Beautiful cold clear frosty morning, 26 degrees, steam on windshield start. Today I need to be @ Cog Wild in west Bend @ 8:00 for shuttle over to McKenzie river trail. Melanie drove 8 of us over Santiam pass and down to Fish Lake TH for our ride.

Ah, the McKenzie. Fourth time I have ridden it. Just spectacular scenery in the forest and technical riding over the basalt chunks. I joined a group of 7 buddies of varying ability and fitness. One guy crashed his Specialized 29er hard tail and fractured hisleft chain stay. He splinted it by duct taping a cedar twig  and a zip tie i gave him. Rain fell here in the last storm also making the trails deep woods tacky. Riding the basalt challenges were mostly met, a few botched and walked , and others that were for me unrideable (I would not commit to). Fall colors of the turned vine maple but mostly deep green from the tall conifers. Never far from white water flowing river.

This is looking upstream from outflow of Clear Lake:

Further down was the top falls:

Down lower the trail left the basalt, round river rock took its place. Ride per edge 305 was 24.45 miles in 3 hrs 12 mins. Climbed 1354 and dropped 3013. Burned 3496 cals. w/ just 4 mins anaerobic.

Melanie was waiting for us @ the RS. We loaded up and she drove us back to Bend.

Shower @ SNAP, beer @ 10 Barrels, made food @ Newport Market then back to same camp spot. Both baseball games were delayed by rain.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for sunny weather, fri is calling for rain. Tomorrow is my ride window for Waldo Lake, less than 2 hours from Bend. Out, do the ride, then drive back to Bend.

Yesterday I told Cog Wild that I would buy a shuttle ride this AM. About 5:30 the winds gusted thru so strong that my van was rocked. I could hear the wind passing very quickly thru the P-Pine needles. The wind made my mind up: I accepted responsibility for my own safety and bagged the shuttle. I made my labor intensive scratch pancakes w/ store bought blue berries imported from Argentina.

Winter laying snow down on the roads is a real possibility. My rear tires are getting short of deep tread. I decided that I will replace the rears w/ 55,000 miles on warranty of 50,000. The tread is not @ wear bar which would give me a few more thousand miles but if any of those miles would be snowy I might go in unintended directions or nowhere. Drove to Discount tire to buy. So popular they are sold out locally. New tires are coming from Eugene tomorrow.

The winds in town were manageable. I drove back to Phils for a ride. Flagging from the ride was still up. I called Lev and asked if I could pull them down. Yes he said. I pulled several during my ride. The trail tread was absolutely the best as the ground is well saturated offering excellent traction. Rain fell pretty hard last night. Sometimes my track was the first on the dirt, like skiing first tracks in fresh powder. No dust. I encountered several riders along the way, so great because there was no dust. I rode down Phils which I really like for its drop and flow. Just fun. Drop my seat on the downs & carve the bermed turns. Beautiful fall day. My bruised cheek doesn’t come in contact w/ my saddle but my power moves were injured weak.

I wore long pants today for the first since I left Sedona back in April.

Shower @ SNAP. Groceries @ Newport Market. I stopped @ Sunnyside bikes to seek a can of skritch remover to quiet a pedal induced squeak. It came back during the BBFT. Mike recleaned the derailleur hanger which seemed to chase the skritch away.

Enjoyed a beer @ 10 Barrels then drove out to same camp spot and fixed dinner. Tonight I cooked another batch of Jasmine rice and topped it w/ the left over black beans.

Tomorrow I am buying a shuttle ride from Cog Wild to ride the McKenzie river. Leave @ 8. We are allowed 5 hours to complete the 26 miles all of which is downhill except for several spike climbs.

Forecast calls for good weather tomorrow and Thurs. Plan Thurs is to ride Waldo Lake up on the Cascade ridge. Should be a beautiful fall day. Friday is calling for rain. Buy the tires. Sat is trail work day.

At 9:30 it is 32 degrees. My night ride will need to address this fact. Tights, Shoe covers, & insulated long finger gloves?

There are so many buff men and women here. So many mountain bikes on rigs. Phils TH is almost always full by afternoon till after dark. Trim women’s bodies in shape hugging garments. Stellar. Many Audis & MBs. Showy money. Some very expensive houses.

The high pressure ridge that blocked moisture since like July has been breached letting cool air w/ rain enter. Mid afternoon rain started falling lightly until now @ 8:00PM the rain is occasionally drumming on my roof. Means great riding tomorrow. No…  weather forecast makes the rain go away but high winds to 30mph w/ gusts to 45 take its place. Deep forest riding w/ trees breaking the wind and it that’s all they do all will be good on tacky tread.

Today I drove into town after lounging in bed under doubled down blanket but no heater on, leaving the warm nest finally happened. My right butt cheek is way sore to sit directly on. My bed exit moves consist of bearing weight solely on that cheek. It hurts. Yesterday I walked in the forest out where I camp. I am able to walk almost pain free, its the sitting that is painful.

Drove into town. Stopped @ Cog Wild and chatted w/ Melanie and Lev, the owners. I signed up for a shuttle ride tomorrow up to Dutchman Flats where the BBFT started last Sat. Pick your own route back to town. This afternoon I checked the forecast that called for the above winds. I called Cog and spoke w/ Lev asking in essence how they will protect their shuttled riders. If the shuttle goes does that mean that they believe the conditions to be safe? Will they be the arbiter?

Drove over to the laundromat I used last week because they have a utility sink that allows me to fill a gallon jug I used to transfer city water into my van tank. A man walked up to me and asked about what i was up to. He is interested in doing the same van idea as me. Kerry is his name. World liver he has been. Kindred spirits. Spent lots of time talking about our experiences and how they supported a point we were making. Nice conversation. So long that I cut short my shopping @ Whole Foods as I had a 3:00PM appointment for refrigerator service.

Fridge tech said that it is what it is. I should expect 10 degree temp range. If it won’t get below 40 degrees then it might be toast. he said that these RV fridges were designed to run at max 6 months at a go. Need to verify that as mine is on 365. He charged me $10 to blow out the burner which now burns w/ a steady blue flame.

Found another SNAP that has showers which is between Phils and 10 Barrels. I’m set. I have the makings of a night ride from where I am camped  and a  shower on the way to beer and food. I have the light. I avoid night riding because I always am able to ride in the light, i want to shower b4 bed, and eat someone else’s food. It’s all relatively here.

I camp on USFS land in the toolies out @ Phils TH which is about 4 miles from 10 Barrels. I am so close in. I have 2 bar internet strength.

The current issue of Freehub has an article about COTA, Central Oregon Trail Association. Funny, in today’s paper i cut out an announcement of a COTA trail work project this Saturday. My plan now is to stay to participate.

Sun Valley per forecast will be getting this same weather. Great trails unless snow falls.

About 150 riders did the BBFT down a bit from last year. Little marketing was expended whichwas offered as a reason for low numbers. I rode the BBFT 2 years ago. This year at the last aid station several people welcomed me back and knew of my lifestyle.