bead that holds the tie downs as a cinch. I always feared my had would fly off during a telemark figure 11 move.
No internet or weather radio reception. Previous forecast was for wet. Drove to secluded campsite off Suntop road but XM radio reception was broken up and I wanted to listen to the Mariners game broadcast by Niehaus and Riz. Listening to human talk stimulates my social skills, music just pacifies me. Drove back to Ranger and parked on an old concrete pour pad for reception and dead level sleep. Mariners lost in the top of 9th.
This morning rain fell w/ conviction: no riding today. I drove up Crystal rd and found internet connection like I expected. Forecast is for partly cloudy on Friday and the quandary as to life plans. The views from Suntop and Palisades are first rate. I suspect the roots have to be slippery when wet. I can hang here and see what Friday unveils or move on to the dry side of the Cascades and ride tomorrow for sure. I am soo stressed from not having a schedule forced on me and I lack the desire to create one for myself. My life is basically find a ride, ride it, buy groceries, and camp, and to it again the next day. Its not like people are derailing my simple life choices.
