First thing on Thurs morn was to call AAA roadside assistance to line up a tow back to Bend. Previous experience learned was I would be in for a long wait. Truck arrived within 90 mins, driver called to tell me when he would arrive and he nailed it. Driver pulled the van out further in the parking lot to be able to hoist the van onto his carrier. Success. Van strapped in place. I did try to start the van before tow arrival to same result. Quick ride to Bend and the service garage.
The 2 service advisers at the shop are mtn bikers. I was booked in with possibility of late afternoon or Fri for sure. I was cleared to sleep in the parking lot. I hung around sometimes popping it to start a biking conversation. Dunno efficacy of my conversation but I do know that Casey reported that the cause and the fix was a fuel pump module not energizing the high pressure fuel pump. It was a fuel system problem. They installed a Ford module. At 5 I was able to leave the garage under my own power. Success in that this time the cause of failure was discovered and fixed.
Still enough time to do laundry, chose the west end place. Put clothes in front loading machine and a detergent pod. Slid correct quantity of quarters in the slot then hit start. I watched. Darn pod worked its way to the door sill which prevented it from dissolving, my load went thru with no detergent. Door would not open until cycle completion. I stayed then slid another load of quarters and buried the pod in the clothes. Water poured in and the drum spun. The pod dissolved cleaning my clothes. Early evening, drove out to Phils.
Friday I set out from sleep spot near Marvin’s garden. Made a big loop climbing up to top of Storm King then mostly descending on same to Catch and Release picking up piece of Ticket to Ride then other trails to arrive back at van. Crazy: 24 miles climbing 2008′ which was longer and more climbing than O’Leary ridge ride. Almost 3 hrs pedaling. I pushed my front wheel into a soft burn on Pine Drops which spit me off the bike. I was bounced off my left pedal then smashed same side shin into the traction pins resulting in several bleeding wounds. Falling happens so fast, so fast a memory is not created. I remember looking up and seeing a bitter bush getting real close and the front wheel perpendicular to my intend direction of travel. Whew stopped. Big ride.
Sat I treated myself to the South Fork loop. Started at Swampy snowpark out to namesake former shelter. South Fork heads downhill. Difference between this dry side and the wet side are about water which grows lots of dense green vegetation and the tread is firm and dust free. The downhill kept a smile on my face. However the pay back was the climb out up Tumalo Ridge. Slow climb. Saw wiggling on trail, stopped, my first sighting of an emerging Pandora moth
Furnace is still not consistently firing.
Today was Dirt Church rock work on new piece of COD. 6 volunteers moved rocks to armor and create a line thru the rock faces. Not many feet but lots of sweat of effort. Woody walked us the length of what is finished: Extensive rock work. Trail will be a technically tough trail and us bikers built it.
I did order a Fox 36 Factory fork that will be sent to Diaz for custom valving and a RUNT. Will prolly be 2nd week of July before getting it on the bike. Like $1,200 of newness and improved handling. Both forks are comparable for burliness. I chose a 160 over the present 170 travel. Factory is available in non boost which is what my wheel is. Diaz said this fork is better than the Pike. Listening to a suspension tuner.