Pleasant night that Sunday sleeping in my tent on top of Thermorest. Prolly the first night conditions were stellar for open door looks at an almost full moon. My legs cramp frequently if I put either of them is a stressed position and when it happens the cramp is very painful and takes some work to release it. My tent is long enough to lay full out and I can sit upright, however, the exiting is where cramps might happen. The price of less weight for less room. Fixed cowboy coffee which turned out to be quite tasty, enough so that after I cleaned the oatmeal out of the pot I made a second cup. Packed up then retraced my route back to Dutchman snow park this direction was mostly downhill. Climbed into the van then drove down to Swampy snowpark where I scored the dirt spot. I hung up the tent and sleeping bag to dry out in sunshine. Nothing broken or lost, all equipment preformed to my satisfaction. Later in the afternoon the white Sprinter that had snagged this spot for several days drove in, they parked where I parked when they had this spot.
Still enough of a hot day I drove out to Phils and scored my preferred spot. Strong internet signal and ride from the van. Hotter here than up at Swampy almost 2,000′ higher. I rode the same loop including pedaling up Pine Drops. 19.2 miles climbing 1654′. All by myself. Back at the van I did the chain thing, fixed dinner and cleaned up. Outside was still in 70s. I planned on riding from Swampy today leaving early. Cool Swampy or sweating Bend? I chose Swampy arriving in twilight and found the dirt spot empty. Score. Night temps drop enough to run the furnace.
So today I got after it early leaving at 9. My route went up N fork of Tumalo creek which has several scenic waterfalls and is very popular. Being early lessened the hiker crowd. Swampy to South Fork descent, one of my favorites, only 3 miles long and taking about 15 mins but packs a wallop of decisions and choices. Sure like my bike’s sure handling. Brake bumps. A short piece of Tumalo creek to the start of North fork climb to Happy Valley. This trail for mountain bikes is climbing only which makes total sense to avoid user conflict. Tumalo creek is something to look at.
Climb ends in Happy Valley and junction with Metolius Windigo, this direction climbed 935′. It took me 59 mins of solid pedaling to cover 5.54 miles to connector trail to Flagline. Route crossed Middle fork where I camped 2 nights before. The creek was flowing with gusto then. Today, shock: bone dry, rocks were dry, no pools existed, it seemed like the water was vacuumed out. Creek is also named Ditch creek, water is diverted.
Flagline starts with more elevation gained. Flagline to Swampy west and back to van. 21.4 miles climbing 2769′ pedaling for 3 hrs 7 mins. My energy was tapped out at start of Swampy. Perhaps I was bonking or suffering from the 80 degrees temps. I thought I was having heat stroke. shit lower body temp quickly. No body of water to immerse in. I put an ice pack on my neck, I checked my temp which was only 96 degrees. So heat is not the cause. Food: I scarfed almond butter and honey sandwiches. I rallied. I left at 9 in the morning after a stout oatmeal and toast bfast and finished just after noon, I figured I had consumed sufficient food to last.
Why was this day so brutal? I calculated feet per mile of climbing. Today was 129′ per mile. even the longest ride climbed only 93′.
Spending the night at Swampy again. Tomorrow is Thursday, laundry day, drive back down, take care of town things then drive back up here. Bend temps in short term are in the 90s.
Man, downhill riders not yielding to uphill riders. Won’t share my close encounters.
That’s it.
As of today I have ridden 35,763 miles on 2453 rides since July 2008.