Country tour or settle more.
Last year I rode in 26 states which kept my visit time short to squeeze in many trails. This year I have anchored in Central Oregon Bend area and over the hill Oakridge. Familiarity with the trails, know where to sleep, eat, drink beer, maybe even get the local discount treatment. Certainly fewer miles driven, but less variation. America is varied and full of new figuring things out for a short visit. What I miss on this odyssey is long term connection and make a contribution; I lack back story info. I am benefiting from making Bend connections into the health care as a returning patient among other connections.
This AM at 7:00AM it was 35 degrees outside. Inside the furnace produced heat before I left the warm covers. Last night I even closed the windows. No coyotes sharing their life. Most great was the clear skies smoke free. Good enough for me. I rested only 4 days in a row. Rode Phils Loop. Dry and dusty but hardly anybody to share the trail with. 14.95 miles climbing 1365′, less than 100’/mile but wonderful to pedal, I did not shift to 42T gear. Oakridge is so much about climbing or descending.
Forecast calls for smokey skies thru the week. Unacceptable smoke density nixes a ride.
Craig, we will miss you heading east, hopefully next year, so many new trails in BC now, it’s getting huge! Until our paths cross again (literally!) take care my friend! Phil Sitterding