There are no shadows. This AM skies were clouded over and just a little chilly. Started around 10 from spot right off Marvins Gardens. Noticed right off that the tread was very easy to read because of no sunshine which creates shadows caused by P pine boughs. Easy to scoot along. I rode in the other direction a route previously ridden. Highlight was pedaling entire Storm King from Catch and Release to Phils. Oh, I descended Pine Drops for the first time in many years, memory recall failed to recall how much fun it is to descend. It has same stuff as lower Whoops but smaller and more twisty. Fun, like a performing car on an open track. Took 9 mins down vs 19 min climb. Dusty. A short steep piece on KGB bounces over embedded babyheads then rolls out on smooth dusty tread. A ground squirrel darted between my wheels on the coast out. I felt a bump and crunch prolly the squirrel. I finished the coast then returned looking for the squashed critter. No squirrel along the trail. Ride was 23.9 miles pedaling 3 hrs 3 mins climbing 2050′.

PT and me doing prescribed exercises are improving my right knee.

I wage eradication of knapweed when I find it. Today I eliminated a small patch on Storm King just before green gate. Seeds came in from logging equipment.

The rider of this Klein bike went by me up at Skyliner several days ago, She stopped at Sunnyside. I complimented her on her bike, she said she’s had it for 26 years, makes it 1994. I was riding the same bike back then.

This starter mobile house is along Ticket to Ride.

Clouds were moving on as ride progressed as seen by slight shadows on trail above.

Last night I finished Another Roadside Attraction. Recommend it.

Today I rode wearing my new Fox Racing Speedframe Pro helmet. I damaged the adjustment mechanism in the Ambush such that the shell rode against my head. Darn, I am keeping it as my backup which moves the Troy Lee to trash.

Miles of 40. Yes, I do like to talk about some things, this case another big accomplishment. Riding here at Phils is mostly about pedaling and coasting with my choice of no black trails (COD, bottom of Grand Slam), with lots of miles to chose from. Trail sections are longer here, when committed on a trail it could be a ways till next choice. So riding here seems to be just how long am I willing to make my body propel me and bike down the trail. Climbing Mrazek I avoided for awhile as I was feeling my level in confidence to satisfactorily complete the 33 mile loop with lots of climbing. I did it which helped move the needle of confidence. I rode it again the next week in almost same pedal time. Chest is swelling from breathing. Okay big boy, let’s see if I am able to big ride Olallie and O’Leary loop. Been there done it. Followed that up with another ATCA at Oakridge. What is my top out effort? I sought it on this big loop yesterday of 39.6 miles pedaling 5 hrs 5 mins climbing 3698′, burning 2074 calories. It was a big effort accomplished by perseverance of just pushing the pedals among all the other things: body care, balance, line choices, matching gearing with breathing, conserving energy, hydration, etc. I succeeded. Last night I studied the trail map for a bigger loop. Initial reaction was: pretty big with no water source. It could be monster 60 miles. Dunno. My hydration bladder holds 100 ozs. I refilled it at Tumalo lodge reached after climbing Mrazek.

For those following my route at home it went like this: I started from sleep spot on rd 41 on Catch and Release which is about 40 feet from where I slept, up to Welcome Center taking Ticket to Ride, turning on ELV, Flying down Expressway, turning left on KGB, turning right on Kents, turning left on MTB which I rode for the first time that ended at cut over trail for crossing Tumal creek and climbing up to Mrazek, reward of junction with Farwell which means downhill for many minutes of coasting but requiring attention to challenging trail. Ah, Tumalo Creek trail starts with short shallow climbs interspersed with flat or small downhill until the big shot downhill with no traffic flying, once I topped out at 28 mph, today was pedestrian 26.8. Fill new hydration bladder at Tumalo lodge and the other half of almond butter and honey bagel. Climb and descend several times on Skyliner to destroyed bench to climb short section of Phils topping out at start of Storm King to its end with Catch and Release for the rest to the van. Long clock day finishing at 5. I encountered maybe 30 riders.

Clash / contrast between the Was and Is. The Was is us older riders that have been riding since the early days back in the 80s and some of us could be the same age. The Is are the newer riders on way better bikes now, are younger, and are riding trails that favorable to mountain bikes. I perceive their trail etiquette is more self centered. There are way more Is than us Wasers. Rant: uphill traffic gets the trail, and rear brake draggers.

6:30 Friday morning at 3900′ on rd 41 the temp was 31 degrees, late afternoon it rose to 75. I ran the furnace during the night.

Tumalo Lodge can be reserved for group use, during that time the lot is closed which prevents me from access to well water spigot. I asked caretaker how to learn of reserved use and was given a web address. I saw on Friday that the starting time was 8:45. I needed water and it was at the start of my S Fork loop. I slid up the the spigot in time to fill up. It’s well water that I desire.

S Fork loop starts at the bottom mostly climbing for like 45 mins to old haul road then fast 18 mins to Swede shelter. Old single track thru the unlogged forest on SST which receives little use. Over to top of S Fork which is being worn down from use and no rain. The brake bumps are bigger, the roots maybe a little higher. My bike is so stable. As a Waser I accept responsibility for my actions by riding within my sight line to avoid not yielding to uphill traffic. Great brakes makes for great speed. Sintered metallic brake pads create great friction on disc rotor resulting in powerful controlled speed modulation. Jump root patches or just skip over their tops. Bike flies. Finish is down Tumalo creek for smooth wide high speed section.

I am an avoider of effort when I can. I do fix healthy food and clean up afterwards. My carpet can remain un vacuumed for weeks, I can settle. My living is settled in that there are very few non critical expenditure of human energy events. I carry same approach to riding: if I can get free speed I settle to coasting and carving the turns. Faster riders will pass me pedaling, they must be an Iser. These trails are bendy not twisty with soft outslope. 2.5 WT on front with pronounced side lugs makes for good carving. Then dropping the seat allowing angulating bike underneath me adds up to carving. Need to read each bend for firmness.

During Friday’s ride I felt wetness against my back from my hydration bladder. back at the van I pressurized the bladder locating a pinhole leak. Surrounding area shows creasing which I feel will result in larger leaks. New bladder needed. Went to Sunnyside who carries a bladder designed by a local. 100 oz size same as present. I drove away. later I inserted the bladder into the holster in my Wingnut pack. I had to force the zipper closed because the handle, which runs lengthwise, to give rigidity to the bladder. Ain’t going to fly. If I could sever the handle the bladder would fit. I sawed a section out of the handle using the saw blade on my Leatherman. I soon learned that the drink hose was too long and the sternum strap couldn’t gather the slack. It needs shortening. However, this is a big engineering bloop: the bite valve has a super strong magnet to attach to another magnet strapped to your pack. Fine. I read the written info on the packaging which stated magnets can have adverse effect on digital and magnetic code. Didn’t specify safe distance. I wear a digital watch, a digital computer in on my handle bar, I carry a digital camera and my cell phone. All of these can be affected by magnets. Need to learn more about care of digital items.

Knapweed is flowering. It is an invasive weed. Nothing eats it, it spreads quickly overpowering natural vegetation. I pull it by the stalk to pull up its roots. Purple flower is visible. I have spent maybe 10 hours in last week eliminating purple color. Edward Abbey said of water in the desert is that there is always enough water, just too much demand. Same applies here in high desert where no rain has fallen since early June.

Rest day today. Am in town now for internet speed.

My right knee is almost pain free. I roll the inside on my upp er leg on the ridges on the hard roller. Uncomfortable wincing pain that is becoming less wincing each session.

I sit at my desk inside my van to write my bog entries. I type away which sort of wipes my memory clean of what I typed.

At the trail intersection of Storm King and Grand Slam where it had sat since I have been here. Missing.

Again, another pitch for allowing user created go arounds while leaving parent tread as built. They meet the need of lesser able riders while the tech feature remains for the challenge.

Monday was a morning PT session on my right knee. Have now identified source of pain. Rolling the area, icing it, using THC healing compound. This AM upon putting weight on it sliding out of bed did not produce a wince. Ride today was pain free.

Afterwards I drove out to Phil’s area for an afternoon ride as day cooled. Up Kents, Phils, and Pine Drops to top end of Storm King. Carve turns down to Grand Slam, traverse Ticket to Ride, turn onto ELV, fast coast down Expressway, KGB, to Marvins back to van. 19.5 miles climbing 1683′ pedaling 2 hrs 22 mins. Sim results as 7/29, 2 minutes faster. Amazing to me that many of my repeated rides take the same time.

Yesterday was a rest day to avoid heat. Drove up to RD 41. I pulled knapweed on both sides of the road near where I stay. I have been pulling the invasive weed wherever I see it including the road in front of my property.

Today I got after it at 8 AM to enjoy cool. Catch and release, up Storm King to Grand Slam, Ticket to Ride to start of Catch and Release. Today 2 minutes slower than 6/19.

Courage is doing something you will live with forever. Something from Another Roadside Attraction. Big snootfull of words.

Afternoon tease of thunderstorm, not enough rain to clean my windshield, now just streaks.

Listening to Mariners home game on XM. Listening to human voices speaking, thoughts.

Going for evening stroll.