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.