No mosquitoes or poison ivy, both of which have made their marks on my body. I have several small patches of poison oak on my leg. I have insect bite bumps that were done by something other than a hungry female mosquito. Back in 1978 while hiking the PCT in S. Oregon the mosquitoes were so thick and the temp was so high I hiked in shorts w/ no shirt, my sweat ran red from the blood squashed for the attached mosquitoes. I lost my sensitivity and don’t show the bite bumps. Poison oak not so.
On Wed Jim met me on Salmon creek for a ride on Heckletooth. The ride started on the paved road for a bunch of miles then turned right on 2408 logging road that climbed up to where the trail crosses the road coming down from Bunchgrass. Jim is 2 years younger than me. He has ridden this route after today 134 times. He rides a 29 to my 27.5. Last fall we rode this together while on my Spot. I could not keep up, as hte logging road beat me down to several walks. Jim is a tough codger, he pushes a big gear on flats, no spin. The big gear push keeps his breathing under control which I am also leaning about. I am working on my strength to push. Jim dropped me b4 an intersection where I forgot which way to go. He did not answer my bellows. I decided to take the more traveled road and arrived where a trail crossed the road. It looked familiar but I was not sure and he wasn’t there. I rode the .7 miles back to the previous intersection. No Jim. I figured out how to make the phone display the Backcountry Navigator app which found my location and found the trail which is where I turned around. I dropped in on the woodsy trail which twisted and wound thru the salal that encroaches onto the trail. A mud puddle preceded a split cedar plank bridge displayed a fresh track. OK he is ahead of me. I finally arrived at the top of Heckletooth, a former fire lookout tower, he greets me w/ a snack bar, he had been waiting for 18 mins. Then the downhill fun started. Right off the top is an exposed series of 2 switchbacks, he nailed them on his bike and I did likewise but bulldogging my bike. He kept the brakes off finally stopping right below another for me a hike a bike switchback that he slithered around. He told me I was to lead him as he questioned my ability fearing me falling and he would have to ride back uphill to rescue me. I gave it a go. I enhanced gravity’s pull pedaling way faster than a walk in the woods. Brush grows over the trail edge blocking sight lines. I braked when i pedaled around a blind corner. Hump hump. Trail emerged onto pavement for a speedy downhill. I asked him to coast with me to learn which wheel size was faster. We dropped into tucks and carved the banked corners. I got way ahead of him and towards the bottom I sat up, he zipped by me still in a tuck. Seems my bike coasts faster. Ride was 21.05 miles climbing 3070′ taking 2 hrs 40 mins.
I rode back to my van. I set out my solar shower on a boulder in the sun shine then sat in my chair in the sun. Late afternoon was shower time. I poured the hot water into the Helio and pumped it up. Again the air escapes around the filler cap. I am not able to hang the solar shower from the van roof as my right arm doesn’t work. The Helio allows spray from above. Cleaned I drove to the Pub for socialization and dinner. I gave Ben at the Pub a expired JP Nuts WA license plate that he put up on the wall joining other plates. English Pub style. Local mtn biker hangout with tourons. Town mayor Jim, is a frequent visitor. He and I have engaged in advocacy conversations over the visits. I bid all good night and good bye and drove back up Salmon Creek.
Thurs. I decided that I didn’t want to ride before leaving. I drove into town and did my wash then headed back over Willamette Pass. I drove to my property and spent the night.
I toured La Pine before landing on my land. La Pine is about 5 miles away. I slipped off the barrier cable and drove onto my land. I hung a Private Property sign as suggested. I bought a 50′ tape measure for figuring out house placement. I rolled out 20′ square and learned how small 20′ is. I will be able to site the house and still protect 2 big trees. I reacquainted myself w/ neighbor lady and asked to be friendly introduced to her dog that seemed to want to bite me at the fence line. We made nice. Will it take?
Yesterday it was 37 degrees. Don’t know about growing a garden because of the cold.
Today I hung the cable over the entrance and drove to Bend. I had a 10:00 at an RV shop to service the burner on my fridge. I hoped to meet w/ Michael to work the house plans. Rescheduled for next Tues.
I had a bunch of chores to accomplish while in town. Freshly roasted and ground coffee from Back porch.
I stepped up to flat pedals and fiveten shoes ordered from Webcyclery to be here a week from this Monday. I will be captive here until their arrival.
Temp is in the 80s. I drove out to Phils. I rode up Bens and Pine Drop to top of Phils trail. I sensed a low front tire. I stopped and checked, it was almost flat. Stans wetted the bead edge of the rim, no leaking out thru the tire. I pumped it up using my stellar Lyzene mini floor pump. The Stans clogs the presta valve which I didn’t fully close after pumping up the tire at the TH. The tire held air for my decent. 16.01 miles climbing 1463′, the ride was about 50:50 uphill downhill. Hot dry day. Trails are dusty if you are second or later.
Shower at local SNAP then drove out to camp above where Storm King crosses the road. Camped at cool 4793′ still with to door opened enjoying chill and not bites.
My gut is big time bothering me. I made another DR appointment for next Tues. i smashed and or readjusted internal stuffing when I smashed onto the top tube. Today I had a pain in my left groin that limited my riding pleasure.
Spending the holiday weekend here in Bend.