Still in Bend. Made Monday a rest day which included another chiro adjustment. Sunshine cycle replaced my rear derailleur cable from Sat’s stick grabbing gash. The force of the stick & bike snapped a zip tie and split the housing. Checked out 10 barrel brew pub suggested by Terry H. Enjoyed beer and struck up 2 out of the blue conversations w/ unsuspecting persons who chose to sit next to me at the bar. Spent night @ same spot outside of town.
Tuesday’s ride was to work out aches from weekend rides and also to enjoy a longer ride. Rode from camp. Waited for temp to make the 40s then headed out. There are literally miles of ST from Phil’s TH. There are sections of pretty tech riding. Appear to be all hand built trails leaving the good stuff still in the tread. Beautiful fall day. Ride lasted 4 hrs. Enjoy riding my bike. The uphills are work, the flats are big gear power spinning, and the downhills are like carving on skis. For the most part the trails can be ridden both ways which is a supreme compliment. Even a shallow angle on the downhill carries speed. Great place to ride.
Another beer @ 10 barrels and a Ranger win and I slept @ same place.
I made Wed a rest and drive day. I drove over to Waldo lake on the other side on McKenzie pass via Cascade Lakes hwy for first time. Wonderful drive thru extinct volcano lands. At MT Bachelor parking lot all 3 Sisters were visible. Back in the late 80s 3 buds & we summited & Tellemarked down. Ah, memories. HWY 58 @ McKenzie Pass crosses the PCT where I hiked back in ’78. Wow.
Oh, the reason to go to Waldo Lake: A great ride and a reconnect w/ Jay from Oakridge. I met him summer of ’09 helping w/ the Cream Puff. He had the time and desire to make the short drive for the ride.
Plan was to drive towards Charlston Lake to camp. Lake is near NE end of Waldo Lake. I had camped at a spot years b4. When i got there is was populated by a large hunting party w/ generators, loud music wall Way better, only listened to my music.tents w/ wood stoves inside. My camp was across the road from them. I walked a short distance crossing the PCT to Charlston Lake. I camped here back in’78 on my thru hike. Ah, memories. Hiked the .5 miles north on trail till it crossed the road I was parked on. I found a camp spot all but on the trail just off the road.
Today woke to another beautiful day. Meeting Jay @ Betty Lake trailhead @ 10:00. Charlie and John arrived w/ Jay. Great to visit w/ Jay again. Charlie is days short of 70, Jay turns 60. Old folks ride. John might be in his 50s, I didn’t ask.
Duh moment: People are out hunting big game, we are riding in the same woods. I wore my long sleeve orange jersey. Jay wore some electric green. Waldo Lake is a gem ride and pure lake. I rode the route years ago. By end of July the snow mosquitoes are gone leaving just the regular mosquitoes. Recall my last summer @ Diamond Lake, OR. Trail stays pretty tight to lake shore. Just uphill from most of trail is wilderness land which is closed to bikes. We ride just @ edge of wilderness. I got dropped by all 3 but not by far. Charlie smoked, I should have been even w/ him being 10 years younger.
Waldo Lake sits @ 54xx’ in lodgepole forest where it is dry and mixed hemlock fir where it is wet. The fall colors are subtle with grasses turning brown, huckleberry bushes turning red or yellow. And the conifers remain deep green. Blue clear skies. Sunlight low angle filtering thru the canopy. Give me the Cascades.
La Nina calls for wetter and colder winter for Northwest and drier & warmed for Southwest. Miss the skiing but will enjoy sun in Sedona.
Forecast has been calling for wet starting tonight which is why I did not go to Oakridge to ride in the rain. Plan tomorrow is a short ride from here in AM if not raining, then doing laundry, then head to way east OR which might also be wet. Possible snows. Plan still is to make another go of Sun Valley as I head south.
My new Formula RX brake arrived. Tomorrow I plan on installing it. Price Point helped me out on purchase. To date the remaining original bike parts are the shifters and cranks and they will be replaced shortly. The rubber grips on the shifters are wearing away. I have ridden 8300 plus miles in 27 months.
In Bend I have been taking showers @ public park. Senior citizen price of $4.50.
Camped @ same Bend spot.