I read NOAA forecast several times a day as weather changes, my thought is to be prepared to a ball park estimate forecast and prepare for what it is to bring, like a rain jacket sets me up. Interesting study of forecast data and what happened. Forecast had been calling for 30% probability or rain and maybe thundershower after 11. I added that rain coat and pedaled on Catch and Release winding thru a recent thinning harvest to beginning of Stormking which worked its way to Grand Slam down to Ticket to Ride S side swooping down the gully from banked side to the other. Ticket is a greener but way fun and challenging as the faster you ride the closer the turns become. I coast as much as I can because I can avoid work by harnessing gravity. Dirt is mostly packed pumice seems like that. Trails have many squiggly turn sections where it’s like a lead swap on a horse. Not all berms are firm, the ones mostly likely to cause a fall are the blown out soft and flat. Need to approach each carving turn with flexibility, the direction change is determined by the characteristic of a berm. Side knobs on tires give carving grip when I really carve. I will be replacing the rear tire with same as I have worn the lugs down to even with the reliefs in the knob. Tires here will last a long time as long as I am skilled when riding thru basalt rock gardens.
Moving to a new paragraph.
So, puddle filler. Back to forecast. I played the forecast and pedaled away. Big sucker hole inspired me. Oh well, how bad could it be? A dry torso and wet below would be acceptable under these conditions. Weather brought rain clouds over but didn’t drop. I finished my ride. Several hours later I was in town when nature wet on forecast probability. Gully washers, water tracks down the streets, brake soaking deep. Almost need posted sign do not entrer when flooded. As I drove out to Phils maybe 20 riders were hard at getting home while being drenched. I did see riders with rain gear on. So, take away: 30% is not to be treated lightly.
Before getting out of bed time a shower fell, big splatters. Short duration then smiling sucker hole. Convinced me. Last night I stayed off rd 41 by the quarry where Catch and Release closely goes by. I watched riders pedaling or coasting stirring up plumes of dust from each wheel. As long as you were first the dust is a non issue. The short shower put a smile on my face in anticipation of hero dirt: firm dust. I still suspected many berms.
On Catch and Release, which parallels busy paved FS rd 41, this was freshly dug. Humans must be cool to the denizen. Randy one time said that it might be a badger, sure wasn’t Peter rabbit. I did encounter a badger up on Tylers, we were on head on collision before it split, maybe 30′ apart. So, badgers are around. But dug right on the well used bike trail.
I stopped at a Ponderosa pine tree beside the trail. Maybe 30″ across. Dead branches were still attached. Good. What I observed were beetle larva chewed galleries exposed after the bark fell off. My thesis is the larva and its aduly have existed. The beetles lay her eggs in young branches, the eggs hatch to hungry larva that feed on the tree cambium until metamorphis to adult. Trees seem to prune their lower branches, like conifers, by shading out the sun thus preventing photosynthesis. I add the beettle feeding damage.
Tomorrow will be still be dust free.
My freshly washed riding clothes hung on the drying cord inside the van take like 2 days to dry,amazing desert times were same day. Ah, my skin is better nourished.
Again, trails here are mostly about pedaling and carving turns. Then there is Mrazek and Farwell yet to be ridden this year. That in the past made for a 33 mile ride. I have been teasing myself with riding it, working on conditioning away so long from recovery beer. It isn’t I really like beer, it’s just that avoiding expenditure of energy needs a reward. I need 2 hands in contact with my bike, preventing drinking while pedaling which is a moving violation on your driving record.
From the other side of the Cascades come fresh local strawberries. Rain washed out the pollen.Tomorrow’s forecast calls for 20 to 50% chance of rain getting increasing in afternoon. Pedal S Fork look from Skyliner? 9 AM start time would finish before greater chance of occurring, yeah, pack my rain jacket and remember to dry rotors off if wet before needing them.
Writer note: I write the post then sort of proof read it via spell check, context is brushed over or mostly accepted. I usually do not read what I wrote. Short term memory trick: write it down and know where to find it saves trying to recall from memory. Well, sort of, I chose what to share and from my perspective.
Dinner was mashed Yukon gold potato dish with real cream, lots of butter, dill, vinegar, salt, peas, and crumbled smoked wild salmon. 1 pot gourmet, again, the mess I make I clean up, but no post clean up beer reward.
cookie is really coming on. Over and out.