AH, yesterday. I filled myself w/ gusto for the Hardesty ride knowing what turns to make. I filled my h2o tank and solar shower b4 leaving town for the ride. I parked @ the TH right off rt 58. Several rigs were in the lot. I hung the shower on the hood of my van which was full on facing the sun. I geared up and pedaled up the Creek.

My route was up Goodman creek, to the paved road to nowhere, then up and along Sawtooth to intersection of Hardesty then down to van. Only part that was easy was the paved road. Goodman is in the trees and climbs on single track for 6.15 miles and 2077′, taking 1 hr 19 mins of solid pedaling. Big hump to start. The road was 2.85 miles climbing 303′ in18 mins. Next was the killer Sawtooth for4.5 miles climbing 2100′ taking just over an hour. Hardesty dropped 5.19 miles and 3215′ in 30 mins. The downhill required output. Total ride was 18.73 miles in 3 hrs 21 mins climbing4545′ all in deep tree cover burning 3139 calories. I encountered a couple hiking out in the steep side hill meadow. They were surprised to see a mtn biker. Just a great classic Oakridge ride. The solar shower produced nice and toasty h2o temp for a parking lot shower.

Oakridge riding requires more effort than say Bend w/ the same distance and time as reflected in the EDGE calorie consumption calculation. Oakridge is all about climbing then descending. Lots of work to get to the top of downhill start. Great riding. The above Hardesty route was great because it was almost all single track. Precipitation and humidity over night keep the trails carving moist. Sawtooth was a blanket of hemlock cones. Poison oak grows in an elevation band. Great micro pub @ Brewers Union, taps are all cask conditioned, and great hang out where many mtn bikers visit. It seemed that every night I was there (only 2 nights not there because of overnight trail work party) that someone knew me or about me.

I camped on a dead end stub of paved road out Salmon creek. No cell phone coverage. Tucked in among the encroaching blackberry bushes. Just 3 miles outside of town.

Friday I rode up Salmon creek trail then crossed the bridge over the creek where I saw the elk cow days before. Today was the hump up the logging road affectionately known as “The Wall”. Sucker posted some 24% grade, I walked several times to shake out my legs. The climb lead me to a TH for the Eugene to Crest trail that skirted Aubrey mtn then dropped down to finish on a long downhill paved road back to camp spot. Narrow bench cut legacy trail on steep hillside in deep tree cover.

Years ago logging and milling of timber was huge business that was Oakridge’s economic engine. The mills are gone as is the logging allowing the trees to continue growing until the next “crisis” that will call for clear cutting.

I plan on leaving Oakridge tomorrow. Next ride plan is King Castle – O’Leary loop @ McKenzie Bridge.

Come ride Oakridge. Do the full on Mountain Bike Oregon or buy shuttle rides from Oregon Adventures. Just special riding.

Today is a rest day, first since last Sunday.

Yesterday I checked out riding shorts @ the Mercantile. I found the same pair of Endura shorts in size small. I compared the pair I had in same size. The new ones were significantly smaller. I tried them on and found that they would stay up in place. I bought the pair.

My short term travel plans are to ride King Castle then over to Fall City for Black Rock, head N around Portland to Sandy ridge then over to Hood River. The big drive over to Sun Valley. I might drive over to Washington to buy and smoke legal pot where the fear of being caught is a nonstarter.

Hung @ the Pub until the glasses were pulled. Ben and I continued our club activity discussion. Maybe 8 young riders that I spoke w/ earlier  were in the Pub. They ganged up on me asking questions and me giving my answers from my aged perspective. They are just starting and I am on the other side of the bell curve. I only drink a pint of beer each night.

Drove back to Salmon Creek sleep spot. About 2AM I gave into the urge to just scratch the poison oak on my left arm. Felt so good immediately but immediately after I quit scratching the pain and irritation returned, of course worse than b4. I told my senses to take a holiday and find something pleasant to focus on. Pain was too strong. I decided that rubbing an ice cube would be treatment. I slid out of bed then raised the bed to be able to open fridge door and the freezer drawer. Successfully obtained ice which I rubbed over the sores. AH. Killed the fire. I was able to sleep the rest of the night.

Towards morning I heard what I didn’t want to acknowledge but it was what it was: rain drops. Today is another trail work day out on the flume trail. About 8:30 rain started in earnest. I prepared myself for outside work in case others showed. I drove to the meeting spot where 3 others waited. Ben let me run the wheeled weed whacker to mow 2 passes . I mowed powerfully sheering away the grasses. Almost completed 2 passes on short section when it quit running. Appeared to be fuel starved. dead. Bummer. Next cut was on the tall grass hike into trail work section. The grasses would be holding rain that would soak anybody walking thru it. I grabbed a hoe and walked thru the grass to join the others working in the dirt on the trail tread. Legs and feet wet we worked in the rain. About noon it let up for the rest of work day. Worked 6 hours making a beginner trail.

Day done. Walked back to van. During the day I had felt a like sting behind my left leg. I thought a cut but didn’t remember how I could have. I changed out of my wet long pants and looked for the source of the pain. It was an imbedded tick. I used my tick puller which failed to firmly grasp the tick body. Not enough spring tension. Sucker was anchored. I ended up using my Leatherman pulling the sucker off. I left mouth parts. The leatherman pliers couldn’t get it all out. Next was the cactus tweezers. Ripped flesh and the black parts were extracted. No red circle this bite.

Raining again. Going to fix burritos for dinner parked @ Rays. Then back to the Pub.

Didn’t do laundry today. Randy of the shuttle service, Oregon Adventures, will let me use the business shower.

http://oregon-adventures.com/

The shower deal fell thru. I scrubbed myself w/ cold h20 b4 bed. Chilly night, I did turn on the heater for comfort while wet. My body is coping w/ the poison oak, it is in the weeping not much itch stage. Closed down the Pub again. Spent some intense conversation w/ Ben who is a shaker in the GOATS creation and current operation. Learning their story. Slept out on Salmon Creek rd, no cell phone.

Last night I parked on the edge of Rays, the only grocery store in town to fix dinner. Richard from the Mercantile stopped by riding his original Softride bike. Bike for several years on the last page of the issue pilloried the bike until they finally assassinated it to prevent further misadventure.

Today I stuck my head out  peering @ the sky to make a prediction for a ride. I saw my shadow which was good. Today i am going to actually pay for an Alpine shuttle from Randy. $25 to make the road climb pleasant. I shared the ride w/ the 2 guys I met climbing Larrison.

Today I planned on riding Alpine from Kate’s to the Red Bridge. I wanted ride data. Ride was 13.21 miles in non anaerobic effort of 1 hr 36 mins of moving time. Climbed 1265′ but dropped 4585′. Alpine is the marquee trail and is so much fun to ride. My wide bars on my Turner 5 Spot, PUSH tuned suspension, mind conditioned by Better Ride, Formula brakes controlling my speed, and my parents for making me I just sped me down the trail. Legacy trail that has widened as a result of years of riding it. Big old trees, a perspective of tininess. So great that some old giants remain.

Wild flowers covering steep meadow:

Fog on top of Sourgrass mtn, beargrass creating energy to bloom:

Single blooming plant down low, the likes will make this green meadow white:

Patchy clouds and low 60 degrees were @ end of ride. Prior I had decided the solar shower would not be warm and that the wind would make an outside shower too chilly. At the parking lot I partially filled the shower w/ tap h2o leaving room for stove heated h20. I added 1 1/2 dutch ovens of heated h2o making it tepid. I carried my stuff into the restroom and took over the large toilet stall. Floor is concrete and has a drain right near by, I took a shower using soap and rinsing it off. While I was getting it ready a man on a funky old touring bike rode up. Another white beard and it was long. Stephan offered me to use his shower down in Westfir. We never met but he offered his resources. Cool.

Off to Brewers Union for another bought dinner pumping $ into local economy.

I left a used shop rag @ the Mercantile. Today Todd handed it back to me freshly laundered.