Sundown per Suunto is 6:09PM. Alpinglow lasts for a short while then lights out. Back in Bend camped at my favorite spot. Friday night someone else had it causing me to look elsewhere. Crowded night.
Friday I left Oakridge after breakfast heading back to Bend. First was a loop ride of Waldo Lake, up on the Cascade Crest, west of Willametee Pass and north of highway 58. Sits at 5400′, Oregon’s second largest lake, completely land locked: no innee, no outee.
I started my ride from Shadow Bay getting right on the trail. Beautiful clear blue skies but chilly. I rode clockwise as a pick. As the ride moved on I realized the benefit of being on the west side of the lake w/ the sun behind me. The west side is more technical but less up and down. What a beautiful day w/ fall colors abounding. Most spectacular were the red huckleberry leaves.
I stopped many times on the west side to take pics.
The lake is down.
Huckleberry red
The trail outslope is wilderness boundary on the west and north sides. Back in 1996 a fire burned over the trail in the NE corner.
The east side had more ups and downs and away from the lake. Pedal up then drop down the back side to climb up the next upslope. I have been riding more often in the 22 tooth chain ring and the 36 on the back climbing. I am learning to spin it. Ride was 20.32 miles climbing 1720′
So, Waldo was just drop dead beautiful. I bid adieu and continued to Bend.
Shower at Snap and beer and dinner at 10 Barrels. Drove out to camp spot about 8, someone else got my spot. The other go to spot had someone there. I elected to drive over to where Marvins crosses another road. 2 other cars joined later.
Sat was Bikeoctober COTA trail work day. Met @ REI. I joined a group to work on a secret stash on a major trail. I worked on the legal trail clearing water transported materials w/ a Macloud. I found that I could make my shoulder tolerate the work. I was a hiker, per Trail Love bikers yield to hikers. I stepped off the trail. Hardly a rider voiced thanks for performing trail work. Women were the worse etiquette violators. Worked a bunch of hours then drove back to REI for beer and food. I spoke w/ several COTA people about the Brain for a Beer idea.
Shower at Snap, a beer at 10 Barrels then deli shopping at Newport market. I started driving out to Phils spot while I thought about today’s ride which was going to be from like Swampy which is on the way to Bachelor. I chose to drive up that way. I found a spot off road 4613 near where Funner crosses a spur road which is near where I worked on the trail earlier. Sprinkles then rain fell on my windshield as I drove up mtn. Finally full on wipers. I found my spot. Earlier during daylight wind velocity picked up. At my camp spot wind speed jumped. Rocked the van. No more rain. Set the furnace temp to turn on at some chilly temp.
Today at 8:00 when I looked out a window the sky was bright blue and no wind. I made French toast from craft baked whole seed bread. Filling. Unfortunately my body doesn’t do well w/ load of food starting the digestive process.
My ride today was from Swampy Lake going down south fork to intersect w/ Tumalo Creek trail ( the intersection is outside the closure area) going downstream to junction w/ climb out to Swede ridge shelter. Then Swede ridge back to Swampy shelter. The ride started flat then dropped down mountain then climbed back out to an up and down ridge. One characteristic of a great ride is if the finish is downhill. I do like gravity being my engine. I was not wind chilled going downhill as I had not broken a sweat. Sunlight made the forest floor thru the gaps in tree cover. There were puddles in places and no dust. Saw only a hiking couple. Some Bend is not flat: ride was 15.18 miles climbing 1923′.
Drove back into town for shower, a beer at 10 Barrels, and grocery shop then drove out to Phils spot while still light. Got my spot. Fixed dinner and cleaned up. Chilly. This AM it was 34 degrees. Furnace is delightful as it is running now.
Next Sunday COTA is presenting a trail work technique session that I plan on attending. I am thinking I should be leaving that next Monday. I will head east most likely visiting Sun Valley. I have been researching Wyoming rides where I have never been. Race against snow.
IMBA and BLM are showing the results of partnership in the form of noted rides. I have ridden most of them and will add the others to my to ride list. One is in Lander, WY.
Tomorrow is a PT session and fork service next door. Rest day.