Still hot, dry, and dusty around Bend

Weatherman is teasing with 20% prob of t storms. If dry lightning possible fires. Dirt here has no organic, it’s crushed very fine volcanic ejecta. Best to first or way off the back.

My back is allowing me to just about standup straight. Became aware of lower back lack of give. Started specific stretch.

Today my plan was to either go on a Woodie ride or my ride up high on part of Metolius. Met a local at burnt out Swampy shelter who said still sufficient snow to create route finding to say nothing about hiking and pushing my bike. I rode a loop to shelter at sector 16. Big 2.5WTtires create some floatation. “Dirt” erodes on downhill side of roots creating drops, not much air but a smile for a pump.

Before man attempted manifest destiny nature would have burned small fires to consume and reduce fuel load. Now fires have way more fuel to burn hence hotter and more expensive fires to put out.

Localized high density population of ceanothus silk moths. Last ride there w/Steve I saw mass quantities of black “caterpillars” feast on name sake plants. This visit saw only the veins in the leaves and a few cocoons. No cocoon material was know. I saw movement in a manzanita, it was an emerging adult from the cocoon. Very violent gyrations as it worked to free its self to a one night stand, she to lay eggs and suffer the males’ fate of starving to death or be eaten. Today at snap i saw lots of moth wings in a tree island, no bodies. Splat marks on asphalt said they died with their wings on. I freed one and placed it on a rock in front of my van and settled down to watch. It freed itself then beat wings to the sky. And then a robin snatched it out of the sky. It prolly pulled off the wings as unnecessary roughage before shooting it. Casual observation indicates the birds are having easy pickings. I watched a female lay her eggs on blades of an evergreen grass

Yesterday I rode S Fork then down Tumalo creek. Same as with Steve on July 9, 14 days ago. This day I rode a bit slower allowing radar to kick in to see that the infestation was down low also. Snowbrush leaves eaten down to the veins. defoliation. Metamorphis  moves to cocoon and an aging process. I saw very few cocoons. As I observed I saw movement in a bush, violent enough to move leaves around. A metamorphisizing moth was working to shed its cocoon. I took video of the gyrations. I didn’t stay around to watch the adult emerge. What I saw was eaten down leaves, a few stray cocoons, a few attempting to emerge but no flying adults. Had natural predators picked them off?

This morning a cramp attacked my left leg. Shit! Remedy is to stretch it out but first I had to shed the sheet and comforter while not starting camps elsewhere. First time for one in the AM. Working muscles differently with these Catalyst pedals. Last Sun I really put in some effort on Petersen ridge. Pedals allow more application of what leg power I have. Worth reading bikejames.com to learn about his take on body dynamics on a mtn bike. I am a much stringer rider with these pedals then learning how to put power to my feet. Smokin.

I made Thurs a normal wash day into a rest day allowing my back to rest. Stopped at medical clinic where I am a repeat customer and asked for a PT referral. Fri the PT office calls while I am huffing up Funner. An appointment is made for Tues. I camped at spot off rd 41 which has become very popular. Fri I started out on a short ride form camp on Catch and Release intending to ride up on Funner to Larsen’s then cut over for lower Tylers. I missed the turn onto Tiddlywinks and rode all the way to Wanoga. Turned around and rode back down. Stiff lower back ain’t now fun.

Friday night I drove up to Wanoga finding a neat spot off the pavement. However, nothing but dried up volcanic dirt, Lots of easily created dust. Sat I rode from Swampy down South Fork, zooming down Tumalo creek then climbing up Tumalo Ridge then Swede ridge back  parking lot.

Let me say this about that about shuttle riders. Money eliminates sweat work. Unscientific analysis tends to believe the lesser practioners of Trail Love are pay to ride riders. I have paid my way up also but I have not given up to me proper behavior.

Today I drove back to town for a shower and beer. I ran into Todd, the math prof, he said he would come drink a beer at 10 Barrel when I was there. He and his wife sat with me under a shade umbrella at a10 Barrel. we regaled each other with stories and insights to life. Both are college profs.

Tomorrow is fridge service date and turn my bike over to Sunnyside to shorten the brake hoses. Hot and ry. Perhaps get a ride in before the appointment.

Monday I stood in line at the post office for the mailed test strips. I saw 2 young women with PCT packs.I asked if it was PCT, yes they said. We stood chatting for several minutes with each of them wearing their pack. One woman’s name was a take off on nail painting. I saw that her nails had remnants of past polish. I offered mine to which she dove into painting her friends and her nails. I offered and they accepted a short ride to the outskirts of town on rt 20 to Sisters then up to Santiam pass to pick up the trail. No test strips, PO couldn’t find per the sender that the package was delivered: Overnight UPS to USPS. Something triggered Verizon to upload voice mails from weeks ago. One was a UPS person asking for an address to drop of the package. If shipped USPS “general Delivery’ is correct address to use. UPS needs the street address of the PO. However if shipped general delivery to city PO with the PO street address things get crazy. Tomorrow I will call UPS and give them the street address of the PO or pick them up.

Life goes on: dry, dusty, and extreme fire danger.

3 beers, a long taste of corn, and numerous puffs affected this blog.