Back at Bend. Arrived Monday morning. Day 2, teeth cleaned which was my destination monument. More later.
Sunday I left driveway and friendship of Steve making my way west. Route on I84 passes by Boise, and per Trailforks, many miles of trails exist on the foothills N of town. I picked a system because it was big loop, not densely packed in trails. I picked a trail then researched a rider’s route for me to follow. Chukar Ridge, Peggy’s, Sweet Connie. Way over biked for ride except for several basalt rock gardens and too steep to ride on whatever. Let Google find the TH which was packed. Headed out, Chukar connector was machine built single track. The the Ridge which was mostly double track. Etc. Mix of smooth single and double track. Intersections well marked, never lost as I verified choice on TF. I kept my phone in the side pocket of my shorts, great invention. Trail dumped out onto a road piece going downhill. I noted the next turn going downhill zinging along. I questioned my decision that TF said I missed the ST off the pavement. Pedal back up pavement found the ST and continued, that was towards the end. Trail dropped off ridge onto descending greener to pavement thru a housing development. Almost immediately a sound arose from somewhere on my bike. Suspension? Drivetrain? Wheels? Clicking sound revolution constant but not pedal induced. Stopped, got off the bike, spun the front wheel: bearings sound slightly gritty. Note to self” order replacement bearings. Picked up rear wheel, it was almost bound up. Noise coming from rear hub. With effort I could pedal the wheel. Shit, how far a walk back to van? I put on my reading glasses then studied TF. I was maybe 1/4 mile of pavement back. I did ride back with fingers crossed that the hub did not seize on slight downhill. Put bike on van to check out later. I still had miles to go before dinner and bed time.
I mostly enjoy the adventure route google maps sends me on. Leaving above TH Bend bound google kept me N of the city and heading west on a state highway. Patience: confidence in past performance. Destination was Chickahominy reservoir about 30 miles west of Burns. Late afternoon turned to evening but no headlights dark. Previously I found a spot off the highway, US 20, at a BLM sign. Yes, stop here. Short drive up paved road to a unimproved gravel wide spot on the left. Leading back from it was a faint double track to a flat spot. No season fresh tracks. Checked for passability, it passed. Parked at drip line of a juniper. Forecast called for possible thunder storm with possible heavy rain. Skies were tipping their hand for an upcoming event. Lightning out a ways, time advanced, darkness arrived, sounds of thunder getting closer and closer. See flash of lightning, count seconds, divide by 7 equals how far away. When flash and clap are identical, it’s right overhead. That was where I was. Heavy heavy rain fell for thunderstorm duration. Concern arose about softness of path out and the bog right before hard dirt. Tomorrow morning viewing would provide escape data. Leftover rain drops were still on my windshield which seemed like frozen raindrops but temp would not support. Did I get struck by lightning and the energy froze the drops? The sun’s warmth made them disappear. After Bfast I walked the path out. Soft, mud sticking to my sandals, I walked into the bog to learn it’s depth. Glop over the sandals and overv my feet tops. Shit, not for the van. I checked out a go around to avoid bog. Back at van I pried off my sandals, mud stuck on. I left a left and right sandal print on carpet at door. Bare foot behind the controls I turned ignition key: engine caught as it should. Steadied my anticipation for a moment reviewing mentally the drive. Moved gear selector lever to Drive then pressed firmly on accelerator, van slithered forward. Momentum and slight downhill got me to firm spot before bog then the hard dirt parking spot. Whew, out. Heaved sigh of relief. Back on US 20 towards Burns, still about 2 hours further.
Stopped for diesel in Burns. In OR attendants pump the fuel. Guy told me highway 20 was closed east of here because of massive mud slide. It was behind me. The rain I experienced was too much for the soil to remain attached. I viewed a web image of some of the slide which was as high as 15′. Could have been but didn’t.
Continued to Bend. First stop was The Hub Cyclery, the home of my bike build up and an I 9 dealer. TJ knows I 9. I removed the wheel which was still binding in frame. I removed the brake caliper in case the brake was the problem which it wasn’t. I walked the bike into the shop and greeted TJ. He broke away from a job to check out the hub. Short story problem is caused by a failed shell bearing, With no compression on the hub the wheel turned but protested. I could ride it if I put up with the sound till new bearings are installed. I put the wheel back in the frame and tightened the axle to 9nm torque then spun the wheel. Not happening, still bound. Axle torque value is required, less tightening freed the hub but not proper for parts alignment in hub. Bottom line: no riding until new bearings. I called I 9 early PCDT to their East time zone. Spoke with Keith whom we learned we had shared the Heart Breaker Ridge downhill race back in like 2009. Ordered 2 shell bearings, and front axle bearings. He included an improved hub axle and a spacer which might be missing. Now waiting for parts arrival Asheville to Bend will take time.
I let the dental hygienist scrape off plaque and calc from my teeth. No exam asked for.
Spent rest of day visiting Pine Martin and Web Cyclery shops. Drove into Import Performance packing lot, site of many repairs. Wanted to show staff that the van was under its own power versus 2 previous visits on a flatbed. Visited with advisor and knowledgeable Landon. Made a van check up appointment later this month. Preventative maintenance.
I attended the monthly Bend chapter of COTA meeting. Connected with long time friends.
My go to sleep spot is off rd 41. Mon I arrived before dinner time. While still light the familiar suburban pulled in. Same guy I have shared nearby spots for several years. He drove away. Last night I arrived after dinner to see his rig occupying the preferred spot. I backed up parking close but socially distant. He left this morning while I was still under the covers.
Today I am parked on my i acre raw land N of La Pine. I walked the property checking the whole. No winter knock down, no sign of trespassers. I checked for Knapweed out on the road shoulder: none as result of previous years’ pulling.
Solar controller shows dead. Fix or replace shop is in Bend.
Spend night here and tomorrow drive back to Bend for laundry and whatever.