Fall has sneaked up on us once again. One day I'm riding in shorts and shirt sleeves and the next I'm packing my rain jacket.

Hubbard Gulch is just a little hill by the standards of those who ride to Joseph and back. Slightly more than 3 miles doesn't compare with 11 on Rattlesnake or Bufford. Yet, I saw 4 and 5 mph on my computer today. Neither Joseph ride grade pushed me that hard.

You cross Cherry Lane bridge and ride a couple of miles east to the fish hatchery before turning and riding essentially straight up the draw. There are no switch backs. The first bit by the hatchery is steep enough to make you think about backing off but it is short. I settled in for 5 or 6 mph pace for a mile before the nasty bit begins.

In granny-granny I kept looking ahead to see the road seeming level off or corner into a flat only see that flat turn into another climb another bend. I was taling to myself. I knew the top was easier--almost like Rattlesnake. I couldn't wait.

Steve wanted me to put this route on my favorite's list but I told him I had a hard time doing that considering how few of us ever ride it. I remember now why.

I put on my "I survived Joseph shirt" and my vest and leg warmers at the house. At 9 at the boat launch, however, the sun shone and I pulled off the leg warmers. The vest had to stay on 'cause its pocket held my rain jacket and long fingered glvoes. I like wearing the vest but it has one problem. No sleeves to tie around your waist.

The weatherman mislead me into thinking I'd get wet. 50% chance of rain? I threw in an extra pair of dry socks as well as the rain jacket and got to carry them all for a 100 miles. I'd have been fine without even a jacket.

Instead of rain, I got wind. The mild east wind hadn't bothered me but when I turn toward highway 12 on Gifford Reubens road, it was more than a light breeze. It gave me something of a tail wind on the bike path to Kendrick and a headwind back toward Julietta.

I settled into a spin forcing myself to concentrate on the spin rather than the speed. Even when gusts of wind pelted me, I kept the spin just slowing a bit. Surprisingly I had a lot of tailwind back to Arrow Bridge.

The wind slowed me down and I didn't even consider Lindsay Creek as a way to bump up my mileage. Insead I sought the protection of the Clarkston Green Belt trail out to Asotin and up Asotin Creek a ways. The sun had shone all day but was brighter and warmer back in Clarkston than it had been in Kendrick.

And me with extra socks!