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.

Steve lives here in Big Wood Rive Valley and he knows the trails as an experienced local. I just follow him, always the benefit of letting a local lead me around, and his decisions  have kept smiles on my face albeit grimacing on the climbs. Every ride that finishes back at the rigs is considered successful. A ride that finishes on the downhill keeps the smile on at the rig. However, uphill effect on a cold body carries thru the ride. Every ride here started climbing. We have been riding weather windows between thunder storms and carrying rain jackets that have yet to be deployed which speaks to Steve’s weather tell.

Spring bloom time. The arrowhead balsam root yellow blossom is predominate at this time.

Rides out at Croy have above plus lupine is coming on which emits a very sweet fragrance. Purple, red, white colors. Croy is sage covered, no trees to hide the vastness of this area.

The above ride hit 10 miles long, all others have been less.

Today Steve picked me up from Saddle TH for our ride up at Galena lodge. Start was at 7100′, Flagstaff elevation. Route selection was The Grinder. Galena has been developed creating many purpose built mountain bike trails with no shuttles. Steve knows these trails and how to make the climb less grimacing. Route crossed 2 snow melt swollen freshets. Following Steve who rides a Revel Rascal 29er. He pedaled across, I was floored as I feared flow strength would be strong enough to wash my wheels out from under me, if by myself I would have looked for a dry feet crossing. Steve made it upright. I pondered my success for several breaths then pedaled in. I made both of them with not full immersion feet. Follow Steve. He inspired my confidence.

Today i rode his wheel. He’s just 69, I told him old age and deceit will be youth and skill every time which was why I suckcd his wheel and told him stories because he is just a little slower than me on uphills. His speed allowed me to talk. That was today, Yesterday riding Fox Creek loop he had me on the climbs.

Down to his driveway S of Bellevue for the night. Tomorrow I head East towards Bend for Tuesday dentist appointment.

Leaving now, perhaps add more later.

 

Tuesday morning I turned north onto Douglas Pass up, over, and down on way to Vernal, UT and McCoy Corral trails. As always worrying about van’s performance with the climb to the pass testing all systems on the 25mph narrow highway. Transmission downshifted to 2nd I believe. Crazy, the cooling fan that should have turned on to cool the hard working engine did not turn on, per the temp gauge it wasn’t needed. However, it turned on for the downhill. Westward on US 40 thru oil fields. Vernal is first large city in far eastern UT. Enter Vernal.

McCoy trails are west of town is where I drove to. I have ridden here several times. I parked at the cow corral. I slid open the sliding side door to official welcome of hungry mosquitoes. Like lots, many entered uninvited before I could slide the door closed, they were the first wave. My exposed flesh while I changed to riding clothes was prime poking skin. I squished 3 in 1 blow, not Oregon’s MT Bailey 6, but I chose not to see if a new kill record could be set. Strong wind perhaps blew them from a cattle tank maybe 1/4 mile away. Certainly their sense of blood was not that strong to find me. I wonder how they would find standing water to lay their eggs as that water was upwind. Today i am still scratching.

All alone out there. I selected a route in Trailforks to ride Festicle. Pedal trails most part some using cow paths. Spring bloom.

 

What those flowers are

Warm enough to keep side door open which I blocked with mosquito netting. I slept under just the sheet. At get up time there were mosquitoes inside, many with swollen bellies containing my blood, but not everyone. Quick outside chores, I even drove short distance to CXT outhouse. BLM added a second one.

Continued to Heber City near Park City. I reserved a campsite at Rockport SP for the night. Clouds threatened rain. I parked at UVU with plan of riding Coyote loop. I pedaled away on machine built trail still wearing creation scars. Too formulary layout. I made myself pedal uphill for 50 mins then coast back. I lacked the drive to finish the climb to complete the loop.

I followed google maps direction to campground. Always interesting following their choices. Nice campground.

Thursday I headed to Kimberly, ID and Indian Springs. Interstate driving in metro Salt Lake City. Windy. Stopped in Burley, ID laundromat as it was Thursday. Made Indian Springs TH for dinner. No mosquitoes or trees.

Friday morn I rode up Lower Sugarloaf, a greener , to gain elevation to descend blues. My body seemed to be short of gas as I stopped for blows frequently. Trail climbed like 200’/mile so blowing was understood. On previous rides I pedaled up Dry Gulch which would not be its namesake and cows would have messed the tread.

Observe the land’s contour. Trails are rough unsanctioned hand built. The descent was satisfying as I allowed gravity to pull me over the rock features. BLM has posted carsonite posts with trail names on them replacing the missing social signs. Trailforks kept me found.

I drove into downtown twin Falls to a coffee roaster for bean resupply. City where google took me was almost empty of traffic but exisitng business, few were retail. Route out of town was on 4 lane retail area, blocks of sprawl. Crossed I 84 leaving city behind. Cross wind most way to Hailey. I had my brake pad mail order sent to Hailey. The forecast and trail conditions here in the Wood River Valley  are and were for wet trails. I wanted to check post office hoping pads were there and if so I would not be held captive till their arrival and me hanging out in the wet. Score, pads arrived that morning, choice to stay or leave. Visited with Chip at Sun Summit South. Dinner salad at KBs. Drove out valley to Steve’s driveway. So much green.

I belong to Wood River trail something, I receive weekly trail updates, Also mentioned was a trail work day at Croy on Sat, today. I scheduled my travels to attend. Steve and I drove our vans with bikes attached to TH under threatening skies. Plan was to do trail work till noon at end of work, pass on provided lunch to get a ride in before rain. Steve and I piut off gearing up because of the  required effort of uphill pealing. We packed rain jackets. We started the climb. Flowers blooming are lupine, larkspur, bluebells, balsam arrowroot, and others we do not know. Oh, bitterbrush was starting to flower. Lupine scent the air,

As our ride progressed the skies became less inviting. As we started our descent to parking lot sprinkles were heavy enough to dampen the tread. The closer we got to our vans the harder the sprinkles. We braked to a stop at our vans as the skies dumped. Steve’s bike rack carries the assembled bike, he put his bike on. My bike attachment requires more time to attach. I chose staying dry and sought shelter inside van. I hung inside until rain stopped many minutes later. Dirt is prolly hero dirt now and no one is here to experience and my riding is done for the day.

Steve will lead me on trails that are passable. Rain is forecast and if so, riding will be affected. I will stay here till weekend should riding be had. Next stop is Bend for dentist appointment a week from Tues.