Tonight I am sleeping in a snowpark at 4800′ elevation at Santiam Pass right near Hoodoo ski area. Bear grass blooming.
Mosquitoes: afternoon was warm enough to cover openings with loosely attached netting which kept the deluge of insects however, enough found their way inside and many found bare flesh for blood withdrawal. I just squashed one in mid flight that had a belly full of blood, some of which was put on several keyboard keys. I charged the battery on my low powered dust buster and used it to suck up them while flying. Thing lacks the power to pull in even mosquitoes. There are numerous dead mosquitoes around my work station. No mosquitoes in Bend down low.
I am here staging for finishing the drive down to McKenzie Bridge for a shuttle ride of O’Leary. Forecast is for showers.
Today I drove way down to Fort Rock and the Propex guy to service my failed furnace. He replaced the fan motor which required removing the furnace from the under the van. Will learn in a short while of his success.
Several nights ago I was in bed with lights out. I heard scratching in the food drawer. Shit. I opened the drawer but didn’t see the source. I lay in bed listening to the scratching. Where I stay there is an abundance of chipmunks and ground squirrels, one of which I feared was making the sound. I slept thru the night. The next day, all day long no sound, I assumed whatever it was decided to leave. Again, lights out and in bed when the scratching commenced. I searched the floor with my headlamp. I caught sight of the source: a mouse. I have smash to death mouse traps in my junk drawer. To get them I needed to hoist the bed up which is becoming more of a chore and cause for concern of failure from wear. I put almond butter on a trap then set it on the floor hoping that the bugger would find it. Shortly the sound of the spring snapping shut caused me to turn on the light: one squished mouse. I opened the door then dropped the mouse and trap to the ground. In the morning I searched for the trap but not found. After my ride I searched wider and found the 2 still mechanically attached. The mouse munched on an apple instead of my chocolate or cookie. Dunno how they are getting inside.
Friday after a ride I dropped my bike off at Sunnyside for fork service. The shop threw a solstice party. Nicole, the woman I helped after her fall, joined me for conversation.
So many of these squashed mosquitoes leave red smears of my blood.
Sat I drove down to Sunriver to help build trail. Some day this piece will link up with Catch and Release which makes accessing the Phils trail network from Sunriver which is north of my future home which shortens the drive. 23 volunteers almost all men and older.
Bike wasn’t ready.
Sunday drove into town to pick up my bike. Service was performed and condition of fork was shared: worn out. 9989 miles and 708 rides. Worn out. Shopping for a new fork. Diaz said the Fox 34 is the fork to get. I will buy the fork and have it shipped to him for tuning. Going to be about $1,000.
Sunday I rode a big Mrazek ridge ride like 2 previous rides. This time all the trees were cleared and snow was all melted. Still comforting to vape pot for the big grinder uphill. Seems the hill just disappears. I feel less discomfort while powering up the climb.
Forecast for tomorrow’s ride is for showers. Ride is mostly under deep big tree cover.
Defrosted the fridge while the furnace was being worked on. I put a pan of 120 degree water in the freezer compartment against the built up ice and waited. After awhile the ice build up let go from the walls. Ice removed. Temp got to almost 50. Switched fridge to electric which is the more efficient cooling method. temp dropped down to upper 30s within an hour. Wow.
3 bar 4G at the pass. back in ’78 on my PCT hike I stayed at a CCC built lodge owned by a church camp. Building was abandoned but I believe it has been adopted for restoration because of its historical significance. I will go by it tomorrow.