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.
The forest there was feller buncher harvested then masticated several years prior, makes it appear park like
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