Another below freezing morning. Need to be up & out of here for today’s drive, ride, and drive. Heater creates suitable warmth, water vapor condensed on the inside of the windshield, didn’t freeze. Red sky sunrise. Forecast for today is sunny w/ chance of showers tonight and into Fri.
Headed out driving south on us 97 then up OR 58 over Willamette Pass then climb back up to Cascade crest @ Waldo Lake. Oakridge buddy Jay showed me this route: I parked @ Betty Lake TH which is the closest access point to hwy. Geared up electing to wear long underwear top under bright red jersey for sight recognition, knee warmers, and knee socks. Betty Lake trail joins the Waldo lake trail. I headed N along the east side of the lake. Effects of the heavy rain earlier this week were visible in the form of rain rivulets down the trail. Great woods dirt again of mostly conifer needles. Appeared to be 1 old bike track until I hit the north end. Up and down and around the lake I went.
Back in 1996 a 10,000 acre fire burned down to the nnw corner of the lake:
The trail circled the lake sometimes right next to the lake, most other times in deep tree cove w/ the lake nowhere in sight. Warmed up enough here to remove the long underwear top.
I saw only 1 rider the entire 23.58 miles. Climbed 2397′ in 3 hrs 26 mins. calories burned per the edge 305 is difficult to understand as today I burned 2109 cals while yesterday which was only 1354′ climb burned 3496 cals. I burned more riding downhill than this more demanding trail.
Back @ the van I changed clothes and ate a late lunch @ 3:30. I headed back to Bend. Running late for my pint @ 10 Barrels. Hit Newport Market for grab dinner. In the parking lot was a Sprinter w/ a mtn bike on the back. Home made conversion. Ran into the guy, Drew, in the grocery store checkout line. He remarked about my Pisgah jersey. He was starting to leave the parking lot when i exited the store. I waved hi and pointed @ my van. He pulled up along side. He said he now connected w/ me. He read my thread on MTBR 2 years ago about my life is better than your vacation. He posted a favorable comment because he liked what I was doing plus he was pissed at the negative scathing comments others made about my lifestyle choice.
Out to SNAP for a shower then my usual camp spot @ Phils.
Tomorrow is tire day & tasks during a rest day. Forecast is for some rain which will support rest. Monday forecast calls for possible snow. reason to leave perhaps Sunday for Sun Valley.