Last posting was on the 4th, 5 days ago. I can let 24 hours per day slip through my fingers so fast so to speak. Another impediment to blogging is slow or non existent internet access. Last Sat I drove up to Swampy snowpark, 2,000′ above town to spend the next 2 nights there. Very slow speed such that my patience is beyond tried, I just don’t attempt. I would walk up the Ridge Loop trail to a high point where I get a strong 3 bar signal on my phone for reading internet stuff, no desire to pack laptop up there. Then I was rereading Anxious People which was an avoidance of dealing with my own life. Joy of that location is that it is a bit cooler, maybe the air has less smoke in it to breathe, and I can ride from my van.

Van has new tires on the front wheels. The back door needs to open to access bolts holding the spare tire to the underside of the van. At first blush it seemed the doors would have to be opened fully which meant removing the JOBOX for the doors to swing free. Tire shop budgeted 2 hours for me to remove the box then for them to remove the spare. The spare had never been used in the 14 years of van life and it had a true rim that was needed to replace a bent rim. Wow, I opened the back doors which cleared the bolts eliminating the need to remove the box. Success. The shop only needed the normal 1 hour tire change time and I did not have to assess the stuff stored in the box. I still feel the smooth pavement, perhaps the tires will never fully balance out. Replaced tires wore normally w/o indication of alignment or suspension problems.

I like riding the trails up at Swampy as fewer riders to share. They are more rugged per Bend’s lower trails or not shuttled. I have been riding the same loop as what I took Steve on. It’s 13.5 miles climbing 1575′ with pedal time of 1 hr 43 mins. Climb up Ridge turn onto Vista trail climbing more to Flagline tie connecting to lower Flag, descend to Swampy, go around to east side of nonexistent lake to Swede ridge, many woods dirt downhills. Arrive at Swede shelter, return via SST to Swampy then continue to Ridge tie for a grunt climb back up to Ridge back to van. Bike is so much fun to ride. Unfortunately my sleep spot is full on heat of the day sun exposure and traffic noise carries over. I rode that same loop Sat and Sun with almost identical efforts.

Today COTA scheduled a trail love party on lower Flagline meeting right at my house. Maybe 10 volunteers participated. Tools had been cached at work location. We pedaled our bikes the 3 miles to where we would start. I worked on making and or cleaning drains on the tread to lead water to where it would no longer run on the trail. There were several locations needing extensive rock work that others attended to.

Upper and Middle Flagline open on August 15, this Sunday. Our work will really get hammered by the opening day shuttle crowd. The trail goes thru elk calving cover, the closure allows elk to be undisturbed.

As I pedaled back to my van a rider approached. He said that my van door was open. Shit, I did not shut it. Arriving at the van I checked for different foot prints in the dirt and seeing none I relaxed.

After tomorrow all of my Bend repair items will be completed so I can leave to go back on the road. Forest fires and air quality will be major deciding factors on where I go.

Freehub and 10 Barrel film about me is moving along with a yet to be determined release date.

31 degrees this morning at Swampy. I let the furnace add warmth. Outside the van I stood in the sunshine for heat. It’s a love hate thing as during full on sun it is too warm yet early morning it is too cold until it becomes too hot. Repeat. later this week are upper 90s forecast.

Thursday’s ride of S Fork was smoky as per above.

Today I drove from my property N of La Pine and south of Bend to Bend. I spent last night soaking up neighborhood vibes. Realized that just because I am 4 doors from access to Deschutes NF it comes with a noise downside as the dirt road I am on continues on to the USFS ( public) land, noisy speeders from wherever streaking down the road into and out of the forest. It’s theirs like mine, their fun effects my solitude. No security night lights. Neighbor to the east seems to be nonexistent and the family to the west I am still figuring out. I own an acre of land, flat, pumice dirt, sparse P pine and lodgepole pine tree cover, some bitterbrush. Over the years I have pulled up any knapweed plant  growing on my side of the road, no regrowth or emergence of new growth. My land is free of the invasive weed. I now own an architectural house plan. I outlined the 30X30 house perimeter with white PVC pipe, actual house is smaller.  I have it orientated about 40 degrees off true north and at an angle to houses on each side. I park inside that perimeter. Last night I oriented the house model with the chosen location and walked thru the house visualizing sunshine and privacy. I am locating it just outside the drip zone of the largest P pine.  The land is completely fenced except for the entrance which is a cable stretched across the now driven in opening. I zip tied a No Trespassing sign on the cable. Squirrels have been harvesting the P pine nuts as seen by numerous shed piles. Almost all of the lodgepole regrowths have blight, over several years I have cut down almost all of them and piled them up. No quiet night every time I have lived there. I am making window screen netting from plastic netting, metallic washers, and magnets. Sandwich from door out: magnets, contact cement, netting, washer. Full coverage.

Still very warm here in Bend, 81 degrees at 8:52 PM. AQI went to hazardous, forecast wants clear skies soon. I access 2 web sites for forest fires and another for AQI. Damn, there are many fires out here west which created the blood red sunset. So far just the smell of smoke, not the smell of fire as smelled up at Waldo 2 days ago. Where I go to from here is dependent upon fires and air. Dunno.

So, I met Jimmi and his friend Ryan at Paulina lake where Trailforks showed we should. Ride today was the Newberry Crater rim. A 3.9 mile climbing 1599′ on FS gravel road to start of single track. Ryan was riding a borrowed old school full suspension 26 incher, triple chain ring. He said he hadn’t ridden for 4 years which even then that bike would have been antiquated. I rode his wheel on uphills, sometimes I would look at where his chain was on the cassette. Was not even close to my 1X11 cassette. He made it work.

Single track stayed away from the crater rim only offering infrequent viewsheds. Tree cover was dense lodgepole or hemlock. The trail was a mix of single tracks but most was almost like a jeep road cleared of stumps.

Paulina Lake is formed from the collapsed volcano.

The trail was 16 miles from the access to the East lake shoreline. Descent in many places was screamer fast steep. Soft questionable berms. 19.5 miles climbing 2195′ pedaling for 2 hrs 38 mins. We stopped numerous times, average bpm was 114, no slouch ride.

Jimmi and Ryan had inflatable standups that they inflated then geared up for whatever it is that they do. I drove to my property for the night.

Today I had a new tire install appointment. I drove the van when my turn came into the service bay . Was told they need to open the rear door to get at the spare tire. The JOBOX will have to be removed which will be a project, today I had a DR appointment and could only give them an hour to do the tire changes. Rescheduled for Friday.

PA-C diagnosed stomach acid, take OTC antiacid. I started this afternoon and am much improved. Drew blood for knowledge of body chemistry.

Back out at Phils in my hoped for spot which was empty, no new tracks into it. Score. Again, I chose this spot for seclusion and inability for encroachment. Ground squirrels upon occasion crawl up onto van step, I stomp a foot to scare them back onto dirt.

Smokey skies but forecast of clear and cooler.

Over Willamette Pass down to Oakridge, left  Sat morning. I stayed on my land Fri , I’m at around 4200′ elevation, Oakridge is less than 2,000. Going over the pass from east to west is a breeze and then the payoff returning. Throughout the week I studied the weather, AQI, and fires between here and there. I wanted to spend Sat night in Oakridge to enjoy the crowd at the distillery. Air and temps were acceptable and no fires locally. Backed out of my lane then headed over the pass. Plan was to ride first then visit, first off was Larrison Rock above town to the south. Park at Greenwaters park then pedal pavement climbing up to Larrison on deserted FS paved road, 4.3 miles climbing 2,039′ took i hour then down Larrison rock single track, 3.2 miles dropping 2781′. trail shows wear from brake bumps. I got beat going down so much that my glutes were barking. Big drop. Bench cut on steep hillside, narrow tread, back slope was steep hillside.

Rolled into town stopping at the Merchantile to connect. Buzz about was about road closures to trails because of fire activity. And then there was the orange air quality from smoke. Shop comments were ride Waldo as the mosquitoes are not bad per Waldo standards and air is clear. Ate a salad at former Brewers Union, now 3 legged crane. Learned that founder Ted died last Sept, work related. Next door is a bistro for more choices, outdoor seating. Walked down to distillery outdoor entertainment. Paid $4 cover, greeted owners. I walked over to the drink line taking my place behind those ahead. The Mrs. of the establishment tapped me and asked for my drink order which I gave and she made it. Connection to community. Listened to music sipping my drink and visiting with a young couple from Junction.  Pleasant social evening. Salmon creek rd was closed because of fire closing off my usual sleep spot at the bottom of Dead Mtn trail. Next spot was up Larrison rock road driving my van. That road is steep even under power. Quite night. Slept with door open and netting across, didn’t go below 60 degrees. Sunday b-fast of scratch pancakes then back down to town. I visited at the Merch, bought groceries at Ray’s, diesel which is cheaper here than Bend, and water then headed back east to Waldo Lake turnoff.

Stiff climb up to Betty Lake trailhead which connects to Waldo lake at like SE corner. Shortly after my arrival 2 male backpackers emerged from the forest across the road. One guy approached me asking how long I had been there. I just arrived I told him. He told me someone had stolen his car and his buddy’s truck capper had been broken into. Shit, I always worry about my van being broken into never it being stolen.

Years ago local Jay told me about parking at Betty Lake TH then riding the 2 mile trail down to connect with Waldo lake trail which was my plan. In a short while I encountered my first downed tree, more to come. This could be nasty should many more trees be blocking the trail. I believe I detoured around 8 trees before I hit the lake trail. I rode clockwise. The west side is ore technical and offers infrequent views of the lake. Old school hiking trail with only maintenance was to cut out the downed trees.

Tree cover is primarily hemlock until the north end and burned lodgepole and regrowth of same.

 

East side is in the forest, trail is rated green for enjoyment. Lots of roots, swooping conrners, short climbs, short downhills. Took Betty Lake spur back to van.

My van was unscathed. I hung around for a while. A family came from across the road, 2 adults and 2 kids, man carried fishing rod. They were parked next to me. I saw fresh orange peels on the ground outside th passenger’s door. Hmm. I walked over and picked them up, I walked around to the driver’s door where the guy was standing outside. I asked if he had a litter bag, no he said. I handed him the peels, he said soil nourishment. I walked back to my van. He drove away dropping the peels on the pavement. Contempt.

I decided to stay overnight the do a ride on the other side of the road, climbing The Twins trail then looping back on Charlton lake then repeat of yesterday’s east side ride. I read Trailforks ride description of the Twins saying climbing from the south would be easier so I heeded their description. I rode from sleep spot up the paved road to TH. Wide well traveled trail climbed, I walked several sections as the pitch was greater than my engine would propel me.

I chose not to climb to top. Wow descent: Way too many steep pitches to pedal up if I climbed this way. Trail dropped down thru old growth hemlock, trad mostly hemlock cones. Backcountry riding. Trai connected to Charlton Lake trail

The trail took me to that spot and the PCT. 2 middle aged men backpackers were having lunch, I stopped and joined them. Seemed the Charlton lake trail was downhill to Waldo lake east trail. Sweet. Pedal back.

Riding here is primitive and full on woods experience. trails are like I rode back in the day. Waldo loop was 22 miles. today was 16 miles. I liked both rides. I would like to share because I would ride slower and have comfort in sharing.

Drove back over pass to my land for the night.

I’m tired, damn 9:30 PM and I am not ready for bed.

No mosquitoes here that I have gotten used to, no screens across the van openings. There were mosquitoes at Waldo but they are expected.