Today marks the eighth year anniversary of being home free. That day I handed over the keys to my sold house to the closing attorney then left on a tour around Washington State. I was recovering from a shoulder surgery and not cleared to play. My house sold 10 days earlier than I had planned on. My plan was to give up the house and head out on my odyssey the same day I was released to go play. Today was the moving into the van full time. The 18th marks the first day of the odyssey.
Friend Simon from Sedona is here in Bend. Jimmy shared his phone number allowing me to contact him.I met up w/ him and his family at Pioneer park in town, these parks are like pocket parks as they are small. Chemically maintained lush grass enticed me to shed shoes and socks and wiggle toes. Wonderful. I plan on sodding a small patch of grass at my house just to wiggle my toes in. They are traveling in a big diesel pusher RV. Simon teaches skills. He is a legendary rider in Sedona,steep and deep. We visited for awhile then I headed to 10 Barrel for my third beer of the day. We made plans for me to contact him today at 9 to make a ride plan for today.
Last night I parked at a spot I like just off rd 41, it is only 6 miles out of town. Somebody got it tonight.
Today’s ride plan was to meet at Drake Park downtown right on the Deschutes river. He got there early enough to get curb side parking. I parked nearby also on the street. He invited Moses, a 13 yo son of Simon’s friend to join. We pedaled from town out past Phil’s to take an FS road then ST back to gravel road to gain Mrazek ridge trail. Encountered many riders heading downhill against us w/ everyone yielding to us uphillers.Different crowd than would have been at Phils. Our proposed route would have been maybe 30 miles. We were still over 2 miles to Farewell down trail. reality was it was too big a bite for a 13 yo, better to challenge but not kill and live for another rider. We rode back thru Shevlin park then sidewalks and streets back to our rigs. 26.61 miles climbing 2138′. Mrazek climbs up thru managed Ponderosa pine tree forest before elevation favors Lodgepole pine. We turned around right at edge of lodgepole.
Right where Mrazek crossed the dirt road we were on a man and woman were standing on the far side of the trail. Conversation ensued leading to the guy asking if I was the mtn bike the states guy, I said yes, then he recounted a ride he showed me years ago where we rode all of Storm King then jogged over to finish on the river trail. I remembered and told him that I had ridden it several times.
Friday I drove over to Sisters to ride Pederson Ridge trails. Cloudy skies and infrequent sprinkles. Trail system is like a ladder with connectors forming the rungs. I pedaled up on the right leg and returned on the other leg. Carving swoopy turns thru open forest. Bit more rock to deal with. 16.6 miles climbing 855′, a shallow day. I drove back to Bend and met up w/ Simon per above.
This part of Oregon had an active volcanic past leaving behind pumice dirt and lava, some in huge flows. Down low open P pine tree cover, up higher lodgepole. Dry.
Thurs was weekly wash day.and a rest off the bike because and because its fork was being serviced at Sunnyside, oil change. Earlier in the week I negotiated a work schedule which allowed me to turn in the bike on Wed before closing time and they would be finished Friday morning. I dropped it off after my ride and picked it up Friday AM for my ride. Well done Sunnyside.
Wed I rode this wonderful Storm King loop starting from where I camped. The route allowed me to ride Storm King in its entirety and finish on a flat trail. Worked very well. I pedaled Catch and Release to the end at Bachelor highway and the start of COD which is open thru the logging area. Then I wander around on lateral trails till I hit Ben’s, the uphill trail climbing to rd 300. A short jig on the dirt road to pick up Pine Drop which climbs up to top of Phils and Storm King. From there is is almost all downhill on a grade that can be climbed but more enjoyed going down. 23.93 miles climbing 2269′.
Tuesday I saw my healthcare provider, Heidi, to figure out what is causing my abdominal pain and loose stool. I am concerned that landing on the top tube messed w/ my insides. Blood was drawn and analyzed yielding good stuff, however I seem to be at the lower end of the range on many values. Wearing out? A referral was given for an abdominal CT scan which will be this Monday.
On previous rides while on Catch and Release I noticed camp spots some occupied and many open possibilities in the fuels reduced forest. I found an FS road that is blocked by a locked gate, using level blocks I made the spot home for the night. It’s closer to town and out of the dust than where I was staying above where Storm King crossed the hwy.
I bought an Edge 25 which is way smaller than the 800 which gives basic info plus heart rate. It’s about the size of a 50 cent piece compared to the almost a deck of cards computer.
I have been riding in a higher gear and pushing down on the pedals which slows my cadence and enlists the large muscle fibers, slow twitch, versus higher cadence in lower gear which is rapid twitch which blows me up quickly. As a result of bigger gears I keep my heart rate down and I let my breathing then control my effort meaning I don’t blow up, I just get beat. Looking forward to riding flats.
Off to bed.