Yesterday was left front discrepant strut replacement at Import, the shop that heals my van. Morning arrival. While waiting for completion I struck up a conversation with another waiting customer. Guy, retired former prosecuting attorney, we shared similar experiences of jury duty with rewards given to the plaintiff in excess of normalcy and who should have prevailed. Our conversation broke when I was shown my van key signifying van done. Warranty covered strut and labor, I paid for oil change.
Landon, who is my go to service advisor, told me about riding Skull Hollow. Hmm. I found info on Trailforks. 40 mins away. Google maps navigated me to Skull Hollow USFS campground and trailhead which is east of US 97, the sort of demarcation between more wet west side from the drier east side. Quite a difference from P pine forest west of Bend where I have been riding. Juniper trees and grasses, dry. I spent the night in uncrowded campground for $7, senior forever pass rate.
Up and getting to it at wake up 6AM. Breakfast of cup of cold brewed coffee, oatmeal with blueberries walnuts, and maple syrup, a swig from the jug of V8 juice reduced sodium, and 3 pieces of Happy Camper gluten free toast. I listen to NPR news program while scarfing the above then cleaning up the kitchen. XG checkout was 12PM which might be earlier than my return so I drove about 1/4 mile to developed trailhead facility spaces for way more than the 4 or so rigs parked there. Geared up then greeted the day.
Elevation here starts at 3,000 which is 1,000 feet lower than where I ride at Bend. I should have benefit from the higher elevation cardio. Well, not so fast. I chose the Skull Hollow route from TF. Classic gravity ride as the climb from the start went up a dirt road to start of Grey Butte trail.
The trail started as a decommissioned single lane road until the real single track cut off to the right. Tread is hard edged rock and loose in places. Grunt climb. This is open juniper forest seasonally cattle grazed.
The route circumnavigates the Butte.
Trail is working its way around. A high point was reached, the reward for the climb. Corridor and tread were clear, loose skittering rocks replacing the pumice puddles at Bend. Junction with Cole Loop which dropped down a narrow canyon, Down and down right at the TH. 9.23 miles climbing 1341′, that’s 145 feet per mile, pedaling for 1 hr 30 mins. Again, reality versus imagination: the actual time seemed way shorter than the time I rode. Fast downhill, dunno if I would pedal up it. Route made the climbing on the gravel road with the fun part downhill on single track.
I was not sensitive to the temperature to look at van thermometer before or after the ride, might have been low 70s. Higher temps would cook you.
Geology over there is not volcanic. Such a difference between here and Bend.
I returned to Bend. I drove to Import to debrief with Landon. Out off rd 41 for the night.
Strut replacement eliminated the left front clunking.