Computer didn’t like my opening paragraphs. Words written were mostly greater than 4 letters.

Anyway, A chance to change my story more favorable to me. Well that happens no matter what. Pleasure of being the author.

Tuesday was my South Fork of Tumalo Creek descent then earn the speed by pedaling back out. Started right from breakfast spot. As I was cleaning the kitchen of breakfast a utility van pulled in and let out a gaggle of DOC men who spent chore hours making slash piles. Intersting: a pile is built up with the brush in same direction, a chain saw guy squares off the ends and throws the trim back on the pile. Scattered piles and just mass amounts of slash.

Oh, now the ride. Pedal out an old haul road to trail start. Lodge pole pine forest up top decimated by feller buncher harvest. Trail drops in right behind the reclaimed shelter and into Bend’s watershed. Deep tree cover with no logging. By myself. 3 miles drops 918′. Gentle enough to pedal up. Just enough tech opportunities for smiles. Route continues down Tumalo Creek which is about the width of a Jeep with several short pitches for flat out scream. Kept my attention focused down trail to look out for uphillers. Then pay back as the trail becomes a climbing single track. It goes thru patches of snowbrush which some were decimated by the California tortoiseshell butterflies from 2 years ago. Saw several adults flitting around. Springtime insects chase after the good stuff. Up top snowbrush bordered the trail. 3 years ago I and others cut back the trail encroachers. Today the new shoots from the root ball are the trail narrowing shoots.

Next is the 18 minute pedal on another haul road. Today as in the past I took a vape break before the start. Kept track of the time: still 18 mins. Perhaps the pot buzz numbs me as the pedal has lost its sting. At the shelter I took the SST back which is a deep woods single track. Finish going downhill on ist road climb. Scream. 15.3 miles climbing 1644′ pedaling for 2 hrs 4 mins.

Back at the van the DOC guys were still piling slash. The breeze was strong enough to keep mosquitoes grounded. Decided I had what I had to make it for another night. Early evening mosquitoes did find me. I don’t react to her saliva by making itching bumps. Chilly enough to enjoy the furnace.

On Wed I planned on riding South fork again then climbing up to Mrazek etc. Great plans can be created absent reality. I didn’t feel up to snuff to tackle this big ride plus I didn’t want to OD on South fork. I made a ride around Swampy Lake.

No work crew today. Chilly. Furnace still has an issue but will produce desired heat.

Today was a I don’t feel like riding day. I moved laundry to the first chore at the laundromat on east side of town. Bought a new book from Dudley’s in town. I buy a book, read it, then return to store to give the book back and accept credit towards another book. Tom’s a good guy, independent book store.

Another camper scored my favorite Phils spot. Plan B is out just off Marvin’s where Nicole fell. Windy and chilly, wool shirt and shorts: needed additional layer for comfort.

Swatting mosquitoes up at Swampy snowpark, staging for South fork of Tumalo creek tomorrow. 54 degrees at 5751′ at 8:50 PM. Darkness and lower temp should lessen the nuance.

Sat evening I headed back east spending the night up at Willamette pass, mosquitoes there. Furnace was made to work again, I fired it up the next morning. Started on first spark and ran as it should. Ran it again this AM with same satisfactory result.

Friday I rode Heckletooth from sleep spot at bottom of Dead Mtn. Lots of road riding for a piece of downhill singletrack, ah, that is what Oakridge is about. 9.6 miles climbing 1919′, 1.38 miles of singletrack to the summit then 4.96 miles dropping 1783′ of dirt to pavement then 3.52 road pedal back to van. Local Jim has done this ride over 200 times. Some steep pitches, worked my brakes which kept my speed under control and confidence.

Hung out at Brewers Union, drank a corn liquor drink at Deep Woods distillery, bought a fifth of their Cascadian Moon corn liquor.

Sat I drove over to Greenwaters park to ride Larrison Rock right above toen. Again, another grunt climb for just a few minutes of dirt single track. 6.39 miles climbing 1972′, took 1 hr 16 mins nonstop pedaling. reward was 3 miles screaming for 18 mins. Down.

I washed off accumulated mud off my bike using the tree sprayer. Evidence of use is revealed. Boy, my rims show many many places of abrasion.

I rode the 4 rides I wanted to do. Amazing 10,200′ of climbing, that plus about an extra 3,000′ descending. Rides in Oakridge are long gravel road climb for short piece of downhill dirt. I did what I wanted. I visited with people I knew. I just couldn’t connect myself to the local vibe.

Back into town. A beer at the pub and thinking. Bend is about 100 miles away, I could drive part way back, sleep at the pass then finish drive to Bend then get a ride. Lots of daylight. Drove out of town heading east and up. Spent the night at Gold lake snowpark just below the pass. Made Bend mid morning. I felt blah so I skipped the ride. I picked up groceries and water then drove out to Phils area just to hang out and rest. Cooler temp and less tree cover. Went from dense tree cover and effect of water to open forest in high desert.

Booked O’Leary Shuttle on the 26th to ride with Joe’s family. That’s the last week of June. Leaving time? No pull or push one way or the other. Where to next?

Mosquitoes are solving my loosely attached netting and feeding on me. Several smashed losers fell on the keyboard.

Kevin described what has happen to our mountain biking. What was once a lifestyle has become a sport. Great handling bikes and purpose built trails, downhill focused. Enduro riding: hip packs and stuff attached to the bike. Trails are in close proximity of help and cold beer.

Visiting Kevin called, arriving after dinner. 1 day to ride. Signed up for Alpine shuttle with Cog Wild, $35. We shared camp spot.

Wed I drove us to West Fir, pick up and ride completion location. Perhaps 13 riders and bikes. Shuttle saves the agony of pedaling many miles of resource extraction road 1910. Drop off point Kate’s cutin that Derrick and I built several years ago. Solid build. Up and over Sourgrass, beargrass flowers are well below their green leaves. Our ride plan was ATCA with several bail points. Down thru Jedi section, hit Windy Pass then a bit of a climb to exit out into alpine meadow suspended on mountain side. A bit further is the Tire mtn trail, choice one. Tire mtn section is in virgin forest which is such a treat because of its rarity. Big descent has to be paid back. Virgin forest: big tall hemlocks, cedars, doug fir, neck won’t arch back far enough to see the tree crowns. Quite, dead sound so much mass. Real treat as a tourist and skinny old hiking trail attraction for mountain biking. Credo: you are either a tourist or a biker, not both. Tread is soft duff, more wet hence secure than Bend.

Climb out affected our facial expressions. Discomfort is such a personal experience, no stopping to take pics. Kevin’s body told his brain that I am seeking the way out that will spare me of 1460′ climb in 3.52 miles to get back on to Alpine descent. I turned to finish ride. Took 53 minutes of non stop pedaling to reach Alpine. Hot day.

There are no stick season under conifer canopy. Lots of shadows interspersed with bright sunshine splotches. I need to read the dirt hidden in the shadows and squint in the brightness. Hope is consistent light. In the old growth 1st regrowth forests sometimes no sunshine reaches the ground.

So, ATCA is a favorite ride of mine. You attach your personal pleasure to this ride. Old school hiking trail, deep conifer forest cover, soft dirt, speed, bumps, climbing, beat down. Climbed 3396′ and descended 6476′. Shuttle ride. Steep mountain side bench cut trail bordered by lots of greenery which if you chose it will sooth the vertigo. Used a good chunk of my 7″ of fork travel. Upper body beater.

I invited Kevin to a home cooked dinner. I fixed “that” chicken dish. Clean plates. He left early this morning.

Last 2 nights were very warm, above 70 degrees. Slept with side door open and netting across. Amazing that there are no mosquitoes. Last night I started with a small battery powered fan aimed the length of my bed. Sort of worked, no substitution for 60 degree nights.

Brett from Wood River advocacy group stopped by. I me her at Sun Valley.

Interest and effort have been depleted.