Friday after bfast and doing dishes inside Bill’s house I headed to riverside. My money man experienced some difficult family situations such that he was able to meet me Fri at 1:30 near 7 Mile at Riverside. would work for me to ride then drive to 5 Mile Anytime for a shower then drive back to the pizza meeting place. I dallied leaving Bill’s which shorted my ride time. (No premonition).
I drove out to 7 mile where there is a small parking spot outside the park thus sparing a $10 daily fee such that I paid to ride w/ Les et. al. I rode to the n end of the park at 9 mile and climbed sharp stick in the eye. Up top I dropped down heading west chunking along negotiating basalt babyheads using them for line choice and traction. Chunky nasty sharp rocks, there are no go arounds or easy lines, just sharp chunk. I exited thru the ORV park as I missed where the heart propelled trail went. I picked it back up along the flat above 7 min hill. Hard pack tread, smooth powerful efficient pedaling. I heard a sound that memory recall said was a soft tire. I stopped and checked to learn the rear was soft. I dropped my pack and pulled out my pump and pumped till tire firm. I pedaled away. shortly I heard the sound and stopped to check the tire: soft again. Ohhohh. Pumped again and changed my route to bail out home. Made it back on soft tire, it never went flat.
Dashed to 5 mile and took a shower then drove to meet Dennis. I piulled into the parking lot right on time for our meeting. Dennis manages my $. Our yearly meeting is over several beers discussing business and social issues. I am required to withdraw from my 401k at 70 1/2.
Afterwards I drove to Bicycle Butler one of my go to shops when I lived here to fix my rear tire. Examination revealed a dent in the rim that must have burped the bead. I used a visegrip to tease the dent out then attempted to reseat the tire. No luck. Shop compressor is too weak to burst the tire onto the rim. I swapped out the mountain king I bought by mental mistake w/ the preferred trail king and it still wouldn’t seat. I took the wheel over to the next door auto shop hoping they had a killer compressor. A wrench modified their air nozzle to my valve stem which gave the burst of needed pressure. I gave the hardly used tire to BB.
I drove downtown to The Elk for dinner. Dale has worked there for 15 years. The Elk was my favorite Spokane hangout.
I spent the night again at my former neighbors house. Sat I dallied before heading out this time bound for Bend. On my road atlas I pink highlight roads I have driven. I like to drive new roads. The retuen trip route went deep into central Oregon on back road state highways from Pilot Rock to Mitchell on rt 126. Big country: volcanic effected. At one summit I stopped to calibrate my altimeter. I watched a bicyclist pedaling up from the opposite direction. He was full out bike touring. I greeted him and asked if he needed anything. He accepted waterbottle refills. He saked if I had stove alcohol. Of course I did. He was pedaling to his 50th HS reunion. Twisty windy hilly good condition narrow paved state highway. The road lead onto USFS land. Just at a pass I dropped off on a logging road for a ways till I found a pull out for the night.
Today I finished my drive to Bend.
There is a ride in the Ochocos east of Prineville I heard about. I needed internet to research on MTB Project but I didn’t get reception till well west of there. I decided not to go back but to continue and ride Maston. Seat dropper back on and a preferred tire on the rear made for an enjoyable ride. Tire remained seated.
Back in town. Hang out at 10 Barrel. My reward idea is gaining traction. I watched some of the Seahawks game while drinking 2 beers. Drove out to Phils for the night.
COTA wants me to explain my Brain For a Beer proposal.
Tomorrow is PT to learn what I can do to help strengthen my shoulder.
Snow fell up high here on Thurs.