Saturday AM after repeat of Wait Wait Don’t tell Me NPR news quiz show, dishes done and put away, drinking a second cup of coffee( rarity),listening to Outlaw Country (Tom, a fav of mine also), and vaping Charlotte’s web, a cannabis w/ high CBD to see if it lessens my shoulder pain. If pain diminishes my typing will improve. My shoulder flat out hurts.
Weather forecast for last several days called for rain today, Saturday. Threat or promise? So dry here in Bend. I created a schedule to support potential rain riding yesterday and making today a rest day. Before bed last night out here finally at my favorite spot sprinkles fell. I struggled to cover my bike one handed. Just a tease, a new sprinkles and the spigot was turned off. This morning while still dark sprinkles w/ more gusto fell for several minutes and quit. Sitting here in cloud cover, solar collector is finding enough sun to trip the charging icon.
I made an appointment at Discount tire for yesterday to buy and install a pair of new tires. No sales tax in Oregon. In and out quickly. I checked the mileage on the replaced tires comparing it to the guaranteed mileage of 70,000 miles which I didn’t get. They gave me mileage credit.
Discount is out @ far NW corner of Bend, on the way to Sisters. Made sense: I drove to Sisters to ride Sisters Trails aka Peterson ridge. New tires on rear and rear on front were being habituated to their new homes making for slightly spirited handling. The van ain’t a tame cat settling into the stud grooves, it’s always a handful.
Sun was still shining when I pulled into the parking lot. Clouds were moving in, first the mares tails indicating high level moisture then the running sheep that are the early stages of cumulus for rain. Boded well for rain. Trail system is a ladder format w/ connectors between the uprights, hence ladder. I continue to ride up the odd number side and take the highest rung connector over to the even side for the descent. On my way up I passed an older guy riding a hardtail in a rock garden. He walked it and I trialed my way over. I complimented him for being out riding. He responded negatively on my comment. I shouted it was encouragement. I approached a steep climb over an abandoned water canal. I waited for him. I repeated my compliment. He’s a new rider that he continued to belabor that fact. He then learned that I was helping him. He then asked me lots of questions about biking. I supplied him w/ lots of info taking time. I chilled off. Finally I broke off the conversation and pedaled away. He was very grateful for the info I shared w/ him. New riders become experienced riders w/ care.
Sisters has many rock gardens. Today I rode thru almost all of them. I avoided the tight pedal catchers. The downhill used a part of the same water canal by snaking from side to side snakes about 10′ span, bermed turns. Sandy in some corners, ride the outside berm and steer straight.
Back at the van I got off my bike. A woman made a beeline for me making full on eye contact. I think she is going to attach me for something I did or stood for. But it was the good side of the coin. Heather(?) was extremely jealous of what I was doing saying she is wanting to do the same when she retires. She wanted to change places w/ me. OK, I said, I put my hands on her shoulders and spun her to my place and I moved to where she stood. Good, she said, I am now a sex education teacher. I do provide an example.
A Canadian couple parked beside me returned from their ride. They asked about other rides in the area. I asked what their travel plans were to direct my answers to their needs. Oakridge was on their itinerary. I showed them my Oakridge map where I have red highlighted the rides I have done. Lots of red. They bid adieu and drove away.
Trailhead is in an urban forest zone. I pedaled 2 houses away from my van cooling off. I startled a doe who was bedded down in bark chips right against the front wall of a house. 6 wild turkeys squawked and paraded crossing the road several times.
I drove back to Bend. Friday night shower then down to 10 Barrel.
On Monday at my PT session Dave told me I have what I have and PT is unable to make things better. I don’t have arthritis but no muscles to control posterior movement of my shoulder. In essence, if I fall on my outstretched arm like in a lawn dart fall there is no muscle to stop my shoulder from going right out my back. Ow.
Tuesday I rode Tylers again having it all by myself. Ride it during the week in mid morning means few other riders. Tylers is a worn in machine built flow trail in places using old logging skidder roads mixed in w/ handbuilt. Drop the seat and let the bike move under me as I chose lines. I ride w/ a 2.4″ tire at 23psi and a 2.2″ 24psi on the rear. The idea w/ the smaller rear tire is that it spins up faster and seems to break loose to follow the direction change. Just know the rear is slightly squirrelly. Ride was 16.05 miles climbing 1742′.
Wednesday was a rest day. I had a cyst on the back of my neck that became painful before I arrived in Oakridge. I made an appointment for treatment Wednesday being the earliest back in Bend. Heidi, the medical professional, attacked the bulging cyst. Numbed me up locally then started cutting, squeezing, and blotting up blood. She scraped the edge of the cyst which becomes very fibrous, I could sense the scapula scraping. She packed the opening to aid in draining. The cyst might return and if so will require real surgery to remove.
Later Austin worked my body over during a massage. My back is loosened as are other parts. Real value in therapeutic massage.
A medical marijuana dispensary opened several buildings away from 10 Barrel. Oregon law allows dispensaries to sell pot to the public until their planned sales outlets open. No tax. Cost is same as street price. I visited to buy supplies. Crazy. It’s like a wine bar with a sommelier telling the virtues of each selection. There’s Indica, hybrids, and Sativa. I chose a hybrid that adds both an indacouch feeling of Indica w/ the get up and go of the Sativa. Bought an eighth. Yesterday I stopped to buy the pain med which does change my shoulder pain and still packs a buzz.
Thursday I rode from Phils climbing Bens then picking up illegal Pine Drop climbing to high point of junction w/ Phils and Storm King. descent down Storm King is a blast w/ some bermed turns that I carved around. Lots of good stuff. Mix in some tight twisty rocky pieces and it is first rate. 20.38 miles climbing 1796′, took 2 hrs 44 mins of pedaling.
Thursday night was a COTA movie night in a funky theater downtown. Mountain bike porn movies capturing riders doing to me insane rides w/ big jumps, big air, fast speed. Not my riding or ability. Gravity provides the engine. I left before the second film was finished. I had enough. I drove out to my spot and for the second time it was occupied by the same pickup. I drove to another spot. Fall season dries up the summer crowd who might be competing w/ me seeking primitive camping spots.
The design company sent me their proposal of services. Fee is $4,000 for design to submitting plans for permit. They will work on it over the winter. Idea is small maybe 20’X20′ house.
I still plan on leaving here heading to Sun Valley, a one day drive, w/ no published mountain biking rides between here and there. From there I am planning on Wyoming riding where snow hasn’t fallen.
Cloudy skies looking like rain but not dropping. College football watching.
Furnace has been working like a comfortable charm.