Spent Fri taking care of things in Bend for my outpost in Oakridge. Clean clothes, bled brakes, some groceries, & diesel. Paying $4.19 per gal in Bend. South @ LaPine it was $3.99.
Drove south then west over McKenzie Pass to the wet side of the Cascades, a temperate rain forest. First time in the wet since perhaps 2 years ago. What a sight. Trees are tall and plentiful. Bush bashing doesn’t really happen.
Stopped @ Mercantile store in Oakridge. Remet Eugene, Joe.
Stopped @ Brewer’s Union brew pub uptown. All beers are cask condition. Enjoyed an Imperial pint.
Drove back road to Westfir then upriver to Alpine road climb. Found place I stayed b4, decided to drive further uphill looking for a better spot. Drove another 4 miles to next intersection for a camp spot. Pleasant temp slept w/ side door open w/ netting across doorway.
Today is scheduled trail work on Alpine trail preparing it for the Cream Puff. At Red Bridge park named for a red covered bridge. 2 years ago a new pump track was on site. I learned that a cantankerous local took exception to the track and seeded it w/ grasses etc causing the track to disappear under high grasses. There was an IMBA labeled truck in the parking lot unloading trail building equipment. I asked 1 guy what was up. He said that we met back in Augusta @ IMBA world. He is part of IMBA trail solutions, the group that lasys out trails. He knows Bill and Liz from FATS. Bill should you read this, Jason did a great impression of Liz. So much fun.
Scott, the Cream Puff promoter arrived sporting some facial hair. decisions were made that assigned people to jobs and trail location. I rode up w/ Bob and Max, each past Cream Puff racers. We drove to where I camped then further down the side road to where Alpine crossed that road. We walked up to lop brush interfering w/ the trail. I did not have a pro lopper but I made do and cut a few conifers. Ah, a killer again.
Finished our assignment then drove back down to Red Bridge. We saw less than 12 riders on the trail.
Hung out watching Jason and another guy w/ a Ditch witch moving dirt. To my untrained eye I perceived 2 guys on small dirt moving machines moving dirt to no end to a track. They claimed they were keeping current to the evolving design. I learned that Oakridge is an IMBA Ride Center.
Yesterday I learned that Catrina is working @ the Mercantile and I have so looked forward to seeing her again. She was there. Ah, Catrina.
I am back in Oakridge for internet. Going down the street for beer and light dinner @ the Brewer’s Union then back up into woods for the night. Tomorrow is some other trail work.
I am looking forward to riding the Alpine trail. It is damp, shaded, and mostly downhill. No dust. No visitas in these woods.
Learned more tips on dripping enough blood to satisfy the machine’s requirements; Bled like proverbial stuck pig. INR is 2.5, the highest it has been.
My first exposure to west coast mtns, Oregon specifically, was in the Umpqua on the wet side. back in familiar mtns.
As I walked the Alpine trail I noted steep side hills the trail was cut into that were not observed while riding fast downhill. I saw long steep drops obscured by trees. Narrow single track dug into hillside. A good unintended bounce and a rider could be in for a long drop.
