But it was a good kind in that it lacked in intensity, flashes of lightning and claps of thunder and a gentle soaking rain lasting maybe a half hour. Lessons are only learned if they are applied at a future situation. Forecast wanted low probability of rain but skies tipped their hat to more likely. I stuffed my rain jacket into my hydration pack. Yes, I still carry a bigger than necessary pack for the riding I do, again, having like a large trash bag to use for emergency protection is peace of mind. The rain jacket was sufficient. I finished the short distance of my ride on soon to be short lived hero dirt as rain knocked down the dust and temporarily stuck together gains of volcanic soil. I chose the longer way back to the van for desire to ride longer. I was less than 1/4 mile prolly from the van when the sprinkles changed to rain that I put on the jacket. I was under some tree cover for protection and for the short distance I could ride wet. Duh, opportunity to check the jacket’s protection. Darn gender neutral clothing puts the zipper slider on the woman’s side, for me, the chest fit is not expanded. I hunkered down inside my van. There were just several rigs still in the lot. Then several rigs with bikes pulled in and waited the sunshine. Their timing put them on hero dirt until it dried out. Tomorrow maybe catch lingering benefit of wet dirt.
My present anchor spot is near an abandoned RV trailer. The front door has been flapping in the wind. I walked over to it yesterday to look it over as nobody has been to it since I have been here. Mess of personal stuff plus beer cans. I checked for license plate: none. Abandoned. Public will be on hook to dispose of. It’s on USFS land, waiting for LEO to start removal process.
I have yet to ride the higher trails up Funner and over then down Tylers. These trails are heavy shuttle traffic rdies and the dirt has been loose. No fun for me. Yesterday I gave thought to riding there but the weather decided for me to remain down.
I am using the word “repair” to describe locations where I have established relationships with needed repair services from van service to dental. Bend is one of those spots as is Sedona. Is it Repair Station? 6 month dental check up today.
Sitting in laundromat parking lot.
27 degrees this AM with frost. Weather not conducive to home gardening. Nuts to dreamed square foot garden. La Pine is colder. Furnace ran most of the night.
Clean clothes. But my down blanket had issues with a dryer set on delicate. Purpose of dryer ride was to dry the insensible body perspiration from the down. The blanket is on my bed which for most of the time is smashed up against the side of the van so it never dries out. Body produces 2 kinds of sweat: sensible and insensible. The former comes from cooling during exertion, the later happens because the skin as an organ strives to maintain a moist skin which can evaporate which dampens bedding. Extended nights winter camping sleeping in a down bag looses loft as the down dampens from that insensible sweat. I learned this from Stephenson’s catalog from years ago. He advocated a moisture barrier liner inside the sleeping bag which captured that sweat at the source such that no evaporation occurred keeping the down dry. Will learn during tonight of its health.
Teeth check up was clean, nothing to fix. They did receive a store bought cleaning.
I headed up to ride Tumalo South Fork loop in anticipation of firm dirt on S Fork from yesterday’s rain. Arrived at packed Skyliners trailhead. I parked in the lodge parking lot nose into doghair lodgepole patch which blocks windshield view into the van; staged for the post ride wipe down. Chilly enough for long underwear top under short sleeve jersey. Layered in case I over heated. Pedaled up Tumalo Ridge. I did scare both myself and a couple hiking as I did not see them but they had assumed defensive positions off the trail. Just pedaling speed. OOPS.
Hit the old logging road and stopped for a safety meeting. I did not put my back into my effort pedaling the road to Swede Shelter. At the shelter several riders came and went as they were prolly shuttle crowd dropping to town. I rode SST again all alone.
At Swampy I came upon 3 guys hanging. I pedaled down South Fork ahead of them. I do not enhance my speed going down. I judiciously brake. I pop off rocks and roots. I was passed by a younger aggressive rider who added pedaling effort. My objective is to minimize work. At times enough chatter is happening I can’t focus my sight. What a fun bike and ride. Trail was not as firm as I hoped but it was less dusty. Hit Tumalo creek trail which for most part drops down valley. There is a stretch with sight line the entire distance that is downhill. Several small bends. Today I hit all time high of 28.26 mph.
More rain forecast.
Revel Rail arrived Soul Cycle in Prescott today and was immediately dispatched to Bend, ecd Tues. Have Wed schedule build date.