Wow, I have let many days pass without sharing. Succinctly, I left Bend this AM, climbed up to Diamond Lake, skirted Crater Lake then made my way to Rogue River to ride a new trail, Mountain of the Rogue which Leslie wrote and article about the trail in this issue of Dirt Rag. I checked their weather forecast wanting temps at least in low 90s. Today was the day. Big drive from dry central high desert Oregon to the sea level at Reedsport. On rt 230 down from Crater Lake there were numerous FS roads closed because of fire activity. Extreme danger. Even over here on the coast there is a burn ban. I checked with the FS visitor center outside of Bend to learn that alcohol stoves are not allowed as they can not be put out with a valve.

So, the Rogue trail was opened in 2015, it’s sort of a one way climb way up to top then descend on a definite down hill only trail. Lots of poison oak. Nicely built trail, give it maybe 5 more years to weather in.

The climb mostly faces south and west which brought to bear the direct rays, been a long time since I sweated my glasses. Bitch. My lap took an hour. Per a local at the TH that was pretty fast. Not smokin but not needing supplemental O2. Still severely dehydrated.

From there making tracks to Reedsport and the coast. Picked a state XG. Drove down the road into the park and only at the XG entrance was there a sign saying full up. Sign should be out at 101 to save frustration. Staying at a Douglas county park.

Tomorrow I will drive up the coast to Florence for the drive back across the coastal range then on to Oakridge again. I ordered and paid for a new Absolute Black oval chain ring to arrive mid week at Sunnyside. Should be back in Bend at weekend then split before the eclipse.

Riding in Bend has been dry and dusty. Deep pumice powder. Again, riding by myself I don’t  eat that dust. Today I left from rd 41 where a few drops hit my windshield this AM. I drove back into Bend seeing water puddles. Town got it but just a bit up the hill, nothing.

Thursday I did another brushing evening volunteer work with COTA. I went again to attempt to correct the scorched earth effort on the ceanothus of the previous week. My observation and suggestion was not well received. The growth does not occur from where it was cut, that branch dies. New growth just occurs. Gary chopped out several root balls which had runners. Not like Knapweed but similar tenacity. A brief thunderstorm squall caught me near a XC shelter where I made a roof over my head for the brief dump. Tonight the brushing was minimal. We walked a piece that I helped brush last year with Woody, the snowbrush did not need cutting.

I only rode 3 days between ;laundry. Hot on all days and on some I rested.

The Runt is still top drawer.

Samsung pushed an upgrade which has affected downloading several web sites.

My replacement Garmin Edge 520 arrived. Beyond shitty directions and the thing won’t allow access to several main screens. Not happy, will learn of its performance when Garmin customer service plays email with me.

Van is running strong on the flats and downhills. On the uphills it is a bit faster than an air cooled VW Westie. I don’t put my foot into it. 208,xxx miles.

Long day, looking for bunk time. The PT worked over my back, visit last week he used just his thumbs for which I am still sore. My right side still restricts my movement both on the bike and sleeping. Dave told me to sleep on a real pillow to keep my back and neck properly supported.

August 15 is seasonal opening of Flagline in Bend. Big ride coming up.

Tomorrow going to walk barefoot in the ocean at sea level elevation. desert to ocean. High to low.

Thursday I rode out to learn about this Runt thingy on South Fork descent which I really like. The Runt was Da Bomb: what a much smoother ride. Years ago I experienced the ride enhancement of custom shock tuning by PUSH. What an improvement. The Runt is right there with benefit of custom tuning. Have I said recently how much fun I have riding my bike?

I rode back thru what we cut out earlier in the week. Over cut, just opened up an old skidder road that was better hidden by encroaching snowbrush.

back down to town for town stuff. Slept out beyond Phils. A rig had driven in after I left and left more than tire tracks: litter. I used the can for target shooting. Open door and netting. Story on netting is the night I was parked at the old Camas Ranger Station location on the Umpqua forest at night. I was sitting at my table after dark, light on, I looked towards the door in time to see a bat in full wing extension flying in.It took 3 laps around the inside to find its way out. Netting is for more than just mosquitoes. Won’t stand up to the advances of a raccoon.

Sat was a big day as I rode Metolious WIndigo and planned on walking on snow. I drove up Skyliner and parked at samesake TH. Pedal up Tumalo creek that other rides rode downhill. Hit the filling parking lot at Tumalo Falls. Climb up North Fork which is bike friendly only when pedaling uphill. Courteous interactions with hikers and them with me. I brain farted by not taking in all dimensions of the envelope I ride in and connected with a dead branch with my left forearm ripping 2 serious needing bandages right now wounds. I carry a stocked first aid kit. I dropped my pack and started pulling bandaging stuff out. A rider came upon me and asked if I was alright. I said yes and he started to pedal away. Wait, I said, If you will help me bandage the wound I would be quite grateful. He stayed and wrapped 2 wraps of magic tape over a gauze pad. He left and I followed. North Fork was free of snow. Metolious was free also but I saw some pretty big deep patches of snow that was indicative of how much snow there could have been had I ridden here 2 weeks ago when I originally planed this ride. The ride was 26.15 miles climbing 3,333′ taking 3 hrs 33 mins. The Middle Fork of Tumalo was flowing over the stepping stones to keep feet dry. I could not discern a dry foot crossing so I just stepped. Joy of flat pedal shoes with no cleat under the ball of my foot. One woman just powered thru, one stopped to take off her shoes and socks.

A tree had fallen across the trail and was cut out exposing this cross section:

I started hearing an awful creak in my bike. I checked and retightened if loose all the bolts. Didn’t stop the noise. I called Sunnyside who told me the squeak guy is in tomorrow and they can make the noise go away. The bottom bracket needed some help and it is now installed such that the chain guard will work. Still a squeak. They charge by the hour and have a methodology for squeak fix. Turns out it was a loose chain ring bolt. No. squeak.

Yesterday Woody called and invited me on a social ride today meeting at Swampy at 8:30 for a shuttle ride back to 7th Mountain. 7 of us, dusty trails. 19.63 miles climbing 1040 but dropping 2835. JoJo rewards us with cold sliced watermelon. Woody says they always have melon because they are from the south. Shuttle back up to Swampy to retrieve our rigs.

Van temp reading is 89 degrees. Haze in the air. Rest day tomorrow topped off with another PT session.

Forest fires in the west, smoke blows downwind. Bend gets some but still clear enough to ride. Steve in Sun Valley says the smoke is too thick to exercise in.

 

Diaz Suspension design makes a device he named Runt which is a 2 chamber like air bladder that takes the place of the tokens in either the Pike or my Lyrik. I did the install in the parking lot behind Sunnyside, my go to shop. I pedaled what bumps I could roll over in the alley, I noticed that it is much more small bump compliant. Next ride will provide feedback. I also mounted a new Minnion DHF 2.5WT on the rear replacing the worn down 1171 mile 78 rides same model tire. Tall sharp edged knobs on new tire so confidence inspiring.

Upper 90s here and forecast for almost 100 later this week. Ride early and be done or late. Nice temp drop at night which slows the onset of the heat.

I am not sleeping without tossing and waking up before 8hours have slept by. I sleep with the side door and the driver’s windows opened covered by screen. I sleep under the worn flannel sheet. The sacking down blanket is bunched up so I can pull it over me near sunrise because of the chill finally. This AM I slid out of bed before 7 and did the steps to convert my bedroom into kitchenette and prepare b-fast. I heated the coffee water and made my cold brewed extract cup. I put on bread to toast and oatmeal to simmer 10 mins. Then I smelled the death spiral of the last propane thru the orifices of the stove and fridge. Fridge thru the code I ran out of juice and the burners were dry. OK. sort of put kitchen stuff away and making the van ready for travel. I made the west side gas station with propane just after 7. Took max 5.6 gallons. Fridge changed its code to I’m good. I ate breakfast out.

Today was to be a rest day. I rearranged things to do and got on with it.

At Sunnyside I asked for a body shop recommendation. One was given. I called the shop, sure bring it by and we’ll go from there. Out on east side. No appointment needed and a fix it guy was dispatched to my van. I gave him the trim piece. He figured out the attachment tapping it into the fasteners. I got to smack in the last stubborn one. Doesn’t fit as tight as the left side but all contacts appear to be engaged. Did it for thanks.

As I was installing the new tire the UPS man delivered the Runt part.

I drove up to Wanoga snowpark at 5500′, almost 2,000′ higher than town, for cooler temp. So far better in the 80s. I scored that for me is the best spot. Today I cleaned up the most litter ever, just little stuff but from the quantity and what it was their camp was prolly pretty messy.

Yesterday my plan was to do an early ride then drive to a body shop appointment, help at a COTA work party, shower then bed.

I drove out to green gate side trail to Storm King then up Funner to Wanoga, next was Tiddlywinks over to Kiwa Butte connecting with upper end of Tylers, turning onto Larsen’s, last part of Tiddlywinks, short piece of Storm King back. 2 hr 6 min for 16.75 miles climbing 1686′ (100′ climbing per mile). Temp in upper 80s. Tylers is so hammered most notably are the brake stutter bumps before a challenging feature because the rider is riding faster than he / she can made the turn. Deep powder dirt. Clear vision riding first. Tylers has lots of high speed whoops and turns. I will admit I do enjoy riding my bike down this trail.

I made the body shop appointment. Per our first telecon my understanding was someone would attempt to install the trim piece. Conversation with front desk lady was the appointment was only for the estimate and they were booked up for work till end of month. I walked out.

Tues at 5:30 was meet time for COTA work project up on Tumalo ridge cutting back ceanothus brush. 7 volunteers joined in. Long drive on resource extraction roads to get to where the single track leaves road. Tonight any ceanothus green branch / trunk within 4′ of the trail was severed from its connection with its roots. I cut and drug out cuttings and a swamper drug them away. Amazing amount of effort for little distance. The manzanita was left as it grows much slower and it broke up sight lines. Really sweated out. Back in town for 9:30 shower then drive out past Phils. Camera dropped pics of before and after which now reveals trail is on old logging haul road. No more scratches and won’t need to be cut out for a bunch of years.

I visited the FS ranger station seeking identification of these butterflies and the damage to the ceanothus. The guy was not in. I emailed him along with pics. He answered later that day that the butterflies are the California Tortoiseshell. The out break and defoliation of the ceanothus is a natural event. The brush will recover per his observation of a previous eaten patch. I must return next year to see for myself. The adults are flying off to uneaten patches to lay eggs for the next batch.

Monday was a rest day starting off with a PT session. This time Dave laid into my back with his infamous elbow. He kept up the pressure in spite of my slapping the table signifying I was pinned and he won. My back is sore still today.

So tomorrow early is South Fork ride then climb back up what we cut last night and on new rear tire and better performing fork.

Simon from Sedona is here. He said this next issue of Bike will have and article about him. To be out in public soon.

Oh, this pick up truck was parked at Phils. A sticker was added. The riders loaded their bikes into the bed and drove away with no recognition of an enhancement.

Hazy skies. Hungry Hearts by Springsteen. Pax ERA extract pod loaded with chem diesel packing 72%THC. Distractions. Mariners are away causing early my time starts and with the home team announcer. I am not so compelled to listen to the game.  XM is always on when I am awake. The sound of voices and thinking. I refuse to think of not having it. Earlier back when I lost it several times. Recovery made its way into my planning. Outside my home I hear real time voices and whatever music is playing. Interesting generational pressure manifests itself in shops where there are baby boomers the music is from my period. Younger people grew up listening to our music which gave them a taste before they went on to create their own which can be way outside my taste and other boomers. Public places play our music. Some day in the near future our music will be replaced by theirs as was our parents by ours. My dad was big band swing music before WWll and was a college musician. He didn’t play music at home except for Sundays when we would listen to classical music on OSU broadcast. I like that music more than the newer stuff.