So many places to ride, so many fires and bad air, and no idea of where I want to go. Nothing in the bucket list. Suspect van transmission is acting up so degree of trust is curtailed. Just a big WAH from me.
Last bunch of days I have been enjoying mountain biking up at rd 44 trails. Might go back up for more miles of enjoyment.
Yesterday I checked off another big effort ride earning self satisfaction and pissed off at garmin edge for not capturing a record ride. Seems between me punching buttons and garmin not being happy with what I was asking for it to record recognition was not captures. Yesterday’s ride was the 15 mile creek loop starting and ending at Bottle Prairie TH. I pedaled up the Lookout mtn trail I descended several rides ago on another big effort ride. I did not remember the descent that I experienced going the other way. Not a hard pedal. Trail climbed up to 8 mile point where I received internet signal. From there it was almost all downhill down Cedar creek trail to the junction with 15 mile creek and the monster climb out. Deep forest cover way back out there. Legacy hiking trails. A zip and a zap with a short walk down section that was loose which I would have hastened gravity in pulling down dirt. Down at the bottom I pressed buttons on edge to record the climb out. This time I even put on my readers with a missing temple to see what i was doing. The data was not completely captured but my body was tested as well as my brain. Big hump with some serious steep pieces. I continue to amaze myself with both the bile’s and my body’s climbing ability. The bike seems to squat and dig in with me just sliding up onto the nose of the saddle and pressing down on the pedals. How much is bike factor and my body’s contribution, the result is bigger smile for me. What I could calculate was the ride was 18.9 miles pedaling for 3 hours and climbing 2316′. Then the descent down the Lookout trail was a screamer, and I had climbed it. I saw 1 guy back at the TH, I was out 5 hours all by myself.
The forest up there has mostly escaped the chain saw. The trees grow and reach old age then die, in time they fall to the floor and their offspring grow climbing into the opening in the canopy. Repeat from start of time. How the trail lay out person(s) scrambled over all the down was remarkable, Today the trail is like a cleared corridor that you stay on, getting off the trail into the forest is a folly. Not every trail has the down, other places. There are some big trees in there like P pine and Doug fir. May they continue to live out their natural life. This area is also water sheds for communities down slope which keeps these trees standing.
were like above, trees not very large or tall but densely packed.
Up off rd 44 I can get internet when I hike up high but no road access. I have been doing web research on ride locations and fires on my phone for just a few minutes. I miss having access while I am eating dinner taking time between shoveling food into my mouth to digest the info, the food the body takes care of.
Trout Lake is on shoulder of MT Adams, there are a few trails that seem to be linked by FS roads, the main one is the road to the south side climbing route. I know this road as I had driven it several times over the years to ski the mountain. I won’t drive my van on the road. Next would be big push to Cashmere, WA for Devil’s Gulch area a 4 hour drive from HR.
Today is Thurs, laundry day. I drove back down to HR for clean clothes and groceries. Dirty Fingers bike shop is relocating.
Mandatory indoor masking for Oregon is back in effect. I accepted the J&J vaccine and am waiting info on a possible necessary booster.
When I bought my first Turner a long time ago I joined a well envied family. I was cool as I had a Turner. The brand was appreciated by the ones who know things. I left the family when I bought my Revel Rail that is a new unknown, no recognition. I wanted to be part of a new family. Because the brand is so new and unknown I’m not cool. The only thing worse than being wrong is being right before your time. I think in a short while as more riders experience the suspension performance word will become known and I will be cool again. Perhaps envious is the better word as demand will exceed the supply, I am riding one and you want one. Will Revel create it own recognition time will tell.
Freehub finished editing an article they asked me to write. Some to appear at a newsstand near you or on line where you sit. So far release date for film is unknown to me.
Going to tour Hood River town then drive back to rd 44 for several more days of riding. Clean clothes and a replenished larder will sustain me and maybe improve my WAH.
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