Last night out at favorite past Phils sleep spot smoke really settled in. The inside was the same as what was outside. My van even tonight still smells of smoke. Forecasted a sunny afternoon today with winds shifting to from the north where there are no fires.
Today was laundry day which chewed up the AM allowing smoke to clear per forecast. Blue sky is just overhead blow smoke blow smoke away. I drove up to the Green Gate. Just a light haze filtered thru the trees. Route went so: social trail to Storm King, Funner to Larsens TH, Tiddlywinks over to Kiwa Butte to Tylers, to Larsens, to Tiddlywinks to Storm King to social trail to cold beer. 16 miles in 2 hours all by myself. There are some pieces of for me really fun downhills. Tylers is beat which has a lot of grade reversals. Drop the seat all the way then dance on the bike. My tires sounded soft at 17 and 18 psi. The rear wheel squiggled on soft bermed turns. Will add a pound. Shifting worked like it was right out of the box.
Been looking at 46T cogs but haven’t found a SRAM derailleur that will handle 46, presently it is 42 that I ride now. I wonder what I would gain by going lower.
Last night I walked from 10 Barrel to the Lot. I passed another beer place on the way. I looked at the patrons seated about. One caught my eye but I wasn’t sure. He stood up and came over to me, it was Derrick from Oakridge up here working on a trail out in Tumalo. Greetings. We shared dinner at The Lot tonight.
Drove out to favorite spot. Smoke was less:
Still smokey. But I am high and dry.
Forecast this weekend is all but 100 degrees. Think Sat I will drive north to RD 44 trails above Hood River.