Heater is working again, as a result of post title. Tech support from seller said check controller. Which I did that started the title as I disassembled the original controller that was used for original heater. I rendered that controller inoperable. I kept the controller that came with present heater but not the harness. The new controller plug did not connect to existing harness. I worked w/ tech at garage to sequence work to replace the harness and install new controller. Turned control knob to vent that blew air, switched to heat high that signaled heater to ignite which it did and turned on green led. Problem was unhappiness between the brain and the machine. Now adjusting to forced air  thermostatically regulated heat.

That was Wed. Thurs. morn I strung the cable across my driven in access to my land signifying I have left. Drove to Bend, did my wash, bought another loaf of gluten free bread.

Now, Sat morn, S of Kimberly,ID to ride Indian Springs with Steve who is driving down from Bellevue. Warmer here.

Short report, more later as typing this on my phone and need to prepare for first ride off Bend’s trails. Cows effect.

8:18 Mountain time, daylight savings ends tonight. Gain the hour I lost crossing into mountain time from Pacific.

Before Steve’s arrival at 10:43, 2 mins before his stated 10;45 plan, I set off for a preride of close piece of trail that went over exposed bedrock. I walked this piece yesterday and thinking about riding it. Terrain adjustment after months of riding pumice and under tree cover. I successfully rolled a step up and let the suspension handle the irregular rock blobs. I gained confidence. Rode without my pack which was an unnatural feeling.

Steve pulled in. We completed preride get ready. Our route at the start was traverse on Sweet and Low to Dry Gulch to climb up to Snakeskin then going down Backdoor and Switchback. We pedaled away. Good firm dirt and no cow shit.

Exit out of the Gulch was Snakeskin which we might have taken. Navigation problem as there is little bike traffic tread wear. I lead the first miss as we had left Snakeskin onto a very faint social trail. We back tracked till finding real Snakeskin. Crossed the road then turned down Upper Sugarloaf. Recent tracks, few riders. Steve led somewhere we missed the trail, each of us consulted digital trail location. We rode untracked pieces that others had taken other trails. We rode up, over, down, over, etc Switchback which was reality: many purpose built switchbacks.

Ride was 14.9 miles climbing 1519′ pedaling for 2 hrs 27 mins.

Steve chose to miss a time commitment which he told me that he was 1 hr 1/2 late and we were a long ways back. Brief post ride visit and he headed back up wood River Valley. I drove into Kimberly for sink water, drink water, and groceries. Local gas station attendant allowed me use of kitchen faucet. Then returned to TH for the night.

Plan is to leave here early to drive thru Salt Lake mess on Sunday with different traffic and on to Price to ride trails above town then spend the night. Monday head to N Klondike of Moab trails.

I arrived Bend area on June 12 into Ponderosa Pine forests etc. Under tree cover, short sight lines. I rode here to day in the wide open after 5 months covered up. Sagebrush is prominent vegetation that trails negotiate, tread sight line is short. I have ridden here many times over the years. Reintroduction to technical riding.

Van made a gallon of diesel last for 27 miles from Bend to Ontario, OR. Highway 20 driving.

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Previous 40 degrees was a heat wave. Sat AM temp was 16 degrees. The water vapor from cat heater solidified on inside of windshield, not vapor but ice. Sat day temp was closer to 30 degrees. I could ride but I could also hang in environmentally  controlled spaces. Sunshine, as day progressed, solar gain  lessened the bite. Made it a rest day. College football, Buckeyes of OSU played later in day, listened to game on XM.

Life lesson: resort bars cater to visitors who spend day away from resort then return later. I pass the 7th mountain resort on way out of town. Sat I finally stopped in with anticipation of socializing and watching a football game. I was only patron but did get pick of which game on which TV. The bartender and I traded self help conversations. Stayed for an $11 glass of bottle wine. Back out to rd 41 spot catching late afternoon warmth, as sun lowered in the sky the temp dropped.

Sunday forecast called for high 40s warm enough for a ride. At wake up time temp was 16 degrees out, 54 inside. Humidity  was 54 % from heater. Again solid ice on windshield. Sunshine.

PT Dave spoke highly of riding conditions at Swamp Wells east of town where I had not ridden this visit. Last year I rode there on trails that were dry and loose. Not enjoyable. He said trails were solid. OK, I will go experience them myself. Driving heading east with bright sunshine in my eyes. Arrived at TH, temp was just 31 degrees, temp would only climb per forecast and solar gain. I was there. OK. Knickers, knee socks, wool t-shirt, heavy wool jersey, wind shirt, and new winter riding gloves. Stuck my head outside for breath check: no cloud. I would be chilly until muscle contractions warmth made the bite be a memory. Tread was firm for sure, not dusty. Rode up Swamp Wells trail which climbs, P Pine tree cover. Pedaled for solid hour before stopping for a clothing break to remove t-shirt. Scattered patches of snow in plant shade but not on trail. Trail continued climbing as were the increasing frequency of snow patches now that were on the tread.

Riders had preceded me perhaps just after snow had fallen several days ago so I was not making fresh tracks. I remembered the trail still climbing to a traverse across the face of Kelsey Butte. The tread became snow covered. Made hairpin turn on the face.

Self inflicted mental angst from earlier safety meeting made riding on the snow scary for fear of sliding out fall. I kept my wheels on the ridden in track. I linked small bare ground patches for braking. I never tested my traction limit, I knew trail would loose elevation out of snow, I just had to stay on top of my bike. Back on brown dirt.

I paid attention to ceanothus bushes that their leaves were slightly curled upwards, adjustment to cold and no water to freeze.

Beautiful day. Lower sun, fewer hours of light. I became antsy as the return trail was still a ways away. The intersections were marked with FS signs that I had yet to see. There were no social trails for confusion. The trail kept going away from comfort of van. I could not have missed the return that could have meant more climbing and snow cover. I rode pieces that I remembered so I was still heading  correctly. Whew, hit intersection, now 2 hours of solid pedaling. Return was mostly downhill with the sun at my back. I was on way to home.

23.1 miles climbing 1955′ pedaling for 3 hrs 11 mins. Average heart rate was 127, 1 beat into anaerobic zone. Spent 1 hr 57 mins in 80 to 90 % effort. Temp at van was 61 degrees facing sunshine. Once out of sun temp hit 48 degrees. I encountered just a few riders, non heading in my direction. Riders were climbing up what I was coasting down.

Returned to Bend for propane, pot, and groceries then back to rd 41 spot. Forecast for today is increasing warmth that I will wait for before riding prolly my last Bend ride. Sunshine has melted ground frost, 27 degrees on way to forecasted 56. Tonight’s low is up to 30 degrees.

Cat heater raises humidity to almost 50% which is higher than outside.

Tomorrow is new suspension, Wed is new heater install. Thurs is laundry here then on the road west and south to Moab.

Yesterday the skies were clear blue. The thermometer at mid afternoon start was 40 degrees. past peak solar gain. I wanted to ride. No such thing as cold weather, just bad clothing choices. I bundled up: knickers and knee socks and heavy weight wool jersey and wind jacket. Still long finger summer gloves. Earlier I stopped at The Hub to visit and also buy a better cold weather glove. I did not want to believe that I would need better warmth. My fingers remained toasty albeit could have worn my wool tshirt for core warmth.

I scored preferred spot off rd 41 for start, end, and sleep spot. Spot is right on Catch and Release trail. Short piece to Welcome Center and start of Ticket to Ride. Connect to ELV and all the gnome spectators. Nasty climb at start of KGB needed 1 blow stop. Becoming better acquainted with 46T gear on steeps.

Climbed up to high point at intersection of Voodoo over to Voodoo child intersecting Ticket to Ride south side down to Welcome Center then Catch and Release back to warm van. Temp was 44 degrees.

Been burning the cat-infrared heater since demise of Propex. This heater’s by product is CO2 and water vapor. That vapor condenses on the windshield and humid air wets van contents. I have a device that reports humidity which calculated just 43%, I failed to check outside air to see relativity. Definitely wetter inside but it’s a good warm but not short sleeve comfortable.

Wed is install of 3rd Propex heater. Tech person Todd suggested the controller might be failure cause. I kept the controller from last year’s heater. Short story I attempted to swap controllers only to learn the new does not agree with the old as the plugs won’t mate. New heater install will now need the included new harness  to heater and controller installed. Work to be performed this Wed. The cat heater uses no battery power unlike the Propex which needs power to run the blower. Short day light and cloudy reduces the solar charge but so far never enough to drain the camper batteries.

I stepped up for shocks and struts replacement this Tues. Anticipation of better performing suspension.

This morning PT Dave checked out my knee. He said that the hematoma has been absorbed, swelling is caused by irritated MCL which is causing current knee discomfort.

La Pine is colder than Bend, Bend’s low tonight is 19, La Pine is 10. Staying up here tonight for less cold. Today and Sat are forecast high of 40 degrees. Cloudy now, will hang in warmth while looking at overcast.