Monday, Tues, and Wed were wet days. I spent 1 day inside the van parked on my property except for wetting a tree. Some soaking rain, mixed in with light drizzle, sucker holes. One afternoon the sky I could see was clear. I fell for the hole. I started down the road towards the forest, not far, when drops hit the nylon shell of my wornwell puffy jacket. Discouraged I retreated to cover and that was it until Thurs.
Thurs, laundry day, and my new sheet was at Hub in Bend. All part of my plan: Arrive the Hub at 10 for shop opening to pick up new sheet, then drive short distance to laundromat. Sign on door at laundromat read closed, no power. Recovery plan: Drive short distance to Newport Market for groceries. Was greeted by an employee as I was leaving my van. He said they had no power. Recovery plan: Drive out to Welcome Center, ride, then return to complete the open tasks.
Welcome Center parking lot. Chilly enough for lightweight wool top and wind shell. Just huff and puff the climbs, I still pedal. Speed is age affected slow. Rode Ticket to Ride CCW so finish is down a draw. I saw 1 rider at a trail junction, she was quite close, then I watched her until she disappeared. The draw the trail descends had a now nonexistent fall line FS road. The trail swoops from side to side going downhill. I coast. Back at van ride time was under an hour. I am reestablishing my fitness level which needed more pedal time so I started Catch and Release to intersection of Storm King then returned. 10.3 miles pedaling for 1 hr 20 mins. Nice day, fall chill and light.
Drove back to town. Laundromat was powered. Wash and dried my new better quality top sheet that is softer than the Target sheet. Groceries and Back Porch ground coffee beans.
I like riding the Swampy area trails from namesake trailhead. I was stocked for water and food for 2 nights here. A day or 2 before heading up I had read the propane gauge level believing enough propane to last till Sat for planned town time. However, I checked the level the morning seeing dial appeared to be pegged to the red E. Not good, need today, need to drive down to town for fill up. Last night a heavy frost fell as I saw on the downed trees outside my windows. Ride time will be late morning. I used the warm up time to drive down for propane: 4.8 gal, max is 5.6, gauge is estimate of remaining time.
Drove back to Swampy snow park which is about 2,000′ above town. Sunny and chilly, enough for knickers and long sleeve wool jersey. Huffed and puffed up Ridge trail. Dirt was primo firm. Before junction with Swampy Dutchman I saw small blobs of snow. As I climbed said trail snow was on the trail in patches to ride through. Several tracks preceded me. At 6,200′ I turned onto Flag Tie over to intersect with lower Flagline. 6,000′ elevation and above kept recent snow fall. Bike and I remained under control. Some places the snow had not melted, others snow melt on the trail running. Front fender kept my face clean but fenderless rear gave me wet cheeks. Brakes squeal when wet. Once below 6,000′ the dirt was dry and firm to dry out brakes. Water runoff is determined by temperature: Snow melt runs where below 6,000′, assuming the same amount of precip fell, the tread was dry and firm. Rode by fall location: firm. I ride the bottom edge of the out slope tread. Maybe at my fall spot there was no base so what appeared to be out slope was just loose dirt that sucked in the front wheel.
I am waiting for surgery schedule. I have not been contacted. I need to learn so I may plan my life. Dave, the PT who knows my shoulder, answered my questions about the surgery and recovery. He was positive for benefit to me and long term I will be able to mountain bike ride.
Forecast for tonight is 40% showers and Bend temp of 41. Here, precip will be snow and frozen dirt. Plan is to ride here then drive down to town for resupply then back to rd 41 to ride lower trails on Sunday. Swampy sits at 5,800′. Ride tomorrow would be this level and lower. Snow free tread and not puddles.
How quickly a pattern can be established. In the early days after my fall my knee hurt so badly, moving was put off as pain would start at first muscle contraction, I would sit in my turned around driver’s seat with that leg extended. A need to move arose. I moved because I had to but was not smiling. As my knee pain lessened over the days movement was not painful. Pattern: Today I sit while thinking about moving as I remain seated to avoid that pain which is no longer. I’m slowing down. Stasis works.
New sheet is pleasant. Kept heater on all night for warmth of course, and also as it sometimes does not light when commanded. Chill sets in enough for me to wake up then look at control for flashing red LED meaning light failed. I twist the control knob correctly enough to tell the heater to light. I hear the pizzo striker then the sound of ignition causing the LED to turn to solid green meaning it’s happily running. Back to sleep.
PT also said my knee pain was caused my irritated MCL, not meniscus. I am taking his evaluation to the next bike ride.