As in having ridden the entire length of the trail Flagline. I have been riding the lower Flagline since snow melt out. The upper part that I rode on Friday, August 16th, the second day the trail was open. It’s seasonally closed for elk calving until 8/15 the day before. I got it when it was almost first tracks.

It’s a whole story of its own. During Wed night rain fell leaving the morning overcast an chilly but hero dirt. I was engaged in laundry and a fresh Unna boot put on. I slept at rd 41, a short distance from welcome center, where the bus picks up riders going all way to Bachelor and stops at this location. 9:13 pick up, $5 for uphill. I sought help loading my bike onto the trailer as my shoulder lacks strength. A rider did the heavy work. 20 bike trailer had maybe 5 bikes on it. Far out! First riders for the day. Arrived at Dutchman snowpark, start of ride to see many rigs. This trail and getting it while it is still good is choice. I pedaled away. First part of ride is on Flag Access to start of Flag. Tree cover up here is old growth hemlock. Deep and dense. Most of the climbing is on this piece. Today I walked more than I did 2 years ago. I passed 5 riders and just 2 riders, women nurses, passed me then let me go by later on. All by myself on good woods dirt. I noticed many freshly cut in drains and was curious who built them. Today an informed COTA member told me the FS granted COTA 2 days of trail work, Tues and Wed. Needed work for sustainability. Old growth hemlock, moss hanging from branches.

Flag is lots of pedaling, it is not a down hill trail. Deep forest cover up high, topped short of 7,000′. No view sheds, just tree trunks and this tarn.

Upper Flag runs into lower Flag that I have been riding. This ride I decided to make it all about descending. Lower Flag Ts into Swampy loop pedaling past start of South Fork which requires climbing back out. Rode down Swede ridge then onto to Sector 16 to Upper Whoops to its end at multi trails intersection. I descended Storm King to Catch and Release back to van. Whew. 25.6 miles pedaling for 3 hrs 12 mins, climbing 1480′ and descending 3698′. I rode the bus up. EDGE figured 67 hours of recovery. I worked.

At the welcome center I took on water then drove up to Swampy for the night and today for recovery. The bus stops here. This morning first bus was stuffed with bikes, 20 on full trailer and 2 on front rack. Next bus was almost as full. COG Wild was plugged. I got it by myself.

This morning I was faced with a quandary: I had 1 egg and need for 2. First need was for corn bread for lunch, the 2nd is for Sunday scratch pancakes that I have made every Sunday. Sunday pancakes would require driving down to town, shop, then drive back up to Swampy. Van runs well, each way about 30 mins. Pancakes for breakfast tomorrow.

This afternoon’s forecast was for a severe rain watch. Rain is so needed and riding would benefit from wetting the dirt. Darn, just bouts of gusty wind but no rain. Visions of pedaling from here tomorrow to ride Flag to Swampy after predicted rain. So far hasn’t fallen. Other choice.

Battery fading.

Out.

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.

Is what I have been for my stay here around Bend. I’m living same as people who live here speaking of trails. Familiarity: I know the trails I prefer to ride and in the preferred direction.

Which is good as my body is in need of medical treatment requiring additional days here with maybe an end of August departure. The venous stasis ulcer is not healing. Today the attending PA called in their DR. His assessment is a vein needs to be removed. At present memory recall fails which one. I will make contact with clinic to further my knowledge. Procedure is in house: numerous incisions will be made over top of vein then pieces will be fished out. Scheduled for 8/20 then no riding for a week. The body has its own defect reveal, you don’t know what’s inside you until it manifests itself. My parents gene couplings made my body, it has been up to me to nurture the result.

Laundry clean clothes  resulted in just 3 short liners meaning out of last 7 days I rode just 3 times.

The forest fire level is industrial class lV which shuts down internal combustion engines. Mrazek is open. Next test. Hardship for me is length.

Sunday I left Santiam Pass area. The PCT crosses on my way home. A solo male hiker was giving his thumb a ride. I picked him up. Mark from Australia. He had a date with REI in Bend about his pack. I drove him to almost the front door. He and his pack exited. I drove away to my next stop a short distance away. As I was leaving the van I spied his hat on my stove cover. Fiddle he needs it on his head. I drove back to REI where I found him at checkout. Big smile on his face. Goodness. Karma. That might fuel the no charge fix TJ does to my bike.

Pumice is intermixed with ash in places. I put a small piece of it in water that floated it. That’s known and observed. I ground it up then put it in water: grains sinks. Its grains are like flour which inter mix with ash.

Up at Swampy where the temp is lower and the air is slightly clearer. Weak internet.

More riding ahead.