Today is another unsettled weather day. I am parked outside Web Cyclery, Kevin’s shop, pain cave of Dave the PT, and near the Old Mill district home of an REI store. Heavy rain is falling dropped by t-storm.
Friday I drove south north of La Pine seeking land. I drove around and saw other realtor signs posted. I researched some more on line then drove back south this time to the Bend side of La Pine. The topography here is pool table flat. The Deschutes river drains this area. I noticed homes w/ mound septic systems the closer I got to one of the 3 rivers. I don’t want that.
Friday night I returned to 10 Barrels. Before i even made the bar Manny greeted me in the crowd w/ my beer. The place was packed as always. I waited for a bar seat or a table to open. A table opened And i grabbed it, seats 4, room for 3 guests. 2 women walked in seeking beer and maybe a sit spot. I offered chairs to them. They are from Alaska and are visiting Bend for music. We chatted until their table was opened. One bought me a beer. Later a single woman same situation. I offered her to share. She said yes because I appeared to be an intersting man. She is an artist and is here for Bend’s summer festival. We chatted for a long while until she left. She told me about her booth.
Sat was another search day. I found a place below La Pine 1.1 acres with septic installed and a well. $27,000. (maybe I am mixing my days up). But I did spin for 55 mins on the Anytime Fitness bike burning 500 cals. I took a shower then drove up to Wanoga Snow Park to watch some of the 24 hour race that Angela was racing as a solo. We saw each other as she crossed the scorers’ table. A quick greeting and she was gone. I recognized Mike, the race promoter, a guy who shared a camp spot w/me in Sedona, and Chris, a wrench @ Sunnyside. The wind gust were lifting dirt into the air prompting me to leave. I decided to find a camp spot up high here. The all weather road I chose bisected the race course. I picked the one spot in the middle. After dinner I walked down the hill to one crossing and set up my chair and played loudly an FM station that my weather radio picked up. Soon bike lights were turned on. I left climbing back up the hill to my house. 48 degrees in the AM, I slept covered by my down blanket.
Sunday I drove up to Swampy Lakes snow park for a hike. Weather forecast called for 60% heavy rain which factored into my route selection. I hiked 6 miles on single tracks till a double track out. Serious snow depth here. Some of the trails are XC ski trails. Check out how deep the snow gets:
Pine beetles are living in the lodgepole pine. Some cases they kill the host and the damage is visible of what was going on underneath the bark.
I finished my hike before rain fell. I’m sitting in my van. I looked out the open slider door and saw a silver Sprinter driving towards me. No front license plate common to Arizona, and the kind of Sprinter that TrailDoc owns. And that’s who it was, John and his wife Jan are on a road trip. I enticed him to stay and converse by offering him a beer. Interesting Sedona FS news. They are staying w/ Gary whom I met long ago. I need to make a beer appointment w/ him.
I drove back down to town to visit the summer festival. Heavy rain fell before I got there. Street closed off and populated by vendor booths. I found Leslie’s booth at the end of my circuit. I visited w/ here for awhile soaking up the ambiance as a vendor. She let me man her booth while she ran an errand. Several people stopped and showed interest in her wares but I lacked the sales closure. I bid adieu and returned to 10 Barrels. Then out to Phil’s camp spot.
Today was another PT session w/Dave. Therapy now focuses on strengthening the atrophied muscles. I have no strength. He gave me 2 exercises. He used his legendary elbow again that had me pounding the table begging for mercy. It hurts. He is allowing me to ride on the road w/ the cautionary note that I can not fall.
I texted Duff from Sedona who was heading back to MN. He said he fell at Angel Fire in NM and fractured his scapula before he made MN. Mountain biking is dangerous.
I emailed a realtor in Oakridge asking about land. Wet side of the Cascades.
The guy who imports and services the Propex heater bought property in La Pine. He shared his info. A piece of property is available on his new road. This furnace will be fixed before I leave the state.
Today I made my Spokane dentist appointment for Sept 14.