I live inside a van, a one room affair. I sleep in the kitchen and pantry within a short arm’s distance. Around 10PM I turn off my reading light then settle into visions of blank. The past several nights shortly after light out I would hear the subject . Is it 1 mouse or mice about? Two nights ago I watched 2 scurry along the floor. I set out traps baited with remaining peanut butter from previous use. Having taken action only a mouse tripping a trap and their body squished under the bale. Yesterday it was a mouse but the other trap was cleaned of that pbutter suggesting at least another mouse. Last night I set 3 traps, 2 on the floor and 1 in the food drawer then listened to subject. I fell asleep. During the night I was awaken 2 times by sound of a trap taking out an unwelcomed critter. The traps on the floor scored.
So, listening to a mouse getting after living in my space while I waited for it to trip the trap and that is all I can do and I must sleep over their sounds. I presented the lure, it just has to take it. Yep, should have seen the one that didn’t get away. Just watched a mouse scurry across the floor. Traps again.
Back down from Swampy but above town off rd 41. Spot at gravel pit has been occupied by a large trailer with folks that play outdoors. I park a bit behind with some distance. We say Hi to each other when they drive out or in. Catch and Release trail goes right by. Trail continues, it crosses an unimproved dirt rd which which heads into forest. I coasted down the check for anchor spot. I scored one a short way in that has a tree shade. Score. And I can ride from the van.
Which I did: Catch and Release to Storm King climbing to junction with Tiddly Winks for short climb this time not sharing with non yielding downhillers. Larsen’s up to Tylers down bermed turns to bottom at Catch and Release back home.
Tues my new $1800 crown was installed. Appointment was at 4:20. Later I attended the Bend chapter of COTA monthly meeting. Short conversation with Woody. Melanie, a COTA member is on a forest health committee representing recreationists views, opinions, and maybe approval for FS actions. I have posted many pics of the result of the tree thinning. She reported that various FS ‘ologists have established that the forest is not healthy. Man messed with it by cutting then replanting then preventing restorative low heat fires that clean the floor. Data on tree growth showed periods of fire every bunch of years. Forest is over grown. The logging is a partial cut thinning out resulting in far fewer trees per acre. Next was the mastication of low plants such as manzanita, snowbush, bitterbrush, leaving chewed up formerly living vegetation no longer on the ground. I learned the next step is to burn which will be low level fire and “manageable”. EPA controls when it can be burned. Man screwed it up and is attempting to make amends by screwing it up again. Said ultimate will be large diameter trees of sustainable density just to look at, looking because saw mills no longer have machinery to mill the to be larger dia trees. City of Bend is built right against the forest boundary, trees continue into the city. The thinned forest is hoped to retard a fire from the forest.
Today I climbed Storm King again to junction with COD. Storm King is closed here because of logging. COD down to Ticket to Ride to Welcome Center, cross the Bachelor highway pick up Catch and Release back to van. Short ride because trail closures block possible longer rides. Earlier when I passed this other spot off 41 I saw only the full size pusher yellow school bus across from where I wanted to be. I put the bike on the van and made the van road shape ready then drove to spot: still empty. Nice. Appreciate shade.
UPS ECD for wheel delivery is for tomorrow by 7PM. I’ll prolly ride here in the morning then go to town to do laundry then hang at The Hub waiting delivery then putting it on the bike.
Shimano has made an ebike that has an automatic shifting/transmission. Other manufactures make their versions of ebike. There’s money out there, the buyers will challenge the federal land managers to change trail access to motorized. Money talks, politicians listen and hold their hands out. On Singletracks web site there is an article about a Trek ebike, picture included showing a rider getting air on a technical downhill. Shows action, wonder how much assist the rider was using? Climbing is where assist assists however it lacks action not exciting.