It’s ash

Recently at the end of my ride at the Deschutes NF Welcome Center I stated a conversation with a FS person about pumice tread. He shortly corrected me telling me what we ride on is really volcanic ash. I used the opportunity to learn more from him about volcanoes. Ash is fine granular particles composed of rocks, minerals and volcanic glass. How long I went on with duh stupidity to what pumice is, here I assumed the pumice had been ground down. Pumice floats and in rock form it looks like a sponge with openings all over surface. His information took me thru my memory to recall riding Big Bear in CA that was on pumice. Tires crushed it which sucked energy plus your dust plume. OK so I scooped a sample of “dirt” (?) what should it be called? I put water in a clear glass vessel then poured some sample in, went right to the bottom: no floaters. Grain size is tiny. Perhaps the Big Bear pumice dust most closely resembled legendary moon dust.

I take on well water at the same place. Many visits I wet my washcloth with earth temperature pressured plentiful water wipe off my body. The FS station flies the American flag 24X7 both opened and closed. Flag etiquette is to take down….. .

So, first 100 degree heat wave passed followed by hot but bearable temps slowly dropping for below 70 degrees sleeping. My Dad said that the body needs below 70 degrees for full rest.

Now in short lived 100 degree burn. It is what it was. At 8:58 PM at 5,810′ elevation it is 80, down from 98. Temp inside van is 82.

Forest fires on wet side of Cascades. Several are along route 138 which follows the Clearwater then Umpqua rivers downstream. I was a summer FS employee on the Umpqua NF based at Toketee Ranger Station back in 1969 and ’70. Back then local knowledge was the Umpqua never burns. It’s located on west facing divide sucking up too loaded to make the divide clouds rain, Been dry many years. I rode the North Umpqua Trail several times before any of the burns. Fires.

Just been riding. Today’s clean clothes clipped 5 liners on the line. Means I rode 5 out of 7 days. Still here outside Bend. Recent ride data was identical to a previous ride. 15.2 miles climbing 1345′ pedaling for 2 hrs 1 min. Average beats per min was 116. Same results.

Maybe 10 rides ago my chain stretched to .5, time to replace. I put on new same PC1170 chain on existing drive train. First ride I discerned noise indicating wear issue. I removed chain and replaced old chain. No noise. 2 rides ago I replaced the chain ring with same Absolute Black 30T ring and put on the new chain. Success, drive train is happy. 4294 miles on chainring. Cassette remains on the bike.

Sat I booked shuttle ride for O’leary over on the Mckenzie river drainage. Big ride even without shuttle. This will be a mini evaluation of performance without climbing Olallie. Trailforks route shows 16.9 miles climbing 2113 and descending 5633′

Driving part way over tomorrow spending night at Santiam Pass. The PCT is nearby. I hiked thru here on my 1978 thru hike effort.

Installed new handlebar, a PNW Loam carbon bar. I researched bar configurations after learning about sweep and how angles affect shoulder. Revel bikes specs handlebar that has measurements. I picked Loam. This afternoon at Swampy TH I removed old and installed new. Minor difference. Replaced handlebar has been subjected to many years of wear and exposure as my bike is only covered when raining. Expectation is same dependability and longevity. I loosened a bolt on the dropper post lever loosening cable tension which will require professional attention tomorrow on my way out of town.

Ulcer needs more healing time with another unna boot wrap for this week.

So much for this evening. 77 degrees at 9:45 PM. Door and window open to breezes, electric 8″ fan is blowing air towards back of van. Sleeping temp on freshly laundered sheets. I need to make bed first.