Bend’s elevation is short of 4,000′. Last 2 days I spent up at Swampy TH which is 5971′. The higher you go, the higher you get. Benefit here is slightly cooler temp. Last 2 mornings I extended my right arm from under the covers to switch on the heater. Solar gain hits the back of the van, the thermostat is on the head board at rear of van, the gain tells the thermostat temp has been reached and the heater shuts off. However, the inside is still chilly, I turn the heater heat level higher to send I’m cold signal. In time the air temp warms sufficiently for me to open the slider door and turn off the heater. Such is my comfort.

So I spent Sat and Sun nights at Swampy. I rode trails out of Swampy. Both rides climbed Ridge loop then turning on to Flag Tie over to descend on Lower Flagline down to Swampy. Trails here are less ridden and less polished, trails that I prefer. Shuttle traffic descends from Swampy, my ride requires effort that is antipathy to shuttlers. The Rail pedals uphill nicely and descends with stability inspiring confidence. I like this bike.

Anyway I like riding here.

Thursday I repeated my ride from of Tuesday’s ride riding Catch and Release from anchor spot off rd 41, continuing on Afternoon Delight, loop around Roundabout, back on Afternoon. During the previous ride the EDGE glitched not recording the entire ride. This time the EDGE glitched again. Seems something is in the air to affect the computer. Ride still is about 20 miles. This ride I completed afternoon then pedaled gravel road to connect with the river trail.

On the river there are several rapids to be floated. Rafting companies float people in large rafts. Today I left a rapids before rafters floated down sparing me of the crazy screams from the rafters.

For the most part the trails I ride are not crowded.

I9 received my damaged wheel on Thurs per UPS scheduled schedule. I9 contacted me Fri for payment and ship to address as the wheel had been repaired. I9 tore the wheel apart then rebuilt it on a replacement hub shell and replaced the driver. They covered the parts and I paid $75 for the labor. Stellar performance. Counting on riding that wheel by week’s end. I so want to be off the loaner with its long engagement in the hub. The loaner wheel produces no sound when coasting, stealth.

Tues my new crown is installed.

Finished John Water’s Liarmouth, it was a fast read, a story. Next book is by Jess Walter, The Angle of Rome, which is a collection of his short stories. Author is from Spokane and much of the settings are in that town. I lived in Spokane for 18 years then I took to the road.

Last night as I was turning my van into my bedroom I happen to catch a flash to 2 mice . I set out 2 traps, 1 the old fashion spring  and a newer one that Steve gave to me. While I was laying in bed before falling asleep my ears were perked for the snap of a trap. Silence. This morning as I lay in bed putting off getting up I heard a smack which meant the trap closed on a soft body instead of the base of the trap. Score 1 for the old trap as there is now 1less mouse. Tonight I will set both traps to eliminate the second mouse. I haven’t found their point of entry. Seems mice enter when the slider door is open. That can’t be how they get in. I have watched ground squirrels on the step at the door, they leap up, the mice lack that agility.

Heart rate 51 beats per minute taken just now.

Thurs my left leg was ultra sounded to check vascular health. A blood clot was discovered. The tech observed the clot might be chronic. Previously a clot was found. The anti coagulant meds are to prevent clots and the body will dissolve the clot. Doesn’t appear the body breaks down the clot, or worse, my body keeps creating a new on. I have experienced a pulmonary embolism.

Today is Monday, may the weekenders have gone back to work emptying anchor spots out at Phils. Forecast today is for 90′. Will be warm here at Phils.

My sink water tank holds 7 gallons, I fill a 2 1/2 gal bucket from the sink drain. That water lasts 2 days as does my 2 gal drinking water jug. I replenish every 2 days. I buy groceries at refill time. I defrosted my fridge yesterday.

Next Monday marks 14 years of my living on the road.

Off to Phils and weak internet signal.

Thursday, the day I will have clean underwear for the coming week. Liners also.

Still here in Bend. Way more RV campers including many many vans yet the trails are not congested or much of an issue of sharing. Take away is about 50:50 practice sharing trail love.

Tues I rode up river from anchor spot off rd 41 on Catch and Release to its end at bottom of Tylers Traverse.. Afternoon Delight trail continues towards Sun River. This is a newer trail, 4.2 miles, mostly paralleling rd 41. Added Round About loop then returned on Afternoon. Cloudy skies that teased with sprinkles, never enough or serious enough to don rain coat that I carried. Computer glitched not recording all ride data, still it was an almost 3 hour 20 mile ride.

Riding loaner rear wheel with not I9 Hydra hub engagement, I am riding my bike. However, the huge amount of crank rotation before wheel is engaged eliminates ratchet pedaling over tech moves has curtailed that kind of trail. Afternoon is an easier trail for this wheel.

The place where I stay off rd 41 is almost on Catch and Release. I sometimes sit outside maybe reading and watching for riders passing by. I wave at them, some wave back. One rider rode over to me, it was Joe, a local riding a Revel  either Rascal or Ranger, I missed checking which. Joe formerly rode a Turner RFX like me, and like me updated to a Revel. He, Joe from Flag, my insurance agent, and me parted with our RFXs moving to a Revel. Only local Joe moved to 29er. Just info.

UPS tracking puts my wheel out for delivery to I9 in Asheville, NC today. They quote 5 to 7 business days for turnaround. Then another week shipping back to me here in Bend.

Life continues. Life distilled down to basics of taking care of myself. I have visited only 1 dinner out establishment and that was 10 Barrel since my arrival. COVID concern. $ is concern. Scoring a desirable sleep spot is great concern because of the increased number of campers. I arrive at a site maybe mid afternoon, as day passes I observe others passing me looking for their spot. So far nobody has camped on my bumper.

SO enjoying smooth transmission. Today the wheel will be balanced which I hope will eliminate some vibrations. Diesel is still $6xx / gal, even at 25 mpg I stay here lessening distance driving.

July 8 marks the end of 14 years of living this lifestyle.

Yesterday I rode from camp spot past Phils. Logging operations close trails during the week, closure determines route choices. I record my rides in Backcountry Navigator. I rode lower Phils for first time in years to record its track. Powers that are made this part of Phils as directional downhill and Bens as an uphill trail that eliminated rider conflict. Makes for a down low directional loop.

Reading Liarmouth, John Waters novel. He of Pink Flamingoes fame.

Tonight I am van living on my plot of land near La Pine State Park, Oregon. Possession of piece of land where I determine how many days a person is allowed to stay. The private property sign I lashed to a tree deteriorated and fell off yet nobody checked it out. My acre is undeveloped and between residences on either side. 4264′ elevation. I’m about 30 miles from main Phil’s TH. The road I live on is gravel, 4 houses to the west the county road dead ends on to old haul roads in the Deschutes NF, dirt bikes and various 4 wheel rigs use the road for FS access.

Last night I anchored off rd 41, Catch and Release trail passes about 50′ away. I watch riders go by , I wave them on. I wait for eye contact. some wave back. 2 riders rode up, they were covered with Deschutes dirt ( wet volcanic sand), 1 guy said glad to see you again, he showed me a pic of his wife inside my van. Drew a blank on people and event. Pot’s good for not remembering. They were caught in localized T storm. Large drops that splattered, mostly show versus gully washer.

Today I picked trails that are closed during the week because of timber harvest. Again, joy of riding from my house making this ride a favorite. I think the number 1 reason a rider picks a favorite trail is if he /she can ride from home. I seem to have many trails that meet that criteria. So I started on Catch and Release heading to Storm King for the climb to Funner trail start. Rode to its end at Wanoga TH. Turned onto Upper Tiddly Winks which traversed mixed short climbs till finally pointing downhill with large man made mounds of dirt. Flow trail. Sunlight shone fully or was diffused by tree cover created shadows that my eyes had difficulty perceiving trail nuances. Why an informed person would chose to pedal it up is beyond me, I learned that from a group ride several years ago. Not crowded. Tiddly ends at Storm King intersection. I continued on SK, crossing highway, then turning down Upper COD.

Left COD to S Ticket to Ride which part descends a gulley that the trail plays swooping up 1 side then back again. Too much fun to ride this way, again, why climb it? Ended at Visitor center that is still closed. I take on water at the water spigot. Cross the highway and pick up Ticket to Ride back to van. 21.3 miles climbing 2054′ pedaling for 2 hrs 53 mins. Average speed was 7.37 mph which seems to be my average speed here. 60 hours of recovery before next ride.

Friday and Sat I rode out of anchor spot at Swampy TH. More favorite trails. I mixed up riding directions on Swede and SST in a loop. One ride I climbed Ridge up to Flag Tie. Winter left overs are slowly melting.

Both those rides ended being the same distance, elevation climbed , and pedal time. Just happened. 11.7 miles 12xx’ pedaling for 1 hr 39 mins. Trails up here are more primitive and lesser ridden.

It is what it is, I am riding a loaner wheel that lacks instant engagement of the I9 Hydra hub. The wind up is too great for my figuring out how to lift front wheel. I walk rock gardens I rode on the I9. Can’t ratchet pedal this wheel. I estimated wheel return to be 7/22.

Quiet and dark here, no night lights. La Pine is colder than Bend.

I think riding flow trails is like skiing groomers.