Not if you got ’em, but seasonal forest fire smoke blew Bend’s way earlier this week, enough to more the AQI level into now nasty. It is what is in the air. Tuesday I made a smoke rest day so I drove down to my owned piece of earth N of La Pine. Hot and dusty. Earlier this summer I cut down more small trees hosting the smut and left them on the ground. This day I collected and hauled to existing pile and started another one. Quiet a big pile for future burning when I am here and no burn ban. The trees lost moisture making them lighter to drag. Still more trees to cut down. Figure by removing infected trees the parasite will have no hosts to infect. Later I drove down to city of LA Pine to check out a beer spot. It is what it is as La Pine ain’t Bend. Over time I had pulled knapweed plants, each year there are fewer and fewer plants, pulling before flowering prevents future starts. Spent night on the land enjoying darkness and dead quiet. Smoke is affecting the AQU such that riding decisions are based on the hazard level.
B4 bed the value was promising for riding back at Bend and the forecast supported my decision. Of course bad air can arrive. At wake up I looked out windshield to see air looking like a heavy fog. Checked Bend’s value which was good. Hmm, air sink at La Pine. After bfast I headed back to Bend. Smoke was heavy enough to use headlights for vehicle identification. Lit headlights on rigs coming from Bend did not bode well for riding. However, the closer I got to Bend fewer headlights. Rolling into Bend under slight haze skies. My experience, as I remember it, was being higher up the air would be clearer. I drove up to Green Gate where Storm King crosses the Cascade Lakes highway where the air was healthy. Logging closed lower Tyler’s both the trail and the climbing route. I rode up Funner by myself to its end at Wanoga, a shuttle drop off location. Shuttle riders would be most likely descending Tiddlywinks but not expending energy and skill to pedal further to descend upper Tyler’s as was the case. I rode thru dust from those riders even though I was back a good distance. Once I continued on Kiowa Butte trail to Tyler’s I was all by myself. Tyler’s up high is a mix of woods single track and structured rollers from previous reforestation. At trail closure I took Larsen’s down to Tiddlywinks then to Storm King piece to Green Gate and van. 16.6miles climbing 1601′ pedaling for 2 hrs 19 mins. 59 mins in 80 to 9o% of heart rate.
Back down to Bend air.
I researched exercise physiologist finding COCC lab. I made an appointment to be evaluated, schedule 8/8. I am seeking knowledge of my body’s performance and health and relative to my age peers.
Visited Crow’s Feet to take this pic which is close to summing up my life:
Last night I experienced a live music concert head lined by James McCurdy at Volcanic Theater across from The Hub Cyclery, TJ’s shop, a Revel dealer, he built my bike. Concert was to start at 8, doors opened, walked into venue which was bare floor with a stage. No seats, standing room only 350 max occupancy. Concert start was delayed. Opening act was a female singer that to me was as agreeable as fingernails scraped on a chalk board. The noise was not enjoyable. About 10 James started. Late evening was affecting me along with the live music scene shortened my stay to maybe 4 songs then I left driving back to rd 41 and hoping for an open spot. James’ dad, Larry, wrote Lonesome Dove.
Driving in dark in deer territory unnerves me. Made the spot but it was occupied by 2 cars like I had seen a few nights ago. I believe they were the culprits of trash dumping that I cleaned up. After they left in the morning I checked the spot out: shit, wads of wiped toilet paper left behind.
Air quality here lit up the AQI to now 169, Unhealthy. Previously decided to make a rest day after yesterday’s ride recovery time of 33 hours. Maybe I subject my body to effort beyond it’s health.
Tuesday parked on my land I heard a dirt bike on the road then is stopped abruptly. I looked out towards the road seeing 3 deer that had just jumped over the fence. My guess is they were scared by the dirt bike. I quietly watched 2 bucks in velvet and the youngster browse vegetation for many minutes. My camera location required me moving and possibly scaring them away. Maybe a 6 and 4 point buck.
Solar controller shut off again. Timely as replacement is scheduled for this Monday.
Deschutes county just passed an ordinance prohibiting over night stay on county land. To deal with large homeless population, some who create law enforcement attention and the massive amounts of trash. Push them off county land to the nearby FS land. I anchor on the opposite side of Bend on FS land, far away from the county problem. There problem might become my problem as some will over run my spots close to town. Change: you only know it if you have seen it before.