Yesterday at the laundromat I put ,my solar shower under the hot faucet and turned it on: room temp, busy day used all the hot water. Still I drove over to West Fir and the Red Bridge park only to see like event stuff piled on tables under the pavilion. I asked what’s up and if they expected a crowd soon such that i would lose the men’s room shower stall. Turns out it is the Sturdy Dirty women’s enduro race series racing on Sat. They are expecting 150 women racers on Alpine. I was offered to share the camping area for $ but I turned them down. Just could not imagine myself in that big a crowd of women. turns out 2 of the organizers shared dinner with me at Thai restaurant in Bell rock Plaza back in March. They were unaware that i was thrown out of the parking lot just after we walked out of restaurant.  Their memory said they stepped into my van for nips of moonshine. I chatted awhile then took my shower. I stopped at the Merch to compliment Olivia on her shifting fix.

Next on my route was the Pub for a beer. As I was walking to the pub a full sized pick up truck drove up alongside me. It was local legend Jim, the one who rides Heckletooth so many times. He told me he just completed his 200th ride sharing it with a bunch of riders. He mad a Tshirt made for all those riders. Heckle200th was the logo. Congrats to him. He and Ketchum Roger share a drive, Roger climbs Baldy every day. He occupied the entire west bound lane as he chatted, he even shut the engine off. I checked for drivers wanting to go by and he told me traffic here isn’t like the burg I come from. Just shut ‘er down on First ave. Drives checked out the opposite travel lane to go by and not a horn was honked.

None of their beers make me smile so I drink a short pint while reading the paper. I sat at a window table where I just happened to be able to see the back of my van. I watched a couple checking it out. I looked away then back and they were gone. Soon a guy stopped at my table and asked if that was my van. Yes, I said, he introduced himself: Jiimmymac, former editor of MBA, the guy who wrote the article Riders Who Inspire that I only read after I bought that issue and read it at the bar at Hot Tomato. I turned the pages, There was my facebook pic and his article. He said that this was the only time he ever wrote about someone without actually meeting them and was concerned how I would take it if he ever met me. We met and there was nothing but enjoyment and compliments, I for him and he for me as still  a rider who inspires. He left MBA over the publishers insistence that he include articles about Ebikes. The mag had 2 issues that had Ebike articles / stuff after he left and that was all as a sister mag was created for those bikes. The current editor has taken a stand that Ebikes will be covered not in this mag. He retired and has been living his life. So cool to meet each other.

Afterwards I drove up Salmon Creek road and scored a camp site right on the creek bank. Creek flows more like a small river. Only gas stoves are allowed, nothing burning as the fire danger is extreme. I kept the door open all night and listened to the  river flow.

Today I chose to ride the Flat Creek part of the Dead Mtn trail, the upper part is newly constructed as a flow trail which I do not like plus more climbing was required to reach its entrance. Selective timber cut was performed over the trail which was not harmed by the dragging out of the logs. 12.8 miles of which 9.25 was road climbing 1942′ pedaling 1hr 20 mins, downhill was 3.55 miles taking 21 minutes to drop 1791’. Big hump for such short smile on my face ride.

Encountered this practice line dug typical of Hotshot crews.

Hot shots have 24 on their crew and dig a wider trail than the 12 man crew I was on back in 1970. I was one of our 6 man hoe line which dug the actual line in the dirt. Spent many hours bent over swinging a hazel hoe.

Drove back into Oakridge:

Fire continues to burn uncontained, ECD for containment is like Sept 30 after seasonal rains fall. 596 personnel on the fire which is 2703 acres.

Another beer at the Pub then see where that goes.

I wrote this last night:

Tuesday I raised anchor from sea level and sand to the mountains of Oakridge. Third visit this summer. Highway 126 from Florence to Eugene is a faster less curvy route either way compared to my way in to Reedsport.  Sunshine and a little fog which I drove out of a short distance inland. I found anytime fitness in Eugene for a shower. I visited the Merch catching up on whatever wisps of local info. Eugene the guy, thanked me for entertaining them with my stories. Dinner and beer at Brewers Union Pub in old town Oakridge. Tuesday night is open mike which brings in performers and their audiences. Small community gathering place. My license plate still holds a center spot on the wall of other license plates. There is room for me on the Cog Wild Alpine shuttle tomorrow. I said maybe. A 9PM departure set me on a short drive to Dead Mtn TH parking. Chilly enough to close the sliding door. Most notable was the absence of mosquitoes.

This AM I woke sort of feeling up to riding, Alpine for sure, maybe ATCA should I decide I felt my body could match my brain promise. Drop off at Kate’s Cutin which I helped build several years ago. We constructed a sustainable piece of trail that rides like it is: hand build narrow single track. One rider sported a fuckin Ebike which is legal on Alpine. Huh? I asked why he didn’t just pedal up and ride down. He said that at 50 pounds it still is work to pedal. He said because of his age and condition he treated himself to assistance. He and others rode out to the Chrome Toilet before heading down Alpine way behind me so I never got to watch one going downhill. My ride was enjoyable experiencing the butter ride with the Runt in my fork which is to ramp up like a coil without the coil by using air. Remarkable. With the stock fork every small bump transmitted a shock to my hands because that’s the way the fork was supposed to work, the Runt fixed that making for a much smoother ride. At the Tire Mtn intersection I cogitated a big ride and maybe a root beer float reward or the shorter Alpine back to vape. Pot won. Trail shows wear since I last rode it last month with Steve. Still holding up. A 2000 acre plus  uncontained forest fire is burning just west of the trail sending up smoke. Oakridge is obscured. The Runt and the 2 new Formula Cura brakes were the cat’s pajamas. The trail traverses several meadow sections where the vegetation is brown, the blooming wildflowers of last month transitioned to seeding. As a result some sight lines are more open.

Olivia’s shifting fix wore off on my ride. I let her have another go with her female wiles and she succeeded. Whooppee Olivia.

A short beer at the Pub while reading the Eugene newspaper. I grocery shopped at Rays for home cooked meal. I drove out salmon Creek road then took a newly built logging road climbing up dead Mountain. I found a pull out that required 3 leveling blocks under the downhill rear tire. House of the rising sun playing on XM. I remember hearing that back in late 60s. I was a counselor at a residence boy scout camp that summer, a staff member wrote camp lyrics to the music. Back in ’67. We were all kids.

Oakridge has ups and downs on legacy hiking trails which are fun challenging to ride. Rays grocery stocks stuff that local customers buy because that’s what’s there. Produce that doesn’t turn over before it goes limp. No Parmesan reggio cheese. Rays is the upscale market in La Pine. The Pub as a small crowd gathering spot. Bend has stuff, people, crowds, $, and dry dusty trails with not as much elevation gain as here. My new chain ring should be at Sunnyside and the sink faucet nest week. Monday is the eclipse which is said to bring in 200,000 visitors to Bend as up RT 97 the town of Madras will be in totality. Solar shower here but no balance ball for stretching and sit ups. An article about newly recognized for mtn biking trails at Baker City, OR appeared in the new issue of Bike. That’s way at eastern edge of OR.

Yesterday I spent over an hour with technical support to fix a problem with my phone. I started with Verizon as that’s who I have a contract with. Their tech couldn’t fix it. Because the issue is with Google not displaying correctly she hooked me up with their support. She worked to no success. Because the problem was caused by Samsung pushing an upgrade she sent me to Samsung. I was using my ear bud which allowed me to work the screen. During Samsung session the battery died. I used speaker till the tech said I was cutting out. Now I am holding the phone to me ear and can’t work the screen. She couldn’t resolve the issue. I had 2 choices: she could wipe my phone clean of all data and reinstall or I could find a Best Buy for some kind of free tech support. I chose the latter. Today I deleted a web browser app and the phone works like it did. Not saying that I know more than those who do. Just saying that my phone now works.

Blackberries were in splendid ripened state at the bottom of Alpine. Finger staining lip smacking delicious and so many. Lots of thorns protecting.

Funny: I took my solar shower into the mens room at red bridge where I take over the toilet stall for a shower. I walked out with wet hair. A male rider from a group of riders made a comment about a shower. A woman in the group bit, the guy told her there was a shower in the rest room. She started towards the woman’s rest room , the guy deflated her joy of being clean.

 

Today, 8/17

At ST Vinie waiting on dry clothes.

I drove down to Dead Mtn TH for the start of Heckletooth ride, one that local Jim has ridden some 200 times now. The ride pedals up paved Salmon Creek rd to rd 2408 grave, crossing the creek then climbing a bunch up to where the single track leaves the road. Just a pedal hump. Single track. Trail is not heavily ridden which keeps it harder than Alpine. Actually there are several spots that are flat out walk a bike for me: steep, drag rear brake, some sharp switchbacks, and lots of woods single track. Shifting was happy, just waiting for new chain ring. Thinking chain noise is caused by incorrectly installed bottom bracket at initial install. Sunnyside removed it, cleaned it and repressed it back in which now located it correctly. Suspect chain ring is worn from out of line bottom bracket. 19.86 miles climbing 3068′ pedaling for 2 hrs 38 mins. For my condition it was a burly ride.

Still smokey in town river bottom, no web info on the Jones fire which is the closest.

Dry clothes folded and put away. The laundromat has hot water faucet, phooey on solar, I’m burning fuel for a hot shower, I’ll fill up the shower bag then drive over to red bridge to take over the toilet stall. Some things just are better done behind doors.

I refueled propane at local station. A fuel double bottom tanker pulled in, I remarked about the supply, the guy said Madras stations are empty and Bend’s supplies are shrinking faster than can be resupplied. Eclipse.

I have decided to stay here thru the weekend to stay out of totaliers crowd, maybe leave on Tuesday. Going to be a mad house with so many visitors seeking total darkness.

Helicopter is based at airport to support the fire suppression by dropping buckets of water on the hot spots, it returns here for refueling.

No pics of today’s ride.

I spent yesterday at sea level, I didn’t ride to test my altitude acclimation, I just walked on sand and splashed in the ocean. I scored a camp site at Wax Myrtle USFS campground, half price fee with senior access pass for only $11, makes the price seem almost free.

Over time I have ridden the Umpqua River trail from its source a ways, now I drove to its mouth at its names sake light house,

Tsunami potentially affected area, a new danger for me. Not falling rocks but raging sea. Numerous signs directing evacuees to safety when the water starts moving your house off its foundation.

From the XG I walked a one lane service road to the beach which has cordoned off areas to protect a plover bird. Trail / road was just loose sand about a mile in length. Had the entire beach as far as I could see all to myself. Summertime, vacation time, Monday and nobody else out there. Perhaps the trek winnowed out the less I want to see the water crowd.

The XG did not fill up and is much nicer than the choices, non federal, around Reedsport and cheaper but FS XGs do not have showers as a rule.

After dinner I walked out to the ocean from the XG with desire to see the sun set. However, the 58 degrees with a breeze were greater than my choice of clothing would give me comfort so my visit was short. Amazing, big parking lot prolly for motorized crowd but a short hike to the beach was 1 car full. Living in high 80 and 90 degrees temps must change the body comfort level. I was chilly.

Yesterday I bought a freshly steamed Dungeness crab that I ate for dinner. So sweet and delectable. Learned that the 15th this month is the closing date for commercial harvest. Same day is the opening day of Flagline Trail at Bend.

My sink faucet allows water to escape from its guts when I open the stream flow, I tried replacing Orings which didn’t stop the unwanted flow. I ordered a new faucet today shipped from Kentucky to Bend which will now hold me in town till prolly the eclipse which I was trying to be out of town for.

Today I will drive back to Oakridge and another ride on ATCA tomorrow then back to Bend to ride Flagline before it gets over ridden.

This year I have noticed more litter. The place near my favorite spot at Bend must be a daily visit spot for someone who shares their choice of purchases. A neighboring camp spot in the XG had several cans in the still smoldering fire pit. Who cleans up their mess?

I started looking at rides in CO of which there are many. My thoughts are CO for the fall for the colors. Country roads take me home again. I will make a brief swing thru WA.

No mosquitoes