Yes, life and location are relative. I report what I am experiencing.
Summer time in central high desert Oregon conditions are par although many days have passed since last precip. What eve, what it is is what it is. Trail surface is pumice that has been rolled firm over the years as compared to untracked sink to your ankles dirt. Dust seems to come from tires stirring up the loose on top of firm. None the less riding behind is going through dust. back off maybe 50 feet to allow the grit to fall back to earth.
For the most part trails here are pedal which I enjoy for fitness but not improving my tech competence Although I am learning carving turns on berms while reading the firmness of the berm before I lay into it. So far I have not blown a turn.
So since last posting I have continued my life style of riding, resupplying food, water, and propane, and finding a sleep spot.
On Wed I caught the mountain shuttle at the closed Welcome Center for a $5 ride up to Swampy for my descent back to van. Great way to mix effort with coasting effort. Van racks were full and driver let me put my bike inside in the aisle. Current feller buncher logging closes selected trails which determine my route. Today I chose to ride S Fork but first I climbed up Ridge and over to Flagline Tie to descend lower Flagline to Swampy then down S Fork for fast descent. S Fork is an old trail and not mountain bike purpose built. Deep tree cover, never been logged creates sun patches that my eyes can’t see thru. Hang on and trust the bike to ride over what ever. Turn downstream on Tumalo Creek down to start of Skyliner to climb up to connect with Storm King down to Grand Slam intersection where trail is closed. Just b4 that intersection the trail goes thru a basalt squeezer problem that I foot assist the wiggles. I was 1 move from the exit when while directing my rear wheel my front wheel speared a bike stopper rock. I was pitched forward abruptly where my right knee made a full straight on contact with the handle bar. OUCH. Wishful evaluation convinced me I could still pedal as more miles were ahead. I hope I just bruised the patella and no soft tissue. Finished ride back to Welcome Center. 21.7 miles climbing 1273′ and descending 2966′ pedaling for 2 hrs 30 mins. Good all around effort with no guilt about paying for my turns. Short drive to anchor spot for the night.
Thurs drive into town for laundry etc. Grisham’s 2022 new book is out, knowledge escaped me. Dudley’s, an independent bok store will not bring his books in which I understand. I scored the last copy at the big box bookstore then I spent the next several days reading it. Last night I was between books, idle evening.
Sat was the 100 miles mountain bike race. An aid station was at Swampy where I stay some times. It’s almost 2,000′ higher than town and degrees cooler. I headed up there Friday. I attempted to sign up on line but system would not accept me. Okay, be that way, I would be there during the race and I intended to help anyway. A Uhaul truck arrived while I was still eating oatmeal breakfast, aid station set up. I joined and helped set up. I assigned myself to the cow bell ringer up the course a little bit to announce racers arriving at rest stop. I set my chair up and continued reading my book only looking up when I saw a racer approaching. I spent like 3 hours ringing my cow bell getting dusted and hearing impaired in both ears. Station was at mile 47. later that day I anchored at spot off trail Catch and Release which was part of the course and continued ringing, catching riders with a second dose. My voice was abused by words of encouragement.
Yesterday I rode from anchor spot to ride logging closure trails. Big day earning my turns. At end of Pine Drop I conversed with a couple, me sharing trail knowledge for the tourons. I learned the woman is from Chewelah where ski slope 49 degrees north is located. She is friends with former manager whom I know but not as well as her. 20.3 miles climbing 1814′ pedaling for 2 hrs 35 mins. Finished dehydrated and starved. I pounded jugs of water but none exited. No appetite. hard day. Average beats per minute was 125 which is 1 beat higher than my 85% load. 1 hr 28 mins were in the 80 to 90% effort. My speed continues to be slower but not my effort. Hardly any riders out there to be passed by.
Hot, van temp yesterday was 101 degrees. Fridge has hard time chilling.
Today is a rest and rehydration day. So far little pee but color is missing.
Tomorrow marks the completion of 15 years of my odyssey. I have picked out a suitable challenging ride.
My solar controller is failing. I contacted a shop here in Bend for replacement. I will be here till end of month for install. I had been considering new van shocks or SRAM’s Eagle drive train. Not anymore. It’s just money that is in short supply.
I did buy a new book at Dudley’s The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy to bury my nose and brain into.
I experienced a near collision with an approaching rider where either of us could yield, we both skidded to a stop. I saw the oversized bottom bracket indicating an e bike. I said he was illegal. He began screaming at me, I pedaled away with no altercation. Guy was illegal and wanted to scrap with me. Ebikes assisted top end speed is 18 mph, they can go so much faster than pedal bikes which increases likelihood of conflict.