Topped at 88 degrees. Back end of van is much warmer, chocolate melting. 9:39 PM it is 75.

Yesterday, Sunday, I made a rest day and went buying necessities. I buy only necessities as what I acquire must have a purpose. If I buy clothing it must be that an item is worn out and will be let go. Self limiting as I buy mostly Patagonia which lasts years. Likewise my bike clothes. I did buy a chain for the Rail as a horde item over concern of future need date. Took 3 stores to find oat flour and avoided Whole Foods. I drove up to rd 41 at the Welcome center which still has winterized water. Last year the center never opened which meant the water was turned off. Every time I pass by I look for stars and stripes flying indicating water is turned on. My anchorage was side road at gravel quarry in front of locked green gate. I’m back and so is a man who lives in his like Suburban(?) and listens to religious fervor. Last night he parked the closest, about 100′. He left before my bfast.

I chose this spot as I had visions of riding up Funner and across on Tiddlywinks to go down Tylers etc. Big vert ride. Today is a holiday and I suspected holiday crowd as these trails can be shuttled. Better to ride them during the week.

Plan B was climb Mrazek, descend Farwell, down Tumalo Creek, climb Skyliner, descend Phils to Kents back to main TH. That’s what I rode. I wrote Bend’s rides are time based as what I ride I can pedal. I add a modifier to increase the effort of elevation gained. Today that ride covered 31.6 miles and I climbed 2960′ in 4 hours of pedaling. My average bpm was 123, I spent 1 hr 46 mins anaerobic. Garmin said I burned 1845 cals. I just beat myself. Today, maybe midway up Mrazek, I visited with a middle age couple, appeared competent and fit riders. They pedaled away as I rested after 56 mins solid pedaling to arrive at my stop. I pedaled away eventually catching up to them. The woman pulled over to let me pass as I was telling her keep going as I could ride behind her to slow me down. Didn’t happen, self imposed beat down continued. The piece of Mrazek I climbed was 10.8 miles climbing 2031′, took me 1 hr 44 mins pedaling. Forest Service is fuels reducing up high which really opens the forest up where as it was under tree canopy. Will add element of sunheat to the climb effort.

Manzanita is blooming not like the drought killed kindred in Sedona.

Down Farwell letting the bike have its head over the rocky sections. Nasty exposed sharp edge rocks with unanchored beer can size mixed in. Sharp edged which seems to lock them in place when leaned against. Steer where I want to go while making reflex corrections to adjust to what trail gave me.

Encountered a pleasant woman climbing. I stopped to let her pass and she motioned me to continue. We were at a stalemate leaving opportunity for visit. She pegged me to my green van hoping to meet me.

Down Tumalo creek trail where I encountered the most number of people and they were all hikers. And they were on the screamer downhill. I was looking for speed faster because of the Hydra hub but the sharing of the trail scrubbed speed.

Climbed Skyliner sharing it with 2 approaching riders. Climbed to start of Phils down Helipad down and down to junction of Kent’s to empty TH. I met Kent in Sedona this spring where I led him on a local ride.

Arrived at almost empty trail head big parking lot. Packed up then drove back to tuck away spot. I sprayed off my bike using the 1 1/2 gal tree sprayer stashed in the JOBOX. Washed off ID mud and cow shit.

Big effort ride today. Many muscles in my legs are spasming precramp lockup. Roller time. I find withstanding the pain from the roller on tight muscles makes for a more agile body.

Loose thoughts flying while riding, could be as bad as trying to be a tourist and a rider at same time when you are literally riding on the edge of the grand canyon North rim. Bend’s trails offer many hours of reflection while pedaling. Observation: Rides here are measured in time while the likes of Moab and Sedona they are measured in miles. Two days of long rides out here from Phil’s. Tread is rolled firm pumice that is now dry and dusty but still rolled firm. Fuels reduction commercial logging is harvesting trees marked with either orange or blue paint, depending upon the unit, which closes trails in the area during the week but open on weekends.

Yesterday I drove back to repair garage for replacement of air filter. Well, to get there as 2 routes with bridge across the river are closed requiring wandering and slow traffic. But first I rdoe from anchor spot. Sheesh, 26 degrees at wake up 6 AM PDT. I waited for just lightweight wool long sleeve jersey temp before pedaling away. My route kept me out of closed area as I am reacquainting myself with trails and how to build a route. Memory is returning. Today I rode from anchor spot joining Marvin’s Garden in trail, right on KGB, left on expressway, left on KGB, join Ticket to Ride to Storm King climb, right on Grand Slam, left on Ticket to Ride, left on KGB to start back of the out and back ride. 22.2 miles pedaling for 2 hrs 40 mins, average speed was 8.25 which is higher than most recent tech trails. Tread is dry and dusty. Very few people to immediately share a trail with. Parking lots can be plugged but empty trails.

Bend characteristics: Bitterbrush instead of sage or cactus, open Ponderosa Pine forest with some tall junipers, pumice dirt. smooth tread, purpose hand built trails, and NO COW SHIT or over grazing. Here grazing is manmade feller buncher and large grapple skidder machines murdering trees.

Drove off for air filter and groceries. Bought  a small piece of wild salmon; while I prepared it by steaming it was way under Steve’s grilling last week. At Phil’s I tried another spot nearby which is more open. Every spot was filled. Drove back to last night’s spot which was open. Tucked out of the way, might be my go to score. This morning was again chilly enough to enjoy furnace heated air.

Today my ride plan is to take me into the logging acres. Nowhere to go today I lingered until 10 to start. I picked up Marvin’s garden going the other way heading to the main trailhead which was well on its weay of being packed. Took Ben’s all the way to its end andthe start of cutting and hauling and mowing. Pine Drops is the climb, it started in uncut as the logging seemed to use the trail as boundary until it didn’t.

Above is typical viewshed, under tree cover vs being above it like Hailey, ID earlier in the week.

Change: new look. Difference between and bad hair cut and a good one is about a week. Here recovery won’t be during the rest of my lifetime.

Pine Drops is a legal trail so the tread will be restored as required. One of the climbs is now a haul road. At the top turned left on Phils climbing short distance to start of Storm King, at the high point of my ride. Down Storm King where a rider hollowered at me asking me why I have not been doing trail work. At Grand Slam intersection I recognized local, Gary, who stopped for a visit. I met gary at Fruita bike festival back in 2009. Trail ended at Catch and Release. I stopped at that intersection, a rider pedaled up, it was Matt, a COTA trail crew leader, I have joined him in several work projects. Left to Welcome Center where the water is still turned off and it’s not manned. Ticket to Ride thru prescribe burn left on ELV, home to many gnomes. Today I noticed a big gnome at the Storm King /  Grand Slam junction where it was located like 3 years ago, last 2 years he was on ELV trail. Gnomeknapping. Coast down Expressway, right on KGB climbing the climb (duh) where I watched the vulture feast on a smashed ground squirrel last year. Left on Marvin’s then right on social trail to road back to anchorage. Stopped to visit with Tom and Nicole camped at what they call Craig’s spot as that’s where we met last year. 24.1 miles, climbing 2024′ pedaling for 2 hrs 58 mins, average speed again in the 8s. Faster riding here.

I rode 6 out of 7 days this week. Tomorrow’s high is forecast to be 79, Monday jumps to 86, Tues is 93. Ride tomorrow up high.

Well, do tell.

I treat the health of my van with care. There are 2 repair shops I trust their work, in Sedona and here in Bend. In anticipation of being in the same town as the Bend shop is located I called this morning to schedule a physical on the van. It was due for oil change that they will. Plus the physical identifies current and possibly future issues that will be attended 2. I was around 125 miles out of Bend. Another windy drive sometimes head on other times strong cross wind hitting the driver’s side. Been driving many miles beaten by the wind. Today’s drive was west bound on hwy 20. I stayed way east of Burns on BLM land. I researched where public land was along my route. Once a bit past the no gas station town of Juntura was a big patch of BLM land. I believed there would be legal roads into the land that I could find an anchor spot. I see a roadside sign welcoming me into BLM land right past a nicely paved road to the right. My rule is go for the first spot, within reason. I hoped that that road would remain on public land and that I could find a spot. The road climbed and twisted. I was looking for the first spot off this road. One did appear. Score.

So this morning I get up and at it. Today is a rest day and a making of clean clothes laundromat in Hines,OR. Nice facility, all machines were operating. Hung the bikes clothes on the inside line, made ready to drive, then started the van, put it in drive and continued on hwy 20 which goes thru miles and miles of sage desert ahead of me. Long ways from population density. Buffeted by the wind. I heard a sound that sounded like a bearing spinning that lasted for less than a minute, it quit, then started again, maybe 3 times I heard that sound.I thought the wind was causing the window deflector on the passenger side was creating the sound. Van’s performance was OK as I was on flat. When the first uphill was under my wheels I pressed harder on the pedal but the transmission did not downshift and seemed to have lost power. Oh, that’s not good. Go for the big disease: turbocharger would explain loss of power. BLM sage desert and miles from Bend with prolly no cell. I kept driving and mentally worked up fearing the van would die and road shoulder not a pleasant spot to crash on. Evey climb speed dropped an the engine would seem to me running on non turbo. I wanted to make Brothers where I hoped I could get cell. The van got us to the rest stop at Brothers which lack a certain vitality. I called the repair shop telling them I will now be in way before my appointment and explained what I knew happened and he gathered info from the repair side. I thought I could make the shop under my own power and do no harm to the van. I started up, engine sounds fine, then steered back on highway. During gentle acceleration I heard maybe rushing air caused by engine. Shit, no good. Van needs to be towed. Years ago during a previous tow I learned that AAA policy is the way to go, I heeded his advice and am a member. Towing was as simple as answering questions from the rep and towing will be dispatched. Tow was on its way to me very shortly. Flatbed arrived. Driver’s name is Kyle same a one of my sisters, and he pronounced family name the way we do. We chatted non stop the hour drive. My van which is a sail in its own shape is anchored onto the bed of a flatbed. And it was very windy. Several times he countered steered from a gust. So he unloads my van in a preferred sleep in the parking lot location. I walk into the repair shop, Import Performance, and greeted Casey my past advisor. I told him this is the second time I have arrived at his shop via towing. He said there might be time still today for it to be looked at then decide repair. He made arrangement for my use of the loaner car before I asked which I did. A tech drove the van into a bay. It’s near 4 now. Casey reports tech discovered the intercooler hose was not attached and the air cleaner trapped enough dust for a 6 year old sand box. He ordered a filter which did not arrive before closure. They returned the filter to allow me to drive. Also I asked about transmission. They checked the level which was 1 quart over. He removed that amount. I will return tomorrow for the new air filter. Turbo is fine. Loss of power was caused by the loose hose. I had driven thru dust storms when i could not see the dust.

I was able to drive away, destination 10 Barrels on the west side. The van drove like a champ, seems rumble strip noise is less. I bought needed groceries at Newport Market where I shop. I bought what I need and visited with 2 checkers we know of each other. Finished short drive to 10 Barrel and walked in. Wait to be seated, hostess greats me, she’s new. She gives me an outside table for 4 as there are no open bar seats where I prefer to sit. I walk to the bar expecting to see any of the past tenders. No past guys, all new people. Change. I was going to eat there but decided to split. I am processing the change of the loss of people I had known for years that helped make 10 Barrel my living room.

So I drove out to Phil’s. Drive past the TH downhill to see many rigs parked in the first camp spot. This doesn’t look good: Crowded. I tried my favorite spot, on the way I looked uphill towards the spot and saw white rig. Nuts. Backed up then found this little hideaway spot for anchor. After dinner I went for a walk towards that spot. A white van with red and white plate, Mass possibly. And there was another van parked right next to it. Has the signs of a young couple I met last summer sharing this spot. I walked past a few feet when a guy ran into the road and called me by name. It was the same young couple as last year.

So that’s how I moved into Bend.

On Wed I left Wood River Valley as Steve and Mia were off to a horse event and many trails were still under snow for riding there. I liked riding at Indian Springs down east of Twin Falls and that’s what I did. Primitive sustainable hand built trails and official trails are on Trailforks. Almost all of the trail signs have been destroyed and there are many cow paths that could be the bike trail. I put together a loop over to Dry Gulch up same to Hot Shot so named for hot shot fire crew that put out a fire here(?). Dunno. A trail builder told me he sees the land as a blank canvas. Tgis trail put much imagination in it. That and riding over cow shit of ages from almost right from the container or aged. My bike matches that guys bike I asked about during my first visit. Then the mostly downhill started. Challenging single track as in twisty but just  a few tech stuff I couldn’t ride. 16.6 miles climbing 1430′ in 2 hrs 26 mins. Good hump.

I packed up then headed west. I would arrive in Boise as drivers would be leaving the city rush to get home. Three lane interstate highway stop and go til past must be the exit where all these drivers live. Boom, like grass thru a goose and I was on open highway.

On Tues Steve and I rode Hidden Valley out and back. It is up Bouillon Basin past Croy. weather forecast called for possible thunderstorm. Steve said we should get going. We drove our separate vans to the TH. We both added rain jackets. We pedaled away under inhospitable clouds. Hope is to finish our ride before the weather turns. Out and back. We did. I stayed after Steve left. Shortly a thunderstorm hit. 2 women hikers wearing rain jackets ran to their car, drenched. I left after bit driving to the main Croy trailhead where I had internet service. while there a monster t storm hiit with high winds, small hail and hard rain. It would have been beyond miserable to have been caught by it.

Now in Pacific time zone. Locally it is 10 PM, for me it is 1 hour later. I need to make friends with my bed.

Good Night.