Forecast called for showers mostly after 11 AM. I planned on pedaling away around 9 to stay ahead of forecast. However, showers started in sufficient time to abandon putting on riding clothes. Wait, what do my eyes see? But open patches of blue sky. Change out of street and into wool long underwear top, knickers are still drying from their cleansing. Chilly. Gentle rain fell off and on, operative word: gentle. No T-storm forecast. Did pack rain jacket and started out wearing wind shell. Pedaled out to join Marvin’s Garden back to main TH then up Ben’s to Voodoo which is as far as trail is open because of logging operation. Voodoo climbing to Kent’s then down to junction w/ KGB all the way to its end with Marvins then home. Midday midweek crowd of maybe 15 riders seen. Sprinkles fell between the P Pine canopy to water mark my top tube. Catch this: on 6/11 I rode 11.1 miles in 1 hr 19 mins. Vert did not make a “1” number.
FS sprays either a kill or save color on a tree to indicate its life. Back in ’69 I was a tallyman for a timber cruiser on the Diamond lake District of the Umpqua NF based out of Toketee RS. There they used blue meaning to cut and yellow to leave. Here the FS has confused me with this orange paint and its meaning. No natural selection. Feller buncher fodder.
Back at the van sheltered I devised a plan that would be the envy of every working man. Per Johnny Cash. Done for the day, can sleep wherever, decided to drive down to my piece of earth near La Pine SP. Windy drive down US 97. Intermittent wiper speed. Arrived at entrance still blocked by strung cable across the “drive”. No Trespassing sign still lashed to a tree. Seems the trees I girdled last year are still vibrant. Too nasty to sit outside let alone walk the fence line.
Health care provider recommended wearing a compression sock on my left leg to lessens the fluid retention and to help heal the still nasty wound 5 weeks old. Seems to be helping the healing pain. I put it on first thing in morning unless I will be riding right away then I would put on socks an shoes. Riding either keeps the swelling down or makes it go away. Sock goes back on after ride and is taken off at bedtime.
Bought blindly a bottle of dark rum, Pilar, paying homage to Hemmingway. Very tasty, sipping enjoyment. Wonder if same is sold in Ketchum, his hang out.
Sprinkles here in La Pine have become rain. SO much is needed and forecast calls for not sunny days and chilly for season. 49 degrees, no solar gain, turned furnace on. 4264′.