The Scraggly ride left me beat into the evening, sleep was not deep. I spent Monday recuperating at same spot. So nice being out in a forest. My recently resoled Bedrock sandals wore sticky bottom that I tested on various granite slabs nearby. This material far better grippy that original on my other pair.

Tues morn I drove down to Colorado Springs. I was back out there, many mountainous miles dropping down. Destination was a repair shop who said they had the proper transmission dip stick and would measure fluid level. Google adventure directed me to their parking lot. Guy came out with the measuring tool which he snaked down the filler neck. Except it would not pass thru an restriction sim to shop at Cheyenne. Bummer, still no info.  I drove away following google to a Safeway that google shared. Long drive to get to. Water machine broken but no notice of not working. I bought a gallon of preferred bottled water, now $2.39, was up from $1.09. Who responsible for price increase?

My travel plan is to go south past Colorado Springs then go west on US 50. I pick a trail system at Cheyenne Mtn SP right off l-25. I rode here once before. I chose a route from TF. Started on wide smooth trail only narrowing and become more challenging further up. Server not allowing upload. Nice fall day, ran into 2 riders. Rode a loop. Not desirable to ride here again, no repeat.

I steered the van south to US 50 W. Canon City was on way. I needed a book. Google found Cheryl’s book nook selling used books right on Main st. Scored open street parking right at her front door. Whew: stacks of previously read paperbacks not arranged. No way am I going to systematically locate a book. I spied Red Dragon in which Hannibal Lector will be introduced. I will learn what attracts a certain politician.

TF shows many trail systems locally. I had ridden 2 of them, neither did I want to repeat if other choices. I picked the Royal Gorge system outside of town built on Canon City property. A campground was common to the trail system. $20 for night in deserted campground. Heater ran during the night. I dressed in bike clothes as I would ride from van. I selected a route from TF. Years ago I learned the city government realized value of building trails on their property, this system was a recipient. Single track, much machine built not overbearing. Excellent system. I rode for an hour completing the route leaving more miles unridden. Well worth repeating adding more.

Dream Weaver was downhill all the way, grade pleasant enough to pedal up. Crossed road onto Made in the Shade that surrendered more gravity loss. I’m telling myself that there will be a heavy penalty pedaling back up. I pedaled climbing stopping for panting. high point was 6855′.

Next was driving to Salida hoping to visit with Mark and Brenda whom we shared teaching cross country skiing at Snoqualmie back in the 80s. Mark set this blog up.  They were home, we walked downtown for dinner sitting on outside patio right on the bank of season affected white water Arkansas river.

City camping on their curb.

I scored a dermatologist appointment in Grand Junction for next Tues. I will ride, drive, camp along US 50.  I figure October in CO. Still in 80s for start of October.

I left Rapid City  with repaired computer and a full tank of diesel. Next stop was Nebraska, Chadron area. Nebraska is rather thin for mountain biking. Chadron was what existed. Windy drive over non interstate roads seeing more while driving and about 60 mph max. Van still sends out sound that the replaced alternator didn’t eliminate. I am still seeking a shop that is able to read the transmission fluid level.

So Nebraska. I made my route go thru the state with intent of another ride in state. I found the Pine Ridge trail on TF outside Chadron SP. Drove up steep narrow road to TH. Hmm…. grassland. Located van in shade of 1 tree, temps in low 90s. I oriented the digital maps then took of to walk some of the trail. Right away numerous cow paths competed with the trail sporadically marked by wooden posts with a short band of paint at the top end. I followed out a ways then became confused with where trail went. Seems I should put my phone on my handlebar to be able to navigate more closely than every now and then removing it from my shorts pocket. Assessment of trail is just cow paths. I spent the night then left in the morning not having ridden in the state. I was tossed as to do I ride here for myself or for boasting to the public. Somewhere here was my only ride in the state back in 2008.

Next up was Cheyenne, WY and Curt Gowdy State Park. At Cheyenne with internet access I google transmission repair shops and laundromat. I called several shops and drove to one, all were not able to snake a dip stick into the transmission. I drove to laundromat that reviewers said was best in town. Google maps led me around to the establishment. It failed to measure up to its reviews. I am wearing clean clothes afterwards. From there I drove out of town passing  Curt Gowdy SP to enter FS land and dispersed camping in assigned spots only. Stutter bump road out then tank traps to an empty spot. 7858′ elevation.

Next morning, Friday, I drove back to Curt Gowdy, paid $12 out of state admission, then drove to main mountain bike TH. This ride will be my 4th visit. I selected a route from TF, the grand CG tour. Area is spotted with numerous weathered granite slabs ad uprights. Decomposed granite tread plus solid. I concentrated keeping my effort below threshold to some success. Trail intersections were all marked. I kept watch on TF. I missed an intersection, my mistake. Again, phone location. Blunder cost me many feet of hoisting my bike up steep steps etc. Corrected blunder via other trails. My effort was suffering. I cut short the tour riding just, I haven’t uploaded the ride.

Mid day foraging and changing from sweated riding clothes. I needed coffee beans. I found a roaster in Cheyenne and let google maps find it. Another head spinning route. I failed to find it at its address. I open the site only to see it was closed anyway. Sheesh. Moving along, I google FT Collins, just coffee beans, selected one then let maps navigate. Down town. Bought beans.

Next destination was cousin Susan and husband Don in Lakewood, CO. Route went down l-25 where I suffered thru several full stop backups. So many vehicles, such long back ups. Made Susan’s driveway as maps sent me. Susan and Don welcomed me in. They fed me and supplied family interaction. I spent the night in their driveway. Next morning I rode with Don to the railroad museum where he volunteered his time. The library hosted the all day event. I immersed myself in railroad history with many steam engines and wooden rail cars, all of what was state of the art back in its days. I visited with an 82 year old man. Don scored ride tickets for seats on rail car pulled by steam engine. A woman ahead of me getting on the car called me by name and said her name, it was Hailey, daughter to friend Tom back in Spokane. She said she recognized me by voice and person. We hadn’t seen each other for many years.  Ride over Don and I returned to his house. This evening a celebration of family birthdays would take place. Susan and I are same age, me being a few days older. They have 2 married daughters who each have 2 kids. Dinner with many fixings. Susan baked an angel food cake and iced it with 7 minute frosting which is a tradition from our shared grandmother. I got to lick the icing bowl clean. My mother, Susan’s aunt, made same cake for all of my families birthdays. I carried tradition forward back when I was living in Spokane by making the same. I learned the icing making.

Spent the night again. In the morning I doubled my scratch pancake recipe ( Sunday breakfast) to share with them. Licked clean plates.

I bid adieu heading to Buffalo to ride. This will be a repeat visit. I scored an open campsite where I stayed my first visit. Again, picked a 12 mile route in TF. I rode the FS stuttered dirt road to start of Little Scrapping loop. Nice single track on decomposed granite and slabs. Starting elevation was 7828′ climbing from there. I passed the filled TH yet shared the trails with maybe 7 people. Aspen are progressing to full population golden leaves. I pedaled with discipline for an hour straight. I took a break but after I resumed climbing my body was not smiling. Work. Reached high point then trail dropped twisting and turning. Decomposed granite is squirrely, berms were firm. Another missed intersection sent me past where I wanted to be but the trail was going down so it was cool. I finally stopped to orient myself. I even put on my corrective glasses to read fine details. I saw I was passed the trail I wanted but retracing back was more uphill than I wanted. I saw by continuing I could catch a trail that would drop me down onto the road I was camped on requiring several miles of slight ups and downs. Once pedaling I learned how beat I was as I needed to walk some of the hills even pedaling in the 28X46 baby gear. Elevation and distance took a toll. 17.2 miles climbing 1909′ taking 2 hrs 43 mins moving uphill, flat, and down. I did it, it was more than I wanted. Better navigation decisions. Recovery time 66 hours.

Spending night out here. Tomorrow heading out of mountains down to Colorado Springs. I figure to find a transmission shop there for fluid check. I am planning on heading west on US 50.

It’s 9:30 at 7828′, side door is open, 64 degrees, September 29. Dry here also. Fires are allowed in established fire rings.

Enough for tonight. Internet not strong enough for pics.

Monday day time:

Friend Steve is recovering from crash that left him with broken collar bone and ribs.

So, catch up for what remembered and interesting.

Computer repair was 1 day past promise date. Flexibility in schedule and destination.

Friday I rode at Sturgis under the interstate to climb Alkali Creek thru numerous poison ivy patches, the leaves of three are bright red. Up then down and around the mountain hide away city reservoirs then up Bulldog to connect for descent of a piece of Centennial trail.

Pretty much typical of tree cover

Back to van then off to Lead, SD to meet sister Lynn and husband Bill.  Late dinner in Deadwood finished off with sleeping in grocery store parking lot in Lead. First in a long time. Sat morn I finished drive to the cabin they had short term rented. Sat and Sun were tourism days for their vacation. Deadwood was a booming gold mining town in its past, Homestake mine. Drove to view Devil’s Tower back near Sundance, WY. My entire lifestyle was sidetracked during our visit. Mon I broke away to drive to Spearfish to ride the trail system on the other side of the interstate.

Tuesday morning was parting company as they continued their vacation and I drove away. Drove Nemo rd to Rapid, that was driving. Picked from many rides around the city trails at Big Bend. 1 lane dirt rd to small parking area at start of Bones Up trail. Some leaves have moved through  the fall process to drop at one end of spectrum, other end still vibrant green. I selected a route which was posted many times. Nice woods trails. Newer trails, some carved by mini ex. There was a long FS jeep road climb back out. 2 hour ride. Was worked. Slept where I started from.

Today, Wed I drove into Rapid City to wait for repair completion. Got the call it was ready. I was shown the damaged parts that were replaced. Paid the bill. Opened the screen hearing a clicking sound. Seems tech does not have a standard sequence. Back up stairs to fix. Good to go.

Out of town down rt 79 4 lane highway buffeted by flag standing straight out head wind. Destination was Chadron, Nebraska. I found a ride S of town, Pine Ridge trail. I was told where the TH was. Arrived at TH. Hot, temp was low 90s all day. I positioned myself under a tree for welcome shade. Too hot to ride. I did go for a hike following trail in TF. At start trail was marked by a round pole every so often. This is grassland forest and range cow grazing. Many cow paths competed with TF. Out and back. I followed the poles till there were no more or I was off the trail. While TF recorded a rider’s data, the on the ground location conflicted. Seems rider rode cow paths. No cows. On my return I missed the climb out trail in confusion of cow paths. Navigation will be a challenge. It was too hot to ride afterwards. Ride would be all cow paths. I rode somewhere near here on my one and only Nebraska ride. Once is enough.

Riding was good in South Dakota.

73 degrees at 9PM.

Tomorrow down to Cheyenne, WY where temps will be in upper 80s, maybe too hot to ride. It’s Sept 25th, way hot for time of year.

I will try another time to load pics.