Tonight parked at favorite Phils spot which has shade.So many campers have used this spot where it was once just a gap in boulders. It’s public land. I realized that public land is just that when one day I was on my property which is 4 doors away from the Deschutes NF when I heard target shooting. Just because the land is near me or I am on it, the land is shared.
Was wrestling with health issues last week. Getting closer to the cause and solution. Guts are not responsible for abdominal pain. A PT session last week discovered skeletal muscular issues. Something about cyclists because we spend so many hours bent over. Realignment of pelvis. Pain is lessened, howeve what I really notice is easier walking. Followup Tues.
Hot summer. Cloud over with forest fire smoke from far away. Air quality is still healthy.
Flagline opened on the 15th at the end of seasonal closure for calving elk. I made my ride there on Sat. I parked at Skyliner TH then pedaled up Tumalo creek to Tumalo Falls parking lot. Start of North Fork climb sharing the trail with lots of hikers either hiking up or down. Bikes are allowed only to climb which sure eliminates user conflict. 2 trail runners joined my wheel, I was able to stay ahead of them for a little distance. At the first tech feature I struggled on they passed me. I sort of kept them in site till they disappeared. I could not match their casual speed. Happy Valley and Metolius Windigo trail junction. This piece sucks my energy as it has lots of short steep ups and downs mixed in with a bit longer climbs. I paused several times for recovery. Trail goes under Tumalo Peak, volcanic desert in the trees. Snow patch melted out. Turned onto Flagline, the apple of this ride. Hemlock tree cover, older trees. Woods trail riding. Joined Swampy shelter trail for a short distance to the old shelter location and the start of the S Fork trail, one of my most favorite trails. Dropped down to Tumalo creek trail back to the TH. 22.4 miles taking 3 hrs 15 mins climbing 2832′. Big day. Back to town for a shower, groceries, water, beer and dinner. Back out to for me new spot at Phils.
Garmin computer algorithm calculated recovery time of 20 hours.
Today I chose a less demanding ride from sleep spot out Marvins turning right onto KGB bailing on fast easy Expressway trail to Grand Slam which I rode all the way to terminus at Storm King. Rode thru the active feller buncher logging. Climb Storm King to terminus with Phils for the fun downhill back home. Still a 2 hour ride of almost solid pedaling. The part of Phils that drops down the canyon is so much fun: I do separate my wheels from the earth.
Friday after my PT session I drove up to FS welcome center for a ride going downstream of the Deschutes. First climbing Catch and Release to its other end then pedaling a gravel road down to the river and the trail that runs alongside. I rode thru where we brushed earlier this summer. Nice and open.
Air quality will determine where I travel to. Spokane is unhealthy air. I keep putting off making Spokane appointments. OK next Monday.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. Voltaire. Cry of fake news and the press is the enemy (absurdity), confronting reporters starts the atrocities.