Days slip by, lived and survived by a faint memory, overridden by the new events. I remember my bits and pieces, someone else will remember their bits.
Tuesday I drove back into town, did some things then drove back out to rd 44 camp spot. Ian was still there.Fixed dinner and viewed the moon from inside for warmth. The heater works fine, it does have a battery draw. I am learning about its performance and consumption. The heat is better than the infrared catalytic heater so far. The burner makes a distant throb and the blower noise is what it is.
Wed was another great day w/ some wind added. Ian would not bite on a shuttle ride. I rode a piece of Surveyors ridge from camp out and back, stopping just short of the power lines.
Ian loaded up and left b4 dinner, I had the place to myself.
Riding @ 4,000′, my respiratory system can’t keep up . I am able to elevate my hr but I run short of breath, no, it’s not short, it just isn’t enough.
Went for an evening walk
Thurs I drove back into town to do ride the Whoodee trail and do my wash etc.I stopped @ Dirty Finger to refresh my memory. Steep road climb on crumbling asphalt. The county was out paving. Made the parking lot where several other riders were gathered, Steve built the trail system, he and his wife left b4 me. He incorporated pieces of old dirt bikes trail and added a bunch. There are 3 enormous g-outs which my suspension sucked up. The exits were harder than my desire to make it over the top. Then the downhill just took off. The dues paid for the downhill pedaled well. I caught up w/ the 4 riders ahead of me. One was installing a new tube for flat repair. His buddy is slower and asked to go ahead as he would be caught up. I rode behind him all the way at a pace that I could talk to him.
Poison ivy adds beauty to its poison
I drove to the laundromat contiguous w/ Snap and the shower. I put my clothes in the washer then hit the timer on my Suunto and dashed next door for a shower. Clean sheets and clean body same night is pleasure.
I drove back to Dirty Finger to drink a beer and socialize. The after work riders appeared, happy hr $3 pints and all the stories you can tell. I stayed till after dark. I drove up to the Heights for dinner @ a Taquary(?) then out to Post Canyon to sleep alongside the road.
Today after breakfast clean up I drove back to DF to say good bye as I was heading south to Bend. I want to see the fall in different places. Today I experienced the first wreck that ties up traffic. Long long wait broken up by fits of short driving distance. Seems a dump truck and a pony trailer spilled off the other side of the road and the big wreckers were out working to yard it back up.
I made Bend for an early dinner, too late for a ride. I walked into 10 Barrels where I hung out back in June of 2013. I got to know several of the bar tenders and I drank the same beer. Tonight 2 of them were working. I stood holding a door way up watching the ALCS game. Manny arrives at my side holding out a beer, the one I drank and called me by name. Todd remembered me also. Phenomenal recall.
I was standing @ the bar and a guy walked up to me and asked if that was my van. I said , yes. How cool he said. He told me that there is a work party tomorrow, I’m in.
I left for camping out @ Phils. I turned into the road where I used to stay and discovered that the FS has fenced off both side of the road keeping me away from my former spot. I turned around and sought another spot I remembered. Couldn’t find it, found another one about 200′ from a car camper. I started to settle down when what to my wondering ears did hear banging on the driver’s door and ranting about my camping near him. He was going ballistic about sharing public land where my intrusion was cloaked in darkness. I dove away to a spot a bit further away. Moon rise shining thru the windshield. So far he has not voiced his displeasure to my closeness.
Last night while in bed I rolled onto my right shoulder and heard and felt a PoP. It ain’t good.