Hot, cloudless for most part except during late afternoon attempts to t-storm.

Yesterday I rode 23 miles at Phils working the S side along Cascade highway going to Bachelor. Lots of snow remain on Bachelor. No skis on racks around town so nobody showing their climbing joys. Surprising that the maybe 25 cars @ TH produce so few riders sharing the trail. On Storm King I met a guy on a hard tail w/ a spaniel type dog. I asked him if he knew about the blues festival in Bend. He had no knowledge. I mischose a trail and rode down the whoops again. The trail has tabletops, gappers, big berms, hucks, all w/ a shallow gradient that makes the stunts fun for a cautious person. I’d rather ride the tight twisty shallow grade w/ no stunts trails. Bend lacks almost anything technical on trail tread. What it manifests is the tight twisty between 28″ tree gaps. Places the turns are in loose dirt, many snake thru the manzanita that is just over handle bar height. There are several places where the turns turn back on themselves, whipping around. Up high and far from TH the trails are tighter and less ridden. My new bars are a full 26″ wide. Internet too slow to post pictures.

Something about this big picture that I can’t make smaller.

Finished ride @ van and took a very hot solar shower hung from side of van. I used the shower enclosure to ward off the blowing wind.

Drove into town thinking that Blues festival was downtown tonight. Town was plugged w/ all kinds of people. I walked up to Deschutes brewery hoping for a conversation. Drank a beer; place was too busy and not populated w/ my kind of people. Bend isn’t my kind of place either, or I have not met my side. Night in town was not rewarding, I just couldn’t gen up a conversation. And drove back to camp spot.

Slept well last night. Today i will attempt the N Fork Tumalo Creek. I had heard that it was still snowed in. The trail from the falls is one way uphill. Concened that if inpassable that I would need to ride downhill. The direction is to prevent user conflict and it also protects the trail from brake ruts. Encountered several small snow patches and made Happy Valley, my trail junction for Mzarek ridge trail back towards TH. Tight & twisty on upper part of biker made trail (apparently) and then down to old hiker trail. I planned on intersecting a road and to ride down off ridge & cross Tumalo Creek and ride back to TH. I missed the road, or maybe just chose to ride entire trail down. I rode it out. I sucked my last h2o as I entered the park entrance and was shown a h2o spicket and filled my 70 oz bladder for ride back to van. Today ended being the monster ride day @ 43 miles in 5 hours. Quite dry, temp in upper 80s. Another hot solar shower standing exposed to the world & wind. Clean and tired.

Tomorrow I will ride back up N fork to get a downhill back to falls. Monday AM I will drive back down to Oakridge on a rest day.

Have been tossing and turning while sleeping, or, rather the tossing & turning wakes me up to fall back asleep. Sleeping temps and quiet. Dunno.

Today my plan was to do my shopping before a ride. I marked my site w/ my new chair and solar shower and taped a written message stating my occupancy.

I hit Hutch’s just in town and talked w/ a salesman who has ridden in 40 states, mostly flying to them for races. We shared some rides and I offered him some new ones.

Bought bagels for tghe second time from the same bakery and was waited on by same rising senior girl. She wore t-shirts from colleges she has applied to and visited. Hope for the future.

The shock reducers were loose in the shock, spinning around indicating worn state. I have been tracking down a suspension screech and I considered these the source. Sunnyside Sports nearby is now a Turner dealer. I called and spoke w/ wrench Eric who educated me on metallurgy. I drove over and walked in the front door. What to my lusting eyes did I see but a DW-Spot in the rental line. Inside there was a shiny new built up one. Oh, man. To ride one @ Bend would be supremo. For my pocketbook both bikes were size large.

Mike replaced the spacers and the reducers fit snugly. I hung for awhile sharing conversation w/ Eric. Eric runs a 2.5 front tire and 2.2 rear for flotation in dusty soil.

New bottle of $25.00 10 year old Scotch stored under the sink and I returned to my saved camp spot. The forest was selectively cut anything over 16″ thus reducing shade where I am camped. It was 83 degrees and 17% humidity. I positioned my chair in the skimpy shade and read On the Road. What excitement!. I moved the chair tracking the setting sun.

Tomorrow is Friday, legal holiday for 4th. Expect more riders much like I used to be when working.

Speaking of working, in my case of not working, I have been retired for 1 year now. Miss what $ will buy but digging on being my own w/ a “who cares just don’t break anything ” boss. July 19 marks year 1 of this odyssey. No completion date in mind. I need to reduce my driving to get expenses under control. To date I have driven 26,000 miles and spent $3,000 on diesel. I have ridden 3638 miles on 235 rides and spent $4,000 on bike stuff from new wheels to PUSH suspension tuning. I am living a job stress free life. I am somewhat stressed when I choose to walk something, stressed that I beleive that i could ride it but my self preservation rears its better sense. I am able to ride another day.

Jack Kerouac died @ 47, I have bested him by 23 years. i am excited by On the Road so far.

I enjoy sitting outside w/ hardly a mosquito around.

The organizer of the Cream Puff contacted me. I will be moving on to Oakridge next week to help w/ race.

Tomorrow will be another big ride here, perhaps not 40. Snow is still covering the shaded upper elevation trails that limit high loop rides.

Thunder pealed and a smattering of rain drops fell this afternoon. I was hoping for a bunch more rain to wet the soil making it traction tacky. Ride speed would jump. Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon of 2 guys in a row boat fishing where an atomic mushroom cloud is behind them. The caption reads  something like: You know what that means, don’t you? Yeah, no limits”. Tacky soil would be just like that.

Still in Bend. I missed any conversation today, just learned about riding skills.

Today my plan was to do a big ride, shower, go into town to pick up map software, grocery shop, & do laundry.

Left about 8:30 after the day warmed up. 6:00 AM was 44 degrees. Snow is still an issue above Tumalo Falls so i climbed up to Swampy Lake @ 6000′. Way more to ride with total of 40 miles & 4067′ climbed. Big day 4 hours 45 mins.

Back @ camp solar shower was toasty hot. Push to get to post office before closing. Picked up Oregon National Geo Topo maps.

Splurged on mexican dinner.

Walked into a used book store and asked for On the Road by Kerouac. Scored a used copy. Look forward to his view of life.

Scored my same campsite. Better hang on to it for this weekend if I stay here.

Creampuff race is 7/12. I volunteered to help. Its @ Oakridge back South of here.

In Bend on Greenwood there is a tavern w/ a walk thru door to a laundromat. I have clean clothes and an extra beer in my belly. Watched a bit of the Mariners / Yankees game. Mariners lost 2 straight to them.

Off to read jack.

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