Years of age is what I am. Singular as in age 70 before turning 71 which would now be plural.

Anyway.

Still riding and living here in the Deschutes NF outside of Bend. I leave the isolated company of myself for grocery shopping etc. Sunnyside opened last week allowing customers inside instead of doing business in the parking lot. Important that bike shops remained open. Can’t speak to other heart propelled activity shops. I wear a mask when inside a building. FS still has the water turned off at the welcome center. I stopped to check on that 35 mile ride, still off. I finished that ride with just enough water in the bladder before I sucked the side walls together meaning ain’t no more wet. Also at that center last year a pair of ravens raised a clutch of ravenettes in a P pine just beyond the pavement of the lot. No return this year.

Sunday was a recovery day. On Monday I was back pedaling just 20 miles. Amazing riding almost deserted trails considering how crowded Phils trail head with rigs toting mtn bikes. Dispersed recreation.

Writing Phil’s name as he is the Phil in Phil’s trail. My right knee is being treated at a physical therapy clinic where in their lobby is a wall image of said builder riding a bike. He’s an old dodger now. PT is Dave who has worked on me over the years, lastly on my shoulder. So my right knee started barking last week while pedaling and almost painful to walk. Pain in the front of the knee: raise the seat. which I did in maybe 1/16″ increases. I reached a height that no longer cries ouch when pedaling. I felt that I had the correct height, on that height I rode many miles maybe wearing the knee but I received no notice that the seat was too low. Dave gave me several exercises, he said my knee orientation is determined by my glutes and they need to be disciplined. I weigh under 145 pounds.

Ceanothus is a low evergreen bush. It produces clusters of white flowers which send their scent into the air. I can take and share a 2 dimensional pic but can’t do the same with their bouquet. The plant is the food stuff for the California tortoiseshell butterflies.

Trails were made cutting thru and or around the bushes. What was clearance has become overgrown. Many volunteer hours are spent cutting the growth back. The bush seems to reach a max size. We cut branches at the root base, that branch dies but is replaced by a new shoot.

Daylight is lessening every day now.

Weatherman called for high probability of rain last week but nature failed to support prediction. trails are loose and dry. If you are not first or a good distant behind riders in front dirt is air borne. Dirt is pumice.

Today was another rest day. Another PT session.

Ran the furnace a bit last night.

Thinking about Oakridge this weekend

Yesterday was just right. Successfully completed a 35.5 mile ride out here from Phil’s, 4 hrs 29 mins,  climbed 2910’, Bend miles. Again, the trails here are almost all pedal w/ very few tech challenges. Riding is what it is: I am still making my body work. So, the route went like this: Started from campspot  past Phils, short piece of gravel rd to a tie in to Marvin’s Garden which has the first climb like right out of the start. Turn right on KGB, turn left on Expressway, turn left on ELV, turn right on Ticket to Ride, turn right on COD, turn left on Storm King, cross the highway, turn right on Funner to climb 4.2 miles in 41 mins to Wanoga 55 mins into ride, start on Tiddlywinks out to Kiowa Butte, turn left at start of Tyler’s Traverse, descend the whoops, turn left on start of Larsen’s, turn right on Tiddlywinks, turn right on Storm King down to Catch and Release to Welcome center which is still closed w/ water shut off but outhouse open and stocked w/ tp, join Ticket to Ride (north), left at start of ELV back to Expressway, right on KGB, left on Marvin’s, right on tie to left on gravel rd to van. I started just after 9 and completed breakfast at 7AM. I carried 2 Clif bars and about 80 oz of water. I believed that the breakfast fuel would fuel me augmented by the 2 Clif bars. And I was carrying sufficient water. On paper I could make this ride work. On the ground I learned that 2 Clif bars didn’t slake my hunger and water was sparingly drank towards the end of the ride to not run out. Thing is I carry the water in my Wingnut pack on my back. I sucked on the mouth piece for water, for every sip water changes its storage places, from the pack into my body to be changed into sweat, respiratory breath, and pee. Hardly any water goes out in last water loss. Take away: pack a sandwich in addition to 2 bars and fill bladder.

Just totally amazing is how empty the trails are in spite of crowded parking spots. Once at Wanoga I was only person I saw. Tyler’s has several pieces of whoops tread results of past FS practice of terracing the clearcut forest. Mild terrain park. Pay attention to body position. Full out coast braking only to scrub a bit of speed to maintain control. Seat slammed down, feet placed properly heels down on big catalyst pedals. Loose upper body w/ bent elbows. It’s one way downhill, no horses allowed and no hikers. That means game on, no user conflict. Seems the shuttle crowd from drop off at Wanoga pedal out Tiddlywinks, which at first is a pedal trail requiring a bit of work, to gain the descent. Tylers is further out requiring more work to get upper Tylers. Tylers has an up hill route to top. Trails are dry and loose, 1 bike stirs up a dust cloud which means if you are not first (or alone) you ride in a dust plume. My tires look like gum sidewalls.

35.5 miles, a feat? Or just got ‘er done? Bend has miles of opportunities to create a route. Trails here go a ways between trail choices.

Friday I rode South Fork from Skyliner again. The ride is 14.6 miles long, climbing 1499’ and pedaling for 1 hr 54 mins. To me what is amazing about this ride is each one takes the same amount of time. Same 17 mins on haul road grunt. Consistent. I work at pedaling effort. For me biking keeps me fit and trim and stimulates my decision making to negotiate challenges. Enjoying a buzz while riding doesn’t affect length of ride time. S fork descent still same time. Trail is dusty. Swede ridge is under deep tree cover. I hung the solar shower on the hood of the van b4 pedaling away. Upon return the water was sufficient hot not requiring adding sink water to lower temp. Public shower in the lodge parking lot. First full soap wash of body and hair since some time back at Sedona.

On Thursday I put quarters into front loading washer to make it jostle my clothes in presence of water and detergent. When door unlocks I sort clothes that can stand high temp drying from those needing air dry. Washing my sheets now every other week.

Thursday afternoon I patronized favorite tavern 10 Barrels. Wore mask. The management has implemented their solution to social distancing. Still, it was a significant event for me because of concern of COVID. I did not linger over my beer.

I have been replenishing on board water at the spigot up at Skyliner, it is a 7 mile drive, the road has bicycle lanes each way. Every drive I see road riders either grunting their way up the climbs head down eyes like looking at front tire, or same position but not grunting on coast back down. Road riding just seems to be about working out. Yes, I have a road bike and I did find some satisfaction riding it, on this odyssey I rode it 5 times before I transferred it to my former neighbor’s barn. My mountain bike riding has the similar goal and benefit of working out. It’s just the riding on natural surface tread is more stimulating and no fear of unfriendly interaction with motorized traffic.

This is the year for the Pandora moths. I have written about this earlier.

Rest day today. Forecast had been teasing high probability of rain and strong winds. It is chilly 55 degrees and windy blowing dust. Snug in my van.

My knees are hurting enough to seek physical therapy starting last Thurs. Since this bout of discomfort I have been rolling on my ribbed foam roller which does help. Dave, the PT, gave me several exercises to do, next session will prolly be his infamous elbow on tight muscles which will be more painful than my roller. Tuesday at 9 AM elbow time.

I have ridden 35,022 miles on 2415 rides since July 19, 2008. 13,081 miles and 921 rides on my Turner RFX. Just data.

Miles climbing 2986′ moving on my bike for 4 hours 25 mins. On Sunday I responded to my personal challenge of riding the Mrazek loop. It is what it was: just a challenge of perseverance. I made it with the only hike a biking being on several tech moves. I just parked my tongue in yes I am enjoying this effort. Nice day, few people to share the trails with. I learned my body and mind can still step up to this type of big effort. Next challenge will be the Flagline loop.

The flowers produce a sweet smell. Smelling the fragrance assures me that I can still smell, loss of sense of smell is to be a symptom of having covid. The bush is a vibrant grower sending its branches outward and upward seeking sunlight. Unfortunately, those with the method of destruction have more immediate power than stationary bush: we prune back the branches as they encroach into the trail cylinder. Mrazek trail is maintained by a private party, not COTA. COTA maintains Farwell that I have participated in brushing efforts over the years. Last year’s effort was directed at cutting the lowest branches as it seem that they were the most energetic in growing outward and upward from base which intruded on to the trail. I checked out several places where we cut to observe success of keeping the brush out of the trail. Prolly need another year to see results.

At the junction of Mrazek and Farwell I ran into 3 riders resting. One was Jimi whom is on his own traveling odyssey. I met him at Brevard a bunch of years ago and recently at Boulder City. For several days we have been sharing campsite.

Yesterday I attempted a shorter rest ride. Sort of. 19.2 miles climbing 1666′ in 2 hrs 28 mins. Pedaled thru uncut forest albeit some of places the trees have been marked for future harvest. Mastication is the mowing of the forest, environmental destruction. I suppose the nail in the coffin so to speak would to prescribe burn.

Today’s forecast temp is 93 degrees. Taking a rest day.