I just don’t make time to write about whatever flows from my finger tips plus where I stay internet is as fast as kite string strung between 2 empty tomato cans. Today, now I found a side street under a shade tree and 3 bar speed.

So many rides and home cooking have gone by. I will not attempt to recount many or much.

I do like Bend for the riding on well made and maintained trails that are for the most part all pedalable. I walk several of the rock gardens all other feet of trail are pedaled. SO nice because no cows grazing, benefit of high desert, and horses not allowed. Ebikes are illegal but scofflaws are present. Trail tread is rolled firm pumice with slight amount of loose on top that the riders in front stir up. Down low open ponderosa pine forest transitioning to lodge pole higher up. Views are few.

No mosquitoes.

Notable rides are South Fork descent. Costs $5 for shuttle bus ride from Welcome center up to Swampy then pedal and coast my way back to WC. I wrote out this. South Fork descent screams and rewards my bike choice. 18.7 miles climbing 1014′ descending 2664′, pedaling for 2 hrs 8 mins. S Fork is 3.15 miles long takes 15 mins. Other wise I mix up rides down low and up high.

I buy my books at Dudley’s, a small independent bookstore. Upon occasion I ask for owner Tom’s book recommendation. Second to last recommendation was a post apocalypse theme that I gave back after not many pages. The book moved me to a dark place that I have been freeing myself from. Last selection was grudge fear violence that after reading  a few pages I realized I had read it. I stayed a few more pages because that was the book I had then gave it back. Presently my psyche is being rejuvenated by Lessons in Chemistry but it’s not all fun and giggles as it deals with lack of women’s rights. Reading choices. Some days I set my chair up in the sunshine and read while enhancing my tan but burning my eyes because I lack sunglasses over my reading glasses. Today I made a rest day and tracked down a pair of Cocoons that fit over my reading glasses.

Tomorrow is my aerobic fitness test and Wed is the cardio test. Results of cardio will determine my departure date.

I have established connections at several bike shops and Newport Market where I shop where I receive my social interactions. So much fun.

I think of many thoughts which get lost before I can write about them.

Last Monday Bend Battery installed a new solar controller that is to enhance power charging and utilization. Current AGM batteries were installed by same shop many years ago that are still in good health. Work was performed in 1 day so I did not motel camp. I will receive full refund for lodging. I sort of look forward to a shower on my back which hasn’t felt water in over 4 years. I wet wash cloth wipe my body off / down.

So, again short note to assure readers I am functioning. My cousin Susan drops me a text checking on me. I am what 3 or 4 days older than she. She is the only cousin I have a relationship with and I visit when I make it to the front range of CO which hasn’t happened in several years.

Steaming a piece of King salmon for dinner shortly.

Not if you got ’em, but seasonal forest fire smoke blew Bend’s way earlier this week, enough to more the AQI level into now nasty. It is what is in the air. Tuesday I made a smoke rest day so I drove down to my owned piece of earth N of La Pine.  Hot and dusty. Earlier this summer I cut down more small trees hosting the smut and left them on the ground. This day I collected and hauled to existing pile and started another one. Quiet a big pile for future burning when I am here and no burn ban. The trees lost moisture making them lighter to drag. Still more trees to cut down. Figure by removing infected trees the parasite will have no hosts to infect. Later I drove down to city of LA Pine to check out a beer spot. It is what it is as La Pine ain’t Bend. Over time I had pulled knapweed plants, each year there are fewer and fewer plants, pulling before flowering prevents future starts. Spent night on the land enjoying darkness and dead quiet. Smoke is affecting the AQU such that riding decisions are based on the hazard level.

B4 bed the value was promising for riding back at Bend and the forecast supported my decision. Of course bad air can arrive. At wake up I looked out windshield to see air looking like a heavy fog. Checked Bend’s value which was good. Hmm, air sink at La Pine. After bfast I headed back to Bend. Smoke was heavy enough to use headlights for vehicle identification. Lit headlights on rigs coming from Bend did not bode well for riding. However, the closer I got to Bend fewer headlights. Rolling into Bend under slight haze skies. My experience, as I remember it, was being higher up the air would be  clearer. I drove up to Green Gate where Storm King crosses the Cascade Lakes highway where the air was healthy.  Logging closed lower Tyler’s both the trail and the climbing route. I rode up Funner by myself to its end at Wanoga, a shuttle drop off location. Shuttle riders would be most likely descending Tiddlywinks but not expending energy and skill to pedal further to descend upper Tyler’s as was the case. I rode thru dust from those riders even though I was back a good distance. Once I continued on Kiowa Butte trail to Tyler’s I was all by myself. Tyler’s up high is a mix of woods single track and structured rollers from previous reforestation. At trail closure I took Larsen’s down to Tiddlywinks then to Storm King piece to Green Gate and van. 16.6miles climbing 1601′ pedaling for 2 hrs 19 mins. 59 mins in 80 to 9o% of heart rate.

Back down to Bend air.

I researched exercise physiologist finding COCC lab. I made an appointment to be evaluated, schedule 8/8. I am seeking knowledge of my body’s performance and health and relative to my age peers.

Visited Crow’s Feet to take this pic which is close to summing up my life:

Last night I experienced a live music concert head lined by James McCurdy at Volcanic Theater across from The Hub Cyclery, TJ’s shop, a Revel dealer, he built my bike. Concert was to start at 8, doors opened, walked into venue which was bare floor with a stage. No seats, standing room only 350 max occupancy. Concert start was delayed. Opening act was a female singer that to me was as agreeable as fingernails scraped on a chalk board. The noise was not enjoyable. About 10 James started. Late evening was affecting me along with the live music scene shortened my stay to maybe 4 songs then I left driving back to rd 41 and hoping for an open spot. James’ dad, Larry, wrote Lonesome Dove.

Driving in dark in deer territory unnerves me. Made the spot but it was occupied by 2 cars like I had seen a few nights ago. I believe they were the culprits of trash dumping that I cleaned up. After they left in the morning I checked the spot out: shit, wads of wiped toilet paper left behind.

Air quality here lit up the AQI to now 169, Unhealthy. Previously decided to make a rest day after yesterday’s ride recovery time of 33 hours. Maybe I subject my body to effort beyond it’s health.

Tuesday parked on my land I heard a dirt bike on the road then is stopped abruptly. I looked out towards the road seeing 3 deer that had just jumped over the fence. My guess is they were scared by the dirt bike. I quietly watched 2 bucks in velvet and the youngster browse vegetation for many minutes. My camera location required me moving and possibly scaring them away. Maybe a 6 and 4 point buck.

Solar controller shut off again. Timely as replacement is scheduled for this Monday.

Deschutes county just passed an ordinance prohibiting over night stay on county land. To deal with large homeless population, some who create law enforcement attention and the massive amounts of trash. Push them off county land to the nearby FS land. I anchor on the opposite side of Bend on FS land, far away from the county problem. There problem might become my problem as some will over run my spots close to town. Change: you only know it if you have seen it before.

Still here in Bend. Last night smoke blew in, no rain since early June. Fire is SW of here. Air quality was 180 this AM, forecast calls for Wed good air from the N which is prevailing during summer I heard.

Trails are dusty but when I ride by myself I do not see dust cloud I roll up. Such a vast trail system keeps other riders away from me.

Sun I drove down to Welcome Center to pay $5 for a bus ride back up to Swampy so I could ride down S Fork then work my way back to Welcome Center and my van. I like S Fork as it is an older trail that is wearing its signs of use and neglect. Deep tree cover with speckled sun patches creating excitement about what I will either roll over of should avoid. 3.13 miles dropping 889′ took 16 mins. I feel the effects in my shoulders. Payment came from climbing Skyliner to top of ridge to drop down Storm King. Turn down Grand Slam where I discovered to gnome’s new home in  a tree. These 2 trails have been man adjusted logging out trees. I learned that max dia tree to be cut is 21″ which is about my shoulder width. I remember riding these trails before the thinning, now I don’t know the trail. Time needed to adjust to change. Grand Slam to Ticket to Ride back to van. I upped tire pressure to 22 rear and 20 front, I noticed right away the things I hit but no loss of control, maybe higher speeds. Temp was in 90s at the van. Hot and dry. Parking lot was almost empty. 18.9 miles climbing 1001″ descending 2582′ pedaling for 2 hours 8 mins. I hardly stop.

Fri an Sat I spent up at Swampy almost 2,000′ higher than rd 41 which is higher than Bend. Enjoyably cooler. Trails are rougher and fewer riders.

Sat evening I visited with Barb who is traveling also. She pulls a smaller trailer. She was up there last year but I neve conversed. This year I caught her outside  for a conversation.

No pics taken.

Just more of the same: tree cover, some deep some thinned, dry trails. Pedal trails up and down, albeit I have no desire to pedal up S Fork like a woman rider did. I met her last year with her mother. She likes this climb which is almost 300’/ mile. Ran into her later on my ride for a reacquaintance.

Same ol same ol.

Second Chiro adjustment to eliminate same ol head ache.

Watching ground squirrels harvest seeds from grasses. Seems bitterbrush either isn’t ready for harvest or did not produce seeds. A place where I stay sometimes there are 2 badger dug holes indicating predators. Last summer at this spot I saw 3 badgers traveling nose to tail.