Again.
Thursday I rode what was to be my last Bend ride. Climb up Tumalo Ridge. Today I chose to ride down Sector 16 which becomes Upper Whoops then up and down Skyliners back to Skyliners Lodge. ran into Jimmi on Whoops so we visited to catch up. 13 miles climbing 1312′ pedaling for 1 hr 47 mins. Garmin has calculated my max heart rate as 161, as a result I spend less time anaerobic which moved most of its time to in range. Pretty stout heart workout.
Did laundry at west side. New owner Doug happened to be there. Visited. New flooring and machines. Pretty spiffy.
I completed all my things to do while in Bend. I am able to leave. I left before air went unhealthy. I headed north to the rd 44 trails right near MT Hood, on the east side. Working my way north. Hot afternoon drive. FS rd 44 leaves highway 35 then climbs 5 miles up to Surveyors ridge TH. I continue past out to a wide open spot in full view of MT Hood. But full on exposed under blistering sun and upper 80s. OK for one night.
Just haze as air was upper green
Friday, the 13th, I rode around upper Surveyors and down to Knebal springs from park site. back under deep tall tree cover. No rain here either allowing usually woods dirt tread to be dried out with patches of dust. New trails added to me. Surveyors has new single track that takes it off the old buried aqueduct. Nice. Woods trail riding, what I learned to ride on, which to me, is what mountain biking is all about. Hence my description as mountain biking. Riding Phils trails is sport riding, what mountain biking morphed to.
Deep tree cover. Height cranes one’s neck to see into the canopy. Other pieces have plant growth at trail edges but out slope was cleared of foot smacks.
86 degrees at ride finish at wide open spot. Earlier in my ride I spied a spot that was partially shaded, Better than this spot so I hustled down to occupy it. I needed all 10 of my new leveling blocks to level. I jockeyed several times for fit. I turned off the engine as I was done. But I checked the wheel alignment on blocks to see if I moved about 3″ forward I would be better. I turned the ignition key which sent a click sound. WTF? I recycled the key which brought the engine to life. I am totally freaking as the van has a sordid past of not starting and I am way back out there with no cell. I shut the engine down with a scant piece of mind that because it started once after the click it would start again. But I did not want to chance it not starting. Sat I set out to ride while fretting if the van will start. I was so stressed out with the only stress release was to start the van. I was all but shaking when I turned the key. VROOM… it started. My heart rate dropped. No need to test it again. I took of on my ride.
Sat’s ride was the big climb up Cook’s Meadow to High Prairie. I know that it is a brunt of a climb. One of those rides bigger than my mind wanted to force my body to do. I needed to find out if both brain and body would perform as a team. This bike is something special as I was able to climb all but 1 short very steep climb. The traction, grip, is much better. I also have been exercising my glutes which brought more power into my uphill pedals. At High Prairie a recently rehabed FS road traverser then dropped to the junction of Lookout mtn descent. Deep woods riding, twisty. Bike, body, brain, working together. Big ride big success enough to repeat it. 16.5 miles climbing 2192′ pedaling for 2 hr 40 mins.
Today I needed to resupply. RD 44 drop;s 5 miles down to hwy 35 then 29 miles to Hood River. Start elevation was 4200, river is like 500′. Took on 4.2 gals of propane and 5 gals of sink water at station, Grocery store trash emptied. Bought groceries at Rosauers, Spokane hometown chain.
Stopped at Dirty Fingers bike shop. I opened the door and when no sooner than my head crossed the threshold Mitchell, the owner, was behind the bar working on a bike looked up and made instantaneous recognition. Among other things I told him I am still wearing his shop’s jersey he gave me years ago. He will be soon relocating to a spot on the main drag. Tough year he has had like many bike shops. He could buy nothing to sell, Chain, no chain. I am hording a new on, necessary as the present chain already has 200 miles on it.
temps are still in 90s. I’m parked on the side of the road outside Parkdale, OR as I found strong internet. In a moment I will be driving back up to rd 44 for 2 more days of riding, then driving back down to river and learn of riding across the river. Bend’s air is bad and Spokane’s is even worse.