Friday 20, 8:21 PM Bend elevation 4008′ outside thermometer reads 47 degrees. The town hugs the shores of the Deschutes river, a white water river attracts floaters from inner tubes down towards town to large inflatable rafts. Today was a light weight jersey and wind shell for my muscle heat generation. People were on the river? I saw the raft shuttle folks hauling people and empty rafts, I did not get over to the river to count perhaps the blue lips of floaters.

Riding, the trails are dusty. I have been riding down low from Welcome Center area as it is closer to town than higher up. Plus snow long ago melted. The trails are pedalable with manageable elevation changes, never too steep nor technical. I have been nibbling at length of ride. Last Sunday I established the longest ride so far at 1 hr 47 mins. During that ride my left shoulder started sending pain message. Serious concern. Seeking PT which treatment requires a DR referral. I visited an urgent care seeking referral. Tendonitis. PA suggested letting a sports DR across the hall to examine. I scored an appointment several days out because of a cancellation. Xrays were taken and the DR ultra sounded it. This shoulder was surgically repaired back in ’97 and is showing signs of wear which is what is causing my pain. I asked for PT recommendation and he circled several. I called 2 but they did not reply. I tried a 3rd one and scored an appointment for today. The PT is quite knowledgeable about shoulders. Today she gathered performance measurements. She said yes its worn but pieces are still connected and is confident that her treatment will make the shoulder happy over he next 6 weeks and will avoid surgery repair. I went into a funk after the DR’s findings thinking that I would be dropping anchor here for repair and a lengthy recovery. I would need to live outside my van. I was making myself glum. It will now be up to her treatment plan and my execution of it.

Wed was dentist removing  cavities and crowns from 2 teeth. bill is $4,700. In 2 weeks I return for the installation of the permeant porcelain crowns. On the ceiling was a flat screen TV that played a video about the ocean and living organisms that enthralled me.

A bunch of days ago I noticed mice chew holes in food stuffs. I still have not learned their entry point. I set a trap with almond butter bait that failed to attract. I checked out the storage compartment under the fridge where I store my shoes. I pulled out my shearling booties, 1 seemed to have lumps in it as well as chewed shearling. I shook the shoe and 3 blind hairless mice fell out. That’s not good. A ground squirrel ate them after I threw them out. I did not find the mama. I continued to see mouse chew holes while ignoring the baited trap. Yesterday I bought a plastic tub into which I put all the edibles in. I baited a trap with a piece of walnut. This morning I saw a trapped mouse, a female. Again a ground squirrel dined. May I be mouse free. I will leave edibles stored in place.

Last sat I joined the No Kings protest in La Pine. Tomorrow is a protest on public lands sale in the proposed budget.

Typing hurts my right shoulder.

I am still liking the Outlier Pendulum pedals.

Trails down here are in Ponderosa pine forest that much of it has been fuels reduced that lessens the density. The trees prune lower branches as they grow which opens the visibility. Ceanothus, manzanita, and bitter brush make up the shrub cover. Ceanothus is blooming sending their fragrance air borne.

OK. I’m finished.

Good night.

Yesterday noon I rolled into the Deschutes NF outside of Bend. I left Steve’s S of Bellevue b4 8 heading W, early to lessen afternoon heat. Google shows 7 1/2 hr drive that I divided into 4 1/2 drive to BLM land west of Juntura, OR. Van temp read 100 degrees. Full sun, sweat dripped between my pecs. I finished the drive yesterday morn. Just hot for not even summer. I drove out Bachelor highway to FS welcome center where the American flag was not flying indicating service was not available. Fucking administration cutting services and employees’ income. FS is performing prescribed burns in this area which per map closed nearby trails. Trails are blond color bordered by black. I rode easy Ticket to Ride loop for introduction. 7.91 miles climbing 584′ pedaled mostly nonstop for 1 hr 3 mins, average beats per min was 118. Temp in lower 90s. Spent night at same spot I have anchored in the past. Hot night for sleeping, just a sheet for cover, never cold to seek the summer weight down blanket.

Today was my 10 AM dentist appointment. Dentist said the 2 cavities on neighboring teeth now need to be crowned, no more bike parts. All but $5000 out of scrimping savings. Sheesh.

I hung out outside of Hailey out Democrat gulch under full sun. On Sunday friend Steve needed a ride home from airport. I made another ride from Croy TH thru flowering  and fragrant yellow lupine. Full sun, I beat the hot heat. The below is reward for climbing Lamb’s Gulch. I rode this route 2X but not today.

On Sunday’s ride I all but ran over this critter as it was right on trail edge.

3rd rattler avoided in the general area.

Today I shopped at Newport market to greet known staff. So great to be remembered and connected.

Tomorrow is laundry day. Friday my van will be checked out. Sat morn there is a protest No Kings nationwide, La Pine has a gathering as does Bend. I will participate at La Pine to get a feel of community support. Temps are forecast for the 70s. Trails are dusty as is expected of volcanic ash and pumice.

So now back at my second home. Internet signal is 1 bar where I anchor, I am intown for strong signal. Leaving now for forest.

Heat wave, temps into 90s at Moab, short stay. Moving north because my teeth need their 6 month cleaning in Bend, OR and to drive away from the heat. Because I can be where I want to be I put the key in the ignition and  I kept heading north. Fruita was hot, just 1 ride there. Next was Price where the temp in the van read 100. I drove thru Salt Lake mess on Sat being cooked in the 90s. Traffic flowed all the way. The vents and driver’s  window down was my cooling method. Because I live and play outside that’s what the temp is, I am tempered to the heat before I open the slider exit door. One night stay and an early morning ride at Indian Springs near Kimberly, ID. That night the temps dropped to sleeping comfort. I checked Hailey, ID forecasts seeing that comfortable upper 60s, that’s why I am here  at present.

Oh, after the last Moab ride I discovered a broken suspension bolt. OTE in Fruita is a Revel dealer and I was going there anyway. At Fruita I rolled my bike into the OTE service area. A young, 19 yo, wrench greeted me and asked what’s what. I showed him the bolt. He pulled down  a box labeled Revel parts. Score. He backed the broken bolt out and installed the replacement. Good to go. I had mentally planned not having my bike to ride. Change. Next day I rode a short loop out at Kokopeli: Mary’s to Wrangler connector then Wrangler. Riding here is full on exposure sun and wind. Plus climbing. Not really.

Thurs was laundry in ill maintained local laundromat. No info on wash temp, I selected hot subjecting my cold wash only items.

Friday morn I drove to Price, UT up to Luke’s trails. Again, way to hot to ride. I did walk on trails. Juniper tree cover. Spent night at TH. Sat I listened to Wait Wait… while doing bfast and getting ready for my ride. A woman hiker and I met going in opposite directions. Both enjoyed talking, her more so. She is active in local trail building effort.

Before noon I was on the road heading to Kimberly, ID and Indian Springs trails. First was umpteen miles of more than 3 lanes of interstate entering and exiting Salt Lake mass. Hot again. Same cooling system. Long concentrated effort drive. Arrived Indian Springs, I saw 100 degrees late afternnon where I spent the night.

Sunday morning breakfast was scratch pancakes and a second cup of coffee in preparation of my ride. Area is on a mountain side so trails climb then another takes you down. I like riding here… except for the cows. My route was up Dry Gulch with running water up the ways. Trail climbs. A gulch is a narrow defile with steep sides. Cows were grazing and dropping results most objectionable what I has to ride over. I followed maybe 10 cows and calves that couldn’t climb out and only went as fast as the lead cow. I rode the tail end of the last one but dropped back as I saw manure heading my way. Wild roses were scenting the air mixing with fresh manure.

Next up was drive up to Hailey in the Wood River Valley.  Pleasant temps. Made Mon a rest day and task accomplishments.

Today I rode from van parked at entrance to Lambs Gulch just outside Hailey. This gulch is wide. Yesterday I walked a piece of what I would ride. Yellow lupine scenting the air and past bloom arrowleaf balsam root. I saw a salsify plant which is a nonedible plant. Once it gets started it takes over. I pulled the patch thinking that was all. Unfortunately the landscape was thick with it. This morning when I rode thru another plant of yellow  bloom colored the land. At some sun position the blossom closes sheathed in green. Yesterday they were closed today just yellow.

I continue to wrestle with ability versus desire. I believe my body has conditioning for 2 hour pedals. I know that gasping breathing will happen, effort, discomfort. What went up has to come back down, reward for humping up. Today I learned performance. At some time point I will say uncle. Anyway babbling. When I wake up at 6 AM alarm I remain under the covers while listening to my body, mostly internal functions. This lasts about 30 mins. I don’t feel well enough to sleep and I don’t want to get vertical. I do and my systems seem to settle in.  My ride does not seem to make me feel worse.

So, the green living plants is such a change from desert environs.  Water.

There are no thorns.

I rode this same loop back in Sept, today’s ride time was identical 1 hr 24 mins covering 9.86 miles climbing 1224′. My heart rate was lower for same time.

Much of the above was burned. I rode here before the burn. I rode Lamb’s just after it was opened after the burn, blue sky but black on the ground. Over the years i watched the regrowth. Sage has emerged and not from the burnt stump.

Bed time.