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.