Change. Happiness is having the I9 rear wheel back on after Thurs ride. Thank you I9 for 1 day turn around rebuilding my wheel, UPS put the wheel on their doc on Thurs, Friday they ask for a ship to address, I gave TJ at The Hub Cyclery address. Thurs afternoon I parked under a shade tree at TJ’s then did shade tree mechanics to swap wheels. I cleaned up the loaner then returned it to shop. 12 rides covering 165 miles of no quick hub engagement.
Now I will head over to Oakridge. I spent Thurs night on my piece of physical ownership. Quiet and dark.
Friday morn I drove to Oakridge, elevation 1333′, the lowest prolly since last year here. Drove by Randy’s shuttle shop that is now an empty building. Gone is local comp shuttle. Visited at Merchantile then drove to Greenwaters city park which is at bottom of Larison Rock trail. Larison is a shorter downhill of 3.21 miles dropping1936′ taking just 20 mins after 4.0 miles of pavement climbing1670′ in 1 hr 3 mins non stop pedaling that’s 417’/mile. Rode in granny gear for most of distance which is really a friendly gear. Change: Oakridge is on the wet side of the Cascades meaning verdant big trees and no pumice. Shade dappled sunlight plays havoc with me reading shadows. The trail dropped 603’/mile. Handful of a descent. Part way down a threatening cramp said hello, I stopped to let my leg relax. Trail is old narrow single track, bench cut on steep mountainside, heavy tree cover hides the exposure. Smoked my body on the climb.
Salmon creek is way too clod to immerse more than my lower legs. Cleaned up then drove up to old town, the original location. I booked a shuttle for Alpine on Sunday. Visited brew pub formerly Brewers’ Union, now Three legged Crane. Salad for dinner while sitting at the empty bar. A woman arrived walking behind the bar in front of me. We looked at each other, it was Katrina, such a warm sight to greet and she called me by name then we greeted each other with warm hugs.
Spent night at bottom of Dead Mountain trail, end of today’s ride. Warm night.
Damn, still hearing mouse skritches. Set 3 traps out, this morning 1 did not get away. I use 3 different traps, all by Victor from Lititz, PA, the next town over from Manheim where I lived for 6 years back in the 70s. The oldest trap has a metal trigger, the newer one same config but has a plastic paddle, and the newest which Steve gave to me. So far the middle age trap leads the capture. I will change locations tonight.
Today was Dead mtn loop from anchor spot. 16.5 miles climbing 2546′, pedaled mostly non stop for 2 hrs 49 mins. Again 46T granny was my friend. I needed 1 hr 10 min to cover 8 miles of pavement then the grunt took over for 2.57 miles climbing 1138′ gravel for 39 mins average speed was 3.9 mph. Solid effort.
Then the descent: the upper part is machine built flow trail down to became old hand built trail, legacy hiking trail that has been modified for bikes. 5.77 miles dropped 2369′ in 39 mins. I came upon a gaggle of adults and young kids. I visited with them at the bottom, 7, 8, and 11 year old boys, wheel sizes smaller than 26″. Poison oak.
Wiped down clean. Writing this in the park.
Wet side: Doug Fir, tall trees. Logging. Trails are more difficult than Phils. Trails are road climb up then single track dirt down.
I will be here till Tues eve as I will return to Bend for a scored teeth cleaning session.
3 shuttle services here. Riding here is downhill. Larison and Dead are shuttled, some paid $ I paid in calories. I will pay for ATCA tomorrow.
Off to social evening in old town. There is a local distillery that hosts open air music and drinks made with their spirits. Cool small town happening.