Right to the creep. Yesterday I parked at spot off rd 41 where I have stayed then went for my ride. Upon return I see the same guy who lives out of his Suburban parked close enough for my exhaust pipe to gas his if opened tailgate. I approached from the front seeing him behind the wheel. I had already seen his position. I nodded my head in greeting, he raised a finger off the steering wheel. Standard greetings from each. He must have decided that if he parks so close to me I will leave. Which I did which was my plan anyway. Creeped out uncomfortable. My etiquette is to give others space, recognize that even if I could fit in, respect modicum of distance.
So what got me there.
Rain fell while I was awake sitting up in bed reading a Steven King novella. Enough rain fell to create pooling right outside van door. Peaceful night quiet neighborhood.
I asked google maps for directions to above spot. 41 mins thru Bend, a longer route came at it another way almost into SunRiver. I chose this way as it stayed out of Bend. I made first turn correctly heading towards Sunriver. At first stop sign I needed to make a decision with just memory recall. I saw a road sign for Cascade Lakes Highway which goes by my start stop. Scenic forest paved road. Came out on said highway only way to the west of Bachelor. I coulda woulda and prolly will shoulda next time to navigate with map displayed on phone.
Visions of ride selections played on my brain. One thought was to ride the Newberry volcano rim at La Pine,which as I remember, was on soft pumice. Clouds appeared to be just above rim. Postpone that ride. Next was riding from above spot up Funner over and down Tylers as recent rain would have lessened the loose. However, I realized that the day was Saturday and trails are shuttled. Nix again on weekend ride. I stuck with down low with Catch and Release climbing Storm King where riders and I happened to pass, compliments to almost all for practicing trail love while yielding to my uphill pedal. Turned on to start of Grand Slam, intersection overseen by kidnapped gnome.
I rode Grand Slam before it was logged and while it was being harvested. Now this is man’s version of the new reality.
Grand Slam to jnct of Ticket to Ride, I took the longer north leg finishing back at van. 14.3 miles climbing 1116′. 1 hr 46 mins, abusing my heart for 35 mins.
Drove back to anchor spot hoping my spoor would be honored by others. Score, relax. Went for a hike later wearing Bedrock sandals on bike trails, bashed over recently burned over forest floor, and dirt roads. I walked past old favorite spot seeing just Tom’s van and further back just pulling in was a VW Westy that could be Jimi. I waited, guy slid out of the van, looked like Jimi and I hailed him. It is Jimi. We visited for awhile then I split for home and dinner prep.
Yesterday I needed water for today. As I drove by the park spigot I saw it was occupied by athletes so I didn’t stop. Next place is at Skyliner Lodge way up the way. FS land, well water that I enjoy, but if an event is booked the spigot is off limits. Saturday afternoon could have been a wedding reception which would block access. A drive for nothing and I could make supply last till dinner.
Today I drove up to Skyliner which is higher than start of Phils and start of loop to descend South Fork. I changed my route to this Tumalo South Fork loop. Happenstance. I worked the road climb in 17 mins 45 secs. I hung at the top while other riders pedaled up. Younger, all from here. Started conversation about trail courtesy that they agreed with and cited some of their seeing bad behavior. I started telling them about my Grumpy Grandpa burma shave gnomes when Emmy, the executive director of COTA, arrived. I emailed her last night asking for a get together. Happenstance, in person, I shared my idea which she embraced. Will make a sit down meeting to not take away from riding. She pedaled Petersen’s and I took SST.
I arrived at top of S Fork. Then skills application, performing bike, and courage came into play utilizing gravity and trail features to like dance down the trail which is under deep tree cover broken by small patches of bright sunlight which confuse my seeing sense. My bell dinger was released clanging at each jar. Sound carries. At the log crossing there was a woman rider waiting. I approached and she called me by name. Barb, she was part of the Pittsburg group ride of O’Leary as was Lenny from the previous Sunday. Mosquitoes were thick. Previous rides I would stop then walk across the log then continue coasting. I was not still for long. Today for what became a short conversation because of the cloud of mosquitoes. Again, maybe all the girls had been out during previous rides but I did not remain standing long enough for the word to get out for new blood. Later I caught up with her group for more trail side conversation where the mosquitoes were not thick enough to cause us to use speed to avoid furthering the species. Down at crossing of Tumalo creek a man and woman pedaled towards me. One of them started a greeting saying that they saw my van. They are from Flag and they had seen the van in Sedona. I asked how they connected me to the van. I do have 2 large pics of me on van. We chatted. They are on the road for summer with their 12 and 14 year olds back at the camper. This S Fork ride will be the last on the Turner, next will be on new Revel Rail next week.
Happenstance meeting these riders.
87 degrees at anchor spot at 4 PM. Prolly no additional heat will be required.