Last night while snuggled under my summer weight down blanket the heater failed, not even flashing leds. No current to make even the blower energize. Chilly out of bed crawl to stand by cat heater which lit. After the sun provided light I opened the passenger door to access the heater fuse that was intact, no blown fuse cause. I texted the shop where I bought the heater, my tech contact. I drove back to Bend to Fit garage who installed the replacement and for possible removal. Made appointment for next week. Left voice mail with tech support. Slithered underneath van and chased the wire which appeared to be intact. Still not even blower power. I left the blower control open and somewhere on my drive the blower turned on. Van way too hot for thermostat to command ignition. Appears to have current, heater did light but switched off as van was still too warm. Sitting here in Bend with door open cooling van.

No word from ortho here. Thought came to me to check for a repair opening in ST George, UT in Dec, better to recover out of snow there than here. Scored 1st step appointment for 12/10, PA exams then determine surgery and learn when it will occur. Soon I will be leaving Bend heading south, prolly straight to Moab.

Friday the septic install company returned my contact. Learned that they are able to do all the dirt work as in septic, foundation, and electric. He said he will send me names of contractors he can recommend.

Playing weather forecast which had been calling for precip to plan ride days. Yesterday was to be wet so after Saturday’s ride I drove back to La Pine to hole up in the rain which didn’t fall until mid afternoon. I needed water from spigot in La Pine. Sunshine. I Drove off on a tourist looky loo drive. I saw on the GS map that a butte, Pistol, on the other side of the Deschutes River. The summit once was home to a fire lookout per Kresik’s book. Good enough for a hike. I drove several miles of stutter bumped all weather gravel road turning onto a less developed rd to where it started up the butte. While I was deciding to hike the forecasted squall dropped heavy downpour. I waited out the rain, sunshine. I did wear my rain parka just in case. The “road” was running runoff. Steep. I hiked and hiked forever gaining elevation. I finally arrived at site of former lookout. My land was raven fly maybe less than 10 miles away. Hike was 1.1 mile climbing 709′ took 26 mins walking which seemed to be less than I thought effort would have been.  Drove back to property for the night.

On Sat I rode from rd 41 to do the same route I did on Sunday. remarkable: just 1 minute difference on a 2 hr 47 min ride. This ride generated 36 hour recovery versus 67 hours. Better conditioning. Still a big ride.

Snow forecasted later this week but won’t last.

I figured on riding this afternoon but bailed. Concern is being caught by lack of day light. Prolly stay here tonight for ride tomorrow.

Life goes on. After all, it’s just money.

Caught between lifestyle of Mountain Biking the States and taking steps to have my house built. I can put up with shoulder pain to be able to ride such that I can continue traveling. And put off building.

Calendar supports. Me, upright and unscathed. Light is lower angle which creates shadows. Dirt is damp and firm, snow melt soaked in. Nary another person to share trails with.

Tues morn I drove into La Pine for fuel and water at same location. Visited the newly remodeled Deschutes County Library to print an advance directive. Printed it, it requires 2 witnesses to state I am able to ,make health decisions. Line appears to be just for a signature. Hmm? Drove up to Swampy thru Sunriver and up towards Bachelor, once out of town land is FS, pleasant drive. Still 30 miles and 40 mins drive.

Riding at Swampy at roughly 6,000′, will be feeling effects of winter soon, I chose to ride up here as I can before snow drives me lower. Arrived at empty TH parking. Geared up. Chain brush on chain to knock off the luggies, wipe down the shock, dropper post, and fork legs, check the tire air pressure usually requiring adding air. Digital pressure gauge. Knickers became too warm.

Ride was up haul road Swampy east as I sought to ride a trail only once. Got the job done as I warmed up. Took catch over to W Swampy continuing around lake

Took Swede Ridge to its end then returned on SST. Dirt is amazing in its transition from blown pumice to brown grains sticking together firm tread. 9.21 miles climbing 909, pedaling for 1 hr  21 mins. Algo rhythm read 33 hr recovery. Conditioning reflected in recovery hours.

Spent the night at Swampy. Sunrise is like 7:28

Sunset 6:14.

Fall temperature is ground giving up heat to chilly air. More enjoyable than spring when ground sucks the heat. Fall is slower, summer vacations over, stuck putting in time till next time off.

I park my van with the rear facing the sun. Again that is where the heat controller is which senses correct warmth but the front is not benefiting from that solar gain. It is what it is. I dallied waiting warmth from the sun before pedaling away. Around 10 I pedaled away, starting with climb on Ridge. Rode over many newly constructed drains built by COTA volunteers last weekend. Continued up to junction with Flag Tie, today just brown firm dirt. Down to lower Flag down to Swampy. Lower angle sun creates shadows that my vision can not see thru. For the most part when I keep my wheels in the tread there are few challenges.

Swampy around to the catch up to Ridge. This piece before fall took 9 mins, punishing climb for me. Earlier this year I walked this trail right after that heavy rain storm I experienced and watched down pour. I observed in places the hillside above the trail slid. Today I checked out several of those spots seeing little sign of slide.

Today I broke my ride into rest stops.

Camera allows light over the darkness.

9.26 miles climbing 984′, took 1 hr 22 mins. Recovery is just 26 hours.

Drove back to town for groceries and a new book. Happy Camper bread is now at Newport in time for breakfast tomorrow, today I ate the last. Drove back to La Pine. Fall is so pretty. Air is clear.

Rest day tomorrow, laundry at La Pine. Maybe library to read Bend paper.

Still no return call from surgery center for my date. Not at peace. My shoulder supports riding but typing this doesn’t allow lifting my forearm, not so much hurt as not moving correctly.

‘I started riding short distances as I was reacquainting body and brain to riding again. I lost 6 weeks of conditioning, the effects I noticed on first ride 13 days ago, for first pain were my sit bones that barked. My reflexes and handling skills seemed pretty sharp. My engine is where the loss was felt (of course). Rides until yesterday were under 12 miles, most were less than 10 miles. Sunday would be the ride to reward my effort. I passed, I pedaled all but the 4 unmakeable feats on Storm King, 20.4 miles climbing 1864’ pedaling for 2 hrs 48 mins, average bpm was 121. Average speed was what rides have become. Nice day, nice dirt, rewarding being able to ride my typical rides. Pedaling soothes the MCL and perhaps helps reduce knee swelling. Knee just feels like it is wrapped in a tight full leg sock. Even the recovery calculator is fewer hours, this ride was just 67 hours. My body was worked. Cardio recovery takes more time.

Sat morn at Swampy I was prepping my bike. I back cranked my drive train noticing more drag than normal. Yesterday I rode thru water that I suspected was the cause of resistance, most troubling would be the bottom bracket. I needed professional care. Sat, which shop would be open today and perhaps Sunday. Drove back down to town. Crow’s Feet was closest and met shop hours. Lacked the staff. They allowed the use of their hose I used to spray off trail litter. Pine Mountain is larger shop. Wrench put my bike in the vice and started evaluation. Freed chain from chain ring then spun the crank: Bottom bracket sound and spinning freely. He checked the rear wheel that also issue free.  Nothing identified to be corrected. Peace of mind.

Afterwards I drove out to anchor spot off rd 41, scored the spot. Geared up for mid afternoon ride. Plan was to ride bigger loop up N Ticket to Ride then climb COD to Storm King down to Catch and Release to anchor. Wonderful dirt. My navigation error sent me up Grand Slam which is N of COD. Adjust. Grand Slam to Storm King. I shortened my ride by descending COD instead of continuing Storm King to catch of Catch and Release. Chilly producing no sweat. 11.8 miles pedaling for 1 hr 33, longest so far. Climbed 997′.

Sunday breakfast was scratch blueberry pancakes, I ate the entire batch. Then the ride.

The ortho clinic still has not called with repair date. Riding seems to decrease my pain. Yesterday’s ride did not send do not do this anymore signal. My focus has shifted back to riding and lessening house building focus. Today I am back on my property resting and waiting out forecasted rain which hasn’t happened, just overcast and infrequent sprinkles. I plan on staying here and riding waiting repair. If my riding becomes painful I will be here for repair. Should I leave for the road and my shoulder says enough, I would drive back.

Sat AM the sun was obscured by eclipse that Bend was blocked. Up at Swampy under cloudy skies. I did not look at teh sun but I noticed the light was different than just moisture cloud cover.

Fall scene at Swampy. Lodgepole pine cover. Light is flatter.

This morning I visited TJ at The Hub and told him about my bike. He said bring it in as he had time. He discerned that the rear brake drags. He removed the caliper and spun the wheel which spun like an I9 should. He worked over the caliper by restaging the pistons which eliminated drag. Bike will be faster and easier to pedal. He forced the pistons shut as the spacing of the pistons was not identical as it should have been.

Ponderosa Pine needles have a finite life, at death they turn brown remaining attached to the tree which can take on a brown color. A wind and/ or precip  event weights the needles free to fall turning the ground brown from those needles. Tree  regains primary green. I have no knowledge if leaf life is seasonal.

Dry, no precip. Warm, Bend temps rise into 70s this week, almost back to shorts, certainly lighter jersey. Sprinkles just started.