Here and Gone

Yesterday was the completion of 10 years of living on the road. It only meant something for me.

I rode yesterday because it was THE day. I was in a funk….. I have made milestones that became completed goals and there are facts. 10 years, 2011 rides traveling 29239 miles. Funny completion took the wind out of my sails. Someday a new goal will take shape. Helps to have a goal however strong. This goal of making 10 years was the most important. Completed 2000 rides was next, mileage happened because it did. So I humped the ride going up Funner to Wanoga TH turning on Tiddlywinks over to Kiowa Butte traversing to Tylers Traverse which is mostly down like a natural jump track, left on larsen to Funner to junction with Storm King back to the TH. Just after turning onto Tylers traverse this wide low slung beast was making good time towards me. I stopped, it stopped, I reached for my camera, by the time it turned on and focused, this is what was captured:

Badger continued up the trail a short distance out of sight. I pedaled into its sight line then it turned around again going off the trail into the tangled timber. Badger appeared at first appeared to set its sights on confronting me. I9 spokes protect.

Trails are dry and dusty which is just what it is because that is the dirt with no binder. Riding by myself means that who ever is behind eats my dust. I find it amazing of the amount of dust my bike makes. No rain.

Hot and dry. No rain in forecast.

Yesterday my new phone arrived. My replacement Absolute Black chain ring arrived.

Today I took the new phone back to the Verizon store for someone there to transfer my data to new phone. Got same guy. He smoothly moved over everything till it came to the backcountry navigator which has my mapping data for like 2 years. He stuck with it with the help of tech support. I now have a functioning samsung note 8 phone. Learning to use it. went from a 4 to an 8 for free to me.

Yesterday AM I continued my quest for compensation for lost data. Argued with a service rep who said she could credit me $25. Take it or it’s off the table. I appealed asking for management.He came on. He read the notes and listened to me. He said he could offer me $100 credit which was way generous. We waited each other out, he spoke first every time. I refused the offer. End of conversation.

Walked across the street to rv store to pick up the correct side hinge for the freezer door. Will do the replacement tomoorow AM in the cool temp. I need a third hand to attach the bolts.

Drove to Sunnyside to remove and replace the chain ring. Just in case I needed a life line. Which I did as the self extracting bolt needed a cheater with muscle to break it free. It was on Barb tight, she is a wrench at the shop. She tightened my cassette one time reefing hard enough for the veins to stand out on her forehead, hence Barb Tight. She would have approved.

Monday evening was a trail work project with runners clubs.

Tuesday the van received fresh transmission  fluid. What an amazing performance improvement: gone is the Sprinter rumble strip flutter. Shifts smoother. 1XX,XXX miles.

Sunnyside replaced stock I9 bearings, one of which was beyond gritty. I neglected to record when I started riding the I9 wheels. Years ago anyway.

Bend is re-provisioning: pair of tires, new batteries, transmission service, bike work, and choice grocery stores.

A dry lightning storm  Monday evening lit up the sky. No rain hit earth. However, rain fell thru the sun’s rays to create a double rainbow.