I decided top hit the mountains before the weekend crush of visitors clogged up the mountainside campgrounds and town. It was decidedly quiet, and the weather was delightful. I parked in my usual spot where nobody else does, right across from the campground where I use their bathroom before I head out on the trail. The campground was only sparsely occupied on the pre-holiday Thursday, and I didn't see any other trail riders while I was out on the route, though I did come across several 4X4s. The older I get, the less enthusiasm I have for riding by myself. Partly my own fault for carrying more and more gear and tools with me each time I go out. Got my satphone, Spot, jumper pack for my modern no-kickstart KTM...er I mean Husqvarna....and enough tools to tear practically my whole bike apart on the trail. Sigh...I remember the good old days, when all I carried was a sparkplug and wrench, and one of those canteens that strapped to the crossbar of the handle bars. Now I have snackies, and cameras, Gopro, first aid kit. Oof....I practically fall over before I get on my bike! On the rare occasion that I decide to fish one of the creeks, then I have tackle as well. Anyway, you get the picture.
So I took off from the staging area and headed for the road to Onyx Peak, because the campground host told me the gate was open. It has been closed since a big forest fire back in 2013 or so, and I have been waiting to be able to get back to the top. It hadn't been open the last time I was up there, but some of trails still weren't open from winter closures then. Sadly, the gate was still closed, even though there were car tire tracks that trampled the brush and went around it. I wasn't going to do the same, and headed for a rocky long downhill trail that would intersect with the loop I wanted to ride.
I guess lonesomeness and boredom set in, and I became sort of impatient for the ride to be over with, but I still managed to put in a solid 70 miles during the course of the day, and all without mishap. I was pretty sore and tired as I pulled back in to where my Jeep was parked....and appalled to find a giant 5th wheeler complete with pullouts and a canopy, parked just down the road about 50 feet from my spot. Never seen that before, but I am guessing that they didn't feel like pulling in across the way and paying campground fees...so well...there ya go.
Driving home, I managed to catch the end of the rush hour traffic jam, so the going was slow. I need to get back in shape, but not sure if I can or not. I sat idle too long during the pandemic lockdown, and at my age, I just don't bounce right back from anything (plus I gained about ten pounds)....so I have my work cut out for me, and work it seems to be.
The best part of the ride was that tired and peaceful feeling that I get afterwards, coupled with a few aches and pains. This lets me know that I will be sleeping well later in the evening.
So I took off from the staging area and headed for the road to Onyx Peak, because the campground host told me the gate was open. It has been closed since a big forest fire back in 2013 or so, and I have been waiting to be able to get back to the top. It hadn't been open the last time I was up there, but some of trails still weren't open from winter closures then. Sadly, the gate was still closed, even though there were car tire tracks that trampled the brush and went around it. I wasn't going to do the same, and headed for a rocky long downhill trail that would intersect with the loop I wanted to ride.
I guess lonesomeness and boredom set in, and I became sort of impatient for the ride to be over with, but I still managed to put in a solid 70 miles during the course of the day, and all without mishap. I was pretty sore and tired as I pulled back in to where my Jeep was parked....and appalled to find a giant 5th wheeler complete with pullouts and a canopy, parked just down the road about 50 feet from my spot. Never seen that before, but I am guessing that they didn't feel like pulling in across the way and paying campground fees...so well...there ya go.
Driving home, I managed to catch the end of the rush hour traffic jam, so the going was slow. I need to get back in shape, but not sure if I can or not. I sat idle too long during the pandemic lockdown, and at my age, I just don't bounce right back from anything (plus I gained about ten pounds)....so I have my work cut out for me, and work it seems to be.
The best part of the ride was that tired and peaceful feeling that I get afterwards, coupled with a few aches and pains. This lets me know that I will be sleeping well later in the evening.
.
Seriously though I bet you can deal with just about any misfortune from mechanical to bodily injury, nothing wrong with that.
