Remaining here is about comfort. I need to be moving on just because there is a lot to experience and time marches on. Again, I am self imposed hostage waiting for arrival of replacement Bedrock sandals. I have worn the tread down on this pair which I will send back to be resoled. Not overly bad as I continue to ride here. The trails are dry and loose, walking puts dust in the air. Berms are just known to be soft and trouble. Several monster 33 mile rides pedaling for 4 hours, mostly non stop. I have broken thru the 2 hour ride time, now a long ride just means it’s longer and takes more time. Seriously, carrying a buzz makes the ride exertion a blur. Very strong effort climbing. My strength and stamina are much improved. Bend’s trails are mostly about pedaling with a large trail network, a long distances between cut overs which makes for a long ride right from the get go.

Last week I rode Farewell for enjoyment and in preparation of a volunteer COTA day of brushing back the ceoanothus (snowbrush) today. 7 of us shouldered loppers then hikes 2 miles up Farewell to were the brush quit. We then lopped heading back to forgotten beer at the rig. Today we cut the brush like a trim haircut instead of scorched cutback. We cut the lowest shoots as they were the ones growing out into the open sky, (trail) The upper branches grow more vertically staying clear of the trail. The result is less obtrusive, not like riding a cleared right of way. Today was the 3rd time I have helped brush this trail over my years here.

The Pandora moths are still emerging. The females are the sex getting squashed on the trail because they get trapped in the tread cup and can’t crawl out because their abdomen is stuffed with eggs and the exoskeleton isn’t strong enough to resist lateral roll. The males make a tree then wait for an unattached female climbing up same tree, no idea what courting occurs before fertilizing the next generation.

I am planning backpack trip into the Goat Rocks, McCall Basin. Read that mosquitoes are bad lessening in August. So remaining here has some goodness.

So far no forest fires.

Perhaps a less confrontational greeting to an e bike rider on non motorized trail: So, how does that motorized bike handle on this non motorized trail?

Warm nights, 8:50 PM, door open windows down, 71 degrees and no mosquitoes. 20% humidity.

And this is it for tonight.

Up to today I rode South Fork by driving up to Swampy snow park then down S. Fork as dessert. Next was a screamer down Tumalo creek which becomes Tumalo Ridge for a grunt climb to Swede Shelter taking SST back to snow park. That was the main course after dessert. Today I decided to put eating to order saving room for the dessert descent. Took on well water at the lodge. Hump up. Stopped at old haul rd spot and changed my attitude. Still takes same 18 mins to the shelter. SST has ups and downs. I am riding the loop in the same direction, I just started it at the bottom. Made it to top of S Fork for the first bites of dessert. Smooth fork, just flew. Fork sucks up the bumps and drops leaving me jarless. Maybe. Never a question to its stability or stiffness, Just sucked it all up. Big smile. The trail crosses the creek on a flattened log bridge that I choose to walk. Shortly after a whip series of tight turns the last one a hard left I made way too wide out onto soft dirt. The front wheel stalled and crabbed in turning sideways. Well, the bike stopped before I did and I found soft dirt hard on my left side. It was a wipe out fall. Wind remained where it needed to be. Picked myself up. Noticed I broke the dropper post lever. I found I could use two hands to hold the broken part in place to activate the dropper. Not all bad. No damage report. Kept the seat lowered causing me to to pedal while sitting down. Standing up to pedal takes lots of energy, more than I wanted to spend. Smoked a smooth piece of Tumalo creek, hit 25 mph. back at van called Sunnyside requesting repair time. Bring it in, have it finished at 9 AM Tues. I rolled in during a temp lull. Then the wave flowed thru the doors. I left. As I was driving towards the shop a text message hit. I pulled over, Sunnyside telling me bike is finished. I didn’t have to U turn. Bike is back with new Wolftooth easy lever like before. My thumbs have been trashed from skiing falls hooking my thumbs uphill then tearing tendons. The dropper lever action really works that thumb .

So that was my day for riding.

Sun burn peeling on my bald head.

Held here for receiving new underwear.

Comfort is the curse of the wanderer. I am very comfortable here in Bend.

Pandora moths are still completing their life cycle. Both sexes climb a tree. The females get bred up there before they are able to fly. Seems males’ role is to come once then die shortly as they exhaust their energy. They females live longer as they fly around seeking the perfect tree to lay their eggs at the P pine needle base way up high. Some live long enough to fly to the bright lights of the city.

And the same return.

Over east of Prineville in the Ochocos is a big ride made even bigger. Previously I had ridden the second part of Lookout Mtn. Big uphill pedal for a challenging and smile inducing mixed in with gritted teeth downhill. Joe is a local whom I have ridden with several times, last being the O Leary ride. He also has a Turner history, now with an RFX like mine only our build kits are our own solution.Joe had ridden a part of Lookout, he was interested in adding Round mountain to the ride to test his ability to ride this long loop. I could go either way. We talked during the drive over. We decided to go big. Round mtn adds miles to Lookout ride starting from the same place and finishing at same. Paved road pedal climb to dirt. We talked on the pavement part. Once dirt hit with steep climbing it became less frequent and more direct. Round mtn had a mix of climbing turns to nasty steep loose rock. Hump of a pedal with mix of hike a bike. Joe and I are pretty comparable riders, albeit I have a few years on him. We are about the same speed and ability downhill but I am a stronger climber.

Climb up Round mtn, descend down same to start of climb up Lookout. Lots of horse pucky. Joe lead downhill loosening dirt to become air borne dust which partially obscured my vision of tread. Stay off the brakes and steer the bike where I wanted to go. We had a bail point at start of Lookout that was talked about but the downhill off Lookout pulled us up.

Some hike a bike as energy level was abating. Made the summit ridge

Trailforks ride data displays starting at 5,500′ climbing to 7,000 then drops down to 4,000′ with several soul sucking climbs. The upper part the tread is loose nasty sharp rock. Previously I walked some of it. With Joe ahead serving as a model I rode most of it. Lots of rocks, some hidden by plants encroaching the trail. Just keep feet in tight and steer over the rocks. Up high there were several rock gardens intermixed with woods dirt tread. Somewhere lower it breaks into no brakes gravity assisted screamers. Descent was great way to finish the ride. Ride data was 25 miles pedaling for 3 hrs 58 mins, descent was 4472 which should have been the same for climbing. All day effort adding the drive to and from.

Just 2 great Turner RFXs and riders to push and enjoy ourselves. All by ourselves.

Thursday marked my 11th year of full time living on the road mountain biking the states. 32,144 miles over 2,212 rides all on Turner bikes. I rode Petersen Ridge over at Sisters, west up east down. Rock gardens mixed in with smooth.

I have been studying the Pandora moth. The bright lights of the city attract the females as I discovered looking at squashed remains on the pavement under a downtown street light. Females have different antennae and are full of green eggs. even caught a pair doing the deed for next generation.

Today, Sunday, is a rest day after taxing ride yesterday. Garmin recorded heart rate of 175 beats per minute. Finally hot temps.

On our ride yesterday we noticed large piles of aging horse manure. Never seen that before even in a trailhead parking lot. A man who works at Newport Market where I spend most of my grocery $, sort of like a mini whole paycheck store. Previous conversations shared mtn biking themes. I told him about Lookout. He was quite familiar. I asked him about the manure. He told me it was from wild stallion horses marking their territory. Subsequent web search concurred. Not visible is the pee which has the hormone notices.