Executed my plan this weekend. Today I added sweat equity performing trail maintenance at Swampy. Cleared drains and built many, purpose is to get the water off the trail quickly. Enjoyed socializing w/ 2 crew leaders, I provided beer. Then the shits driving back down to Bend to turn my bike in for service appointment then drive back up to Dutchman snow park for departure on my annual overnight somewhere. I hiked trails I ride. Camped at crossing of middle fork of Tumalo creek which provided my filtered water. Hiked maybe 4 miles. Put a hustle on packing. Made it to camp just before 5. Set up camp, fixed glop for dinner, and cleaned up. Discovered internet signal for this post.

No mosquitoes. Chilly. Did forget long underwear bottoms. Miss Sonicare.

Bed time.

Elevation, trail configuration, forest, expectations, et.al.

Sat was that big ride. On Sunday I rested again up at Swampy parked on the pavement as someone else’s Sprinter was parked in my spot off the pavement. First come you get primitive camping fact. They were mtn bikers so that made the displacement less saddened as I prefer being on cooler dirt than black pavement. Neither of us made a move to share a common experience, I suspect they did not know about my desire for the spot they were in so that could not have been held against me.

I extracted my backpack stuffed between the fridge and rear door. Above it are squished coats on hangers. Big things in small spaces need squishing. I pulled out and checked out the backpacking equipment. The Nemo air mat held air for the duration. I cleaned the MSR whisperlite hoping to get the performance the MSR online demo showed. Maybe I need to pump it up higher. I set up the tent. Purpose of this is to prepare for my at least once a year backpacking overnight. My knee will be tested. I turn my bike in this Sun before eob for service on the fork, pick up on Tuesday. made that backpacking window. Difference: swapping one bi for another: Bicycle to biped.

Monday I repeated the Flagline loop. The ride data from today was almost identical to the previous ride. Sure like my bike. And I am riding it well.

Tuesday I drove back down to town for resupply and water. Almost 2,000′ below. Hot. Once town stuff done I drove out to rd 41 at catch and release. Afternoon ride. Catch and release, climb Stormking, descend Pine Drop. This trail rides different going down than climbing up. I got “lost” at times going down as gravity pulling me down made for carving and unweighting. And going faster, 18 mins up, 9 down. Turned onto EXT to Phils to Kents, to KGB, to Expressway, ride entire ELV. This trail is named Elvin Magic perhaps because of that’s where the gnomes are. Differences: I wrote about the gnome that had been at the junction of Stormking and Grand Slam was missing. I believe I saw it on ELV. It was prolly kidnapped to that Stormking junction. A piece of Expressway Ticket to Ride to short piece of Catch and Release to van. 20.9 mikes climbing 1739′ pedaling for 2 hrs 36 mins.

I spent the night there. After dark a car pulled in and parked in front of me maybe 30′ away. Guy gets out and says something about being able to camp in the forest. I asked him if he would give me some room as in going somewhere else. He did not pick up my vibe. He left me alone but I did lock my doors.

Pine Drop perplexes me as it is so different in each direction. I needed to climb it to compare directions. I rode yesterday’s ride today in the other direction to climb Pine Drops. Which I did. Slower, steering versus carving, and wheels held to the ground. I stayed found and knew the trail. Top out at start of Stormking and it almost all downhill or flat. Again, my rode times were almost identical.

Differences: lower down the trails are flatter, more grey pow ( pumice dust), forest has been altered by logging and mastication, P pines, more worn, wider.

Differences: as I was climbing Pine movement must have caught me eye, I looked over my shoulder and thought I saw a rider close behind. I kept pedaling. Rider caught my wheel, I heard a peel of a bell. I kept pedaling. He said he wanted by, I said I would when he asked me. He did and I gave way. As he went by he said he rang his bell. I told him my dog wears a bell. I am becoming more crotchety about trail manners. My expectation of him was modeling my behavior of announcing myself maybe 20′ behind people in front then asking permission to go by. Courtesy. He must have thought the ringing of his bell was to command me to yield the trail. Here on popular trails with limited sight lines I turn on my clanger bell which peels when jolted. It does not supplant my courtesy of speaking.

Spent a solitary night at same spot.

Today, Thursday, was laundry day and resupply.Clean dry clothes, full propane and water tanks. Smokey in town, air quality ranked yellow which is first down from green. Hot also. Decided I would enjoy Swampy more than out at Phils. So far yes and I am back on dirt.

I scored 1 of 5 spots on a volunteer trail work project on Sunday. FS is allowing 5 max persons per work.

Finished Still Life with Woodpecker. I logged each book read on a spreadsheet which started on 8/1/18. Since then I have read 71 books.

Differences: old growth hemlock vs old growth lodgepole as posted.

Differences: 57 degrees at 9:11 PM at 57xx’. Chilly enough for piping hot cup of tea.

I have been flirting with big rides maybe to learn how hard / far I can push myself. Yesterday was another test. I am learning that it is just pedaling and pedaling. Several rides ago I raised my seat about a 1/16″ which made all the difference in how my knees felt which allowed me to pedal pain free, I could better enjoy pedaling.

I have been staying up at Swampy at 5729′ which is maybe 8 degrees cooler than in town and less crowded. The trails are less worn and in nonlogged forests. Staging for this big ride.

Big ride went like this: pedal up Ridge Loop to connect with umph big elevation gain on greener Swampy / Dutchman snowmobile trail up to Dutchman snowpark, it still takes 59 mins of effort. Dutchman TH is high point for shuttles. Pedal out Flag access to Flag junction, this part I rode last week. Today this point marks the last bail point, continuation of my ride turned on Metolius / Windigo continuing to Happy Valley to join Mrazek, turn right and descend Farwell, speed down Tumalo creek, hit almost 27 mph not touching the brakes at all, refill water at Skyliner lodge then climb up Tumalo Ridge. Today I took Swede ridge to Swampy back to Van. 31.7 miles climbing 3333′ pedaling for 4 hrs 20 mins, 420. Met / Win is old growth forest. Happiness is being in real nature.

Met / Win is a big effort riding either direction, today was the first I rode it this direction, big climbs from Flag to that high point then descend to Happy Valley. More smiles this direction. Deep shade. Big hemlock old growth. Upper Mrazek to Farwell is back in lodgepole forest.

Carrying enough water for this ride is of concern. I started with about 90 oz in the 100 oz bladder. I worked at drinking frequently. I suspected I might need resupply as I no longer have a fat reserve which is stored water. I dropped down Farwell then down Tumalo creek to Skyliner lodge and the outside spigot. I opened the bladder to see about a cup of water remaining. I was successful in drinking enough and satisfaction that after refilling I had liquid for the climb back out of Tumalo creek up Tumalo ridge then humping Swede ridge. On Swede’s “steep long” climb I stopped 2X for a blow, I pedaled it instead of hiking as numerous foot prints indicated.

I like being up in the old growth forest. To write “timber” views trees as a commodity versus “forest” which to me is undisturbed nature. So little of original old growth exists.

Thurs night I was away from this Swampy spot. When I returned on Friday I observed someone’s pledge of love to a woman. Sat morn when I woke up someone had spray painted their version of graffiti and left 3 cans of spray paint. I planned on packing out the cans but when I went to retrieve them they were gone. A couple was sitting in their pick up enjoying post ride libations and they observed my quest. Guy apologized for taking the paint. I told him I planned on removing them. Great that others take action to keep America beautiful. I talked of defacing the love token, he gave me a can, I sprayed the circle with stripe to lessen the guy’s love. Can of red Rustoleum.

Smoke is clouding the skies, scattered and only lessening the air quality to yellow from green not like several years ago. Forecast calls for clear skies tomorrow. Smokey here however.

Went for a walk last night on Ridge trail. Lodgepole forest has not burned for years far longer ago than I am old. Such a fuel load. When it burns it will only be extinguished by winter snow.