Just lots of Bend riding, so much so that my damaged right shoulder is barking. Yesterday was a joyous descent of South Fork of Tumalo Creek, one of my all time favorite gravity assisted rides. Not technical but has many root drops and turns that are just a hoot to negotiate. Unfortunately for my shoulder I work my upper body pretty good. Today I will maybe ride a more mellow ride.
Garmin Edge is inconsistently reporting ride data I have noticed such as the south fork and O’Leary. Not receiving credit.
California Tortiseshell butterflies are in abundance. Female lays her eggs on the snowbrush.
Eggs will hatch to a caterpillar that will feed on these leaves chewing all the way to the petiole then spin a cocoon, metamorphosis run its course to emerge as flying adults. Up on Tumalo ridge climb.
I drive up to Swampy snow park for my South Fork ride which puts desert in front of me first with the main course finishing the ride, no downhill finish. If I start elsewhere down lower then climb up to Swampy I could finish on downhill. Which ever way it is still 15 miles, 2 hours pedaling climbing 1631′.
Monday early evening a monster T storm blew in which dumped lots of marble sized hail then deluge of rain. Rain did move dirt, I noticed puddles of fines where water velocity stalled dropping out its cargo. Grand Slam trail was feller buncher logged last year, skidder roads were created in places they became to run off path.
On Tuesday I rode Tylers traverse as I hoped the rain would have bonded the pumice grains together for killer tread. Get it before the shuttle crowds chew it up. What I rode was slightly firmer but I raised no dust.
Yesterday evening I was sitting outside at 10 Barrel sipping a recovery beverage. I noticed a woman who looked familiar. She turned and faced me, it was Minnie from Hot Tomato in Fruita. Several days ago Steve shared a Patagonia film about Jen and Ann and their creation, Hot Tomato. Their stickies show up well outside their area code.
My new fork is at Diaz’s in Durango awaiting tuning and install of RUNT. Competed fork will be sent to me here in Bend to be installed. I am captive until it is put on my bike.
Mosquitoes are in abundance above Bend’s elevation. Swampy is at 5800′, Bend is about 4,000′. Waldo Lake is in the blood suckers wheel house. Knowledge is to ride wonderful Waldo lake trail which circulars the lake at least the end of July, preferably after several frosts kill off the females. I ran into a visiting woman rider who rode the trail, I asked about mosquitoes. Nasty she said.