|
17/7/2011 Pleasant Creek Camp ground all day. Heat wave conditions 96℉, humid
ZERO KM’s
The sun woke me early, my camp was exposed to the first and likely most rays after that. I decided to relocate to a shady spot, one was found some 100m from the present site, it took 20 mins to move.
Having some breakfast I needed to go to town to get supplies. I had now decided to stay 2 days, this place felt good. I needed rest.
My neighboring campers were approached to see if they were going to town, no they replied, minutes later the woman, a slim attractive girl about 40 something came over and said her husband needed durries, ah!, that first morning smoke, I know it well. They were happy that I join them to town. I stocked up on fruit, salmon and broccoli.
Never before have I had a pop drink first up in the morn but did today.(the proverbial dew) Yesterday was still impacting on me. Having got what I needed we headed back. These people were from Chicago, they had their daughter with them who was due to start business studies at college. We got on well, back at camp I joined them for an early morning swarnarama. It went down well. I then did some washing, the only water here was a hand operated well, good cold water I might add. I washed all dirties.
It was so relaxing just pottering, I went over the whole bike and found that one of the rear brake pads was just touching the rim at a certain point, the rear wheel had an ever so slight buckle. This though minor would have had some impact on yesterdays ride and those prior.
Another issue was the Ortlieb panniers had small inserts in the hooks that attached them to the racks, these kept falling out. I had tried taping them in but the tape just vulcanised. I have now used small cable ties to secure these. Tuesdays ride will result in the effectiveness of the potential elimination of this annoying problem.
The rest of the day was spent swimming, reading and sleeping. I Also tossed a couple of other unused items. i.e. hair gel, what was I thinking?
The Lithuanian family were packing to head home, during the morning they had been saying how much they would love to go to Oz and NZ.
I meandered over having found a stray Oz $2 coin in my bar bag, I didn’t need to carry this. Giving it to them, I said here is an incentive to get to OZ, their daughter came up to me and gave me a 2 litas coin from Lithuania, saying some day you may visit our country. Moments like these continue to define this special part of the US.
Today I recieved an email from Butch whom I spent time with at Pikes Peak wishing me well and if there was anything I needed just call. "Special stuff” understates these brief but ever so enjoyable interactions with the people met so far. Many descriptions come to mind but those at the fore are, kindness, generosity, good humour and good company.
I thought that slotting in a bit of handy stuff might be appropraite about now as the last month has tested a few items and rendered a few to be of no use.
The list so far
1. The two strand twisted stretch clothesline is invaluable, no peg laundry tecnology at its simplest
2. The ortlieb water basin, though not used till now is brilliant for washing clothes
3. Carry a decent length of small diameter spectra line, it has come in handy for another clothes line and as a tent accessory.
4. Bottles from pharmacies are the best at storing liquids, purchased for a quarter. Eg. Shampoo, cooking oil.
5. Check brake pads to see if they touch rim during 1 revolutoin, a conicle washer allows them to be pivoted accordingly.
6. Front tyre 36.7lbs/sq in ,rear 47.2 for no reason other than they feel right.
7. Rub grease on exposed bar cables to eliminate saline perspiration corrosion
8. The steering dampener is brilliant as it stops the front wheel flopping right angles to the frame when parked. This sometimes can lead to the bike rolling away from the point of rest ,get a good strong spring.
9. Fold aluminium stove shelter sheet at a different place each time after use. Replacement of the original has been required.
10. Obtained MSR bowl to be dedicated for boiling only water. Makes for an unadulterated brew.
11. A leatherman juice S2 orange has been so useful.
12. A silk sleeping bag liner has been my scrot of choice so far except up north .
There have been times when it would be nice to have had company on this trip. At this camp in the evening was one. However feeling that many of the more personal experiences had to date may not have been possible while travelling with another. Though, it is appreciated that experiences travelling as a group would be unique also.
The writing of this journal would be all the more difficult in company, due to its time consumption. Being alone allows me to pen a clear open portrayal of my experiences and thoughts,uninfluenced by prolonged company.
Gregarious by nature, though at this point it is so right for me to be travelling alone during this time. The people that touch me and I them, along the way will always be etched for recall of this journey.
An early meal was consumed, one ingredient was the Minnesota wild rice given to me in Pallisade, it has a memorable flavour worthy of further meals.
I read into the evening, it was still 28 degrees at 2130hrs, sleeping with no gear on while continually wiping sweat off with my towel I got to sleep thinking of other things and a further day of rest.
ZERO KM’s
The sun woke me early, my camp was exposed to the first and likely most rays after that. I decided to relocate to a shady spot, one was found some 100m from the present site, it took 20 mins to move.
Having some breakfast I needed to go to town to get supplies. I had now decided to stay 2 days, this place felt good. I needed rest.
My neighboring campers were approached to see if they were going to town, no they replied, minutes later the woman, a slim attractive girl about 40 something came over and said her husband needed durries, ah!, that first morning smoke, I know it well. They were happy that I join them to town. I stocked up on fruit, salmon and broccoli.
Never before have I had a pop drink first up in the morn but did today.(the proverbial dew) Yesterday was still impacting on me. Having got what I needed we headed back. These people were from Chicago, they had their daughter with them who was due to start business studies at college. We got on well, back at camp I joined them for an early morning swarnarama. It went down well. I then did some washing, the only water here was a hand operated well, good cold water I might add. I washed all dirties.
It was so relaxing just pottering, I went over the whole bike and found that one of the rear brake pads was just touching the rim at a certain point, the rear wheel had an ever so slight buckle. This though minor would have had some impact on yesterdays ride and those prior.
Another issue was the Ortlieb panniers had small inserts in the hooks that attached them to the racks, these kept falling out. I had tried taping them in but the tape just vulcanised. I have now used small cable ties to secure these. Tuesdays ride will result in the effectiveness of the potential elimination of this annoying problem.
The rest of the day was spent swimming, reading and sleeping. I Also tossed a couple of other unused items. i.e. hair gel, what was I thinking?
The Lithuanian family were packing to head home, during the morning they had been saying how much they would love to go to Oz and NZ.
I meandered over having found a stray Oz $2 coin in my bar bag, I didn’t need to carry this. Giving it to them, I said here is an incentive to get to OZ, their daughter came up to me and gave me a 2 litas coin from Lithuania, saying some day you may visit our country. Moments like these continue to define this special part of the US.
Today I recieved an email from Butch whom I spent time with at Pikes Peak wishing me well and if there was anything I needed just call. "Special stuff” understates these brief but ever so enjoyable interactions with the people met so far. Many descriptions come to mind but those at the fore are, kindness, generosity, good humour and good company.
I thought that slotting in a bit of handy stuff might be appropraite about now as the last month has tested a few items and rendered a few to be of no use.
The list so far
1. The two strand twisted stretch clothesline is invaluable, no peg laundry tecnology at its simplest
2. The ortlieb water basin, though not used till now is brilliant for washing clothes
3. Carry a decent length of small diameter spectra line, it has come in handy for another clothes line and as a tent accessory.
4. Bottles from pharmacies are the best at storing liquids, purchased for a quarter. Eg. Shampoo, cooking oil.
5. Check brake pads to see if they touch rim during 1 revolutoin, a conicle washer allows them to be pivoted accordingly.
6. Front tyre 36.7lbs/sq in ,rear 47.2 for no reason other than they feel right.
7. Rub grease on exposed bar cables to eliminate saline perspiration corrosion
8. The steering dampener is brilliant as it stops the front wheel flopping right angles to the frame when parked. This sometimes can lead to the bike rolling away from the point of rest ,get a good strong spring.
9. Fold aluminium stove shelter sheet at a different place each time after use. Replacement of the original has been required.
10. Obtained MSR bowl to be dedicated for boiling only water. Makes for an unadulterated brew.
11. A leatherman juice S2 orange has been so useful.
12. A silk sleeping bag liner has been my scrot of choice so far except up north .
There have been times when it would be nice to have had company on this trip. At this camp in the evening was one. However feeling that many of the more personal experiences had to date may not have been possible while travelling with another. Though, it is appreciated that experiences travelling as a group would be unique also.
The writing of this journal would be all the more difficult in company, due to its time consumption. Being alone allows me to pen a clear open portrayal of my experiences and thoughts,uninfluenced by prolonged company.
Gregarious by nature, though at this point it is so right for me to be travelling alone during this time. The people that touch me and I them, along the way will always be etched for recall of this journey.
An early meal was consumed, one ingredient was the Minnesota wild rice given to me in Pallisade, it has a memorable flavour worthy of further meals.
I read into the evening, it was still 28 degrees at 2130hrs, sleeping with no gear on while continually wiping sweat off with my towel I got to sleep thinking of other things and a further day of rest.