Monday AM I looked north to the hill for a smoke assessment, I could see the outline. I wanted to ride. Plan implemented, drive up to Swampy snow park and check out smoke opacity. I wanted to ride. OK. I’m pedaling. I wanted another go at South Fork, my most favorite trail here. I was rewarded, just another screamer down. The gradient is a work to pedal up and a hoot to coast down. Heavily ridden: brake bumps before the harder move. Lots of little drops to huck off, mostly roots that become exposed as a result of wearing away the dirt. Great tuned suspension. South Fork Ts into Tumalo creek for an undulating up and fast down then the grind climb up Tumalo Ridge. Smoke is noticeable:
Trail emerges from the forest thru the ceanothus I helped cut out.
Then an 19 min slog on an old haul road to Swede ridge trails, I pick the one closer to Swampy which is longer but more pedal friendly to join Swampy back to the TH. My riding ability is improving as I gain further confidence. Ride was 15.5 miles pedaling 2 hrs 2 mins climbing 1716′ better than 110′ / mile. All by myself. Smoke and heat and kids back in school thin other recreators.
Back at Swampy TH there was only 1 rig in the lot. I worked on my bike to identify and eliminate a skritch. I regreased both pedals still the noise. I backed off the upper shock bolt then squirted a dose of Boeshield then retightened the bolt: silence. My shifting was back to doing its misshifting. I called Sunnyside and made a new derailleur replacement for today. I spent the night at the TH.
During last night I stretched out my left leg to move the coves around. Bang: big cramp. I need to work it out out of the bed. It takes a bit of work that exposes me to other cramps. I slid out of bed then worked on the cramp. I even drank about 1 tbsp of straight Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar. Icky face. The cramp relaxed can’t say the vinegar did the trick.
This AM at wake up I checked out visibility. I could see blue sky. Good enough for me. My ride was out to Swampy then another fun filled downhill down South Fork. Turned up creek on Tumalo creek then climbed up North Fork which is uphill only for bikers. Tumalo Falls:
Just short of Happy Valley another mtn biker was riding downhill. I stopped him telling him the trail is uphill only for bikes. He said his legs played out and his wife left him. I told him he would need to walk his bike down. I was resting at Happy Valley when he showed up. He said walking down sucked so he was going to make his body climb Mrazek then drop down on Farewell. A shrinking snow patch remains. Metolius is a hump climbing up to 6700′ in hemlock old growth. The main Tumalo creek crossing was now all dry feet but needing stepping stones. Flagline has ups and downs before it finally trends down. I am beat. Temps are in upper 80s which is cooking my bacon. Tread is loose and beat up in places, again brake bumps. My shifting acted up again. I made 2 small cable tightening adjustments to no affect then I cranked a bunch of turns and the shifting resolved. I no longer think the problem resolution is a new derailleur. The shifting settled in. Big hot day: 21.2 miles climbing 2913′ pedaling 3 hrs 7 mins burning 1183 cals. I established heart rate zones for the edge 520 to capture aerobic and anaerobic beats per min. This ride I spent 1 hr 44 mins aerobic but 1 hr 22 mins above. I drank a lot of water.
Empty parking lot. Drove down to town into increasing smoke. Filled water at Visitor center. Shower at snap. Visited Sunnyside to cancel bike repair appointment.
Back out at favorite Phils spot.
Intersesting tree cover: At Swampy going down hill tree cover is Lodgepole, as the trail drops north to where more moisture trees change to hemlock. Tumalo creek is lodgepole but the climb up north fork is back into old growth hemlock as is Flagline till it crests a ridge then back to lodgepole. All about water. North and east facing slopes receive less direct sun which does not dry out the soil so much which then favors wet trees like hemlock.
No results from CT scan, tomorrow I expect what was discovered. Which will determine my departure date.
Temps are forecast to drop; during the week with thunderstorm teases. Extreme fire danger with woods still open. Seems most of the fires are lightning caused. I worked my fire putting out summer during summer vaca. I left the fire to return to school. I wonder how fire crews on fires today after school starts are fairing.
My eyes are burning. All things have a smoke bouquet.