"I've had enough of that for today," Dave T. complained rolling his bent bike to a stop at the top of the Cottonwood Creek Climb on Saturday.

He dismounted, then leaned over the bike as though he were about to empty his stomach into the seat. "If that didn't make my head explode, nothing will." Dave had surgery to correct an anorism like clot in his brain over Christmas. But he's back on his bike now and doing tough centuries like Saturday's.

Cold weather kept me from riding the Winchester Century in April. The forecast for Saturday looked as good so I called for my favorite local ride thinking only Dave would join me. Instead we had a crowed. Chris showed up for an 8 am ride--way early for him. And Bill Arnold, who completed his first ever century only a few weeks ago, wrote to say he'd be joining me even though his two weeks in Mexico had kept him off a bike. And Sean, free on a Saturday because of the cancelled Weiser River ride, called to say he'd join us on Tammany and Carol would start over in the Lapwai Valley. Only Jim McCracken couldn't make it being in Spokane.

Carol drove by us on our way to Culdesac and started up the hill before we arrived. She didn't want to hold us up. Sometimes a little hold up is a good thing. Like stopping to take pictures. Sadly my camera quit before I got any good shots. (Amazon, reading my mind, sent me offers for new cameras just this morning. ) So you will have to imagine the lush, soft, green fields on the lower slopes. Higher up, the fields had not yet greened up. Wild flowers were in full display from tiny little blue ones I'd have never seen except that I was kneeling to take a picture of the bright yellows ones. The overcast left the valley looking hazy and gray but now a blue clearing appeared to the north. To the south over Winchester itself the clouds took on a bit more shape and darkness. But with the sun out and sheltered from the wind the day took on an almost summery feel especially after we dropped down Magpie.

Because Carol needed to return to her car and because we've put this route into our new Bite the Bullet Day Tour, we decided not to ride out to highway 12 avoiding that scary 4 miles to Arrow Bridge. Cottonwood Creek is a hidden valley with a small stream, lots of flowering trees, and green green grass. The runs 5 or 6 miles at a 1 to 2 percent grade toward Culdesac before it begins to climb seriously. Most of this is really only 5 or 6 percent but it is quite long and you end up grinding. I saw 10 to 11 percent on my GPS at a couple of points but missed checking as the hill steepens just at the top. Sorry, Dave, I can't tell you how steep that was, but I'm glad you ruled out any attempt at going back over Web Ridge. That would have been a hill too far. My GPS says I did 6685 feet of climbing and 111 total miles yesterday. Looks like returning by Cottonwood creek adds not only time, but distance. May 5 or 6 miles.

So, the Bite the Bullet Day Tour will not be a ride for beginners. But neither is the Huckleberry Ride. Leanne, Dave's wife, has agreed to drive sag for us. That means we'll have access to food and water on the long stretch between Winchester over Reuben-Gifford road back to Lapwai. It doesn't mean you can count on getting a ride up the steep part of Cottonwood Creek. The new route is 68 miles long starting in Lapwai and has a little over 4,000 feet of climbing. It is a demanding ride but almost entirely free of traffic and covering beautiful country. Just be sure you're fit for this one. Put it on your calendar for Sunday, June 29th.

For the Ride of it.--Corrie