Thurs AM I drove into La Pine to do laundry at only 1 around. Clean clothes. Spent the night on my land. Internet speed and my patience don’t match, I gave up on attaching a pic this posting.

Fri AM I arrived at The Hub Cyclery, local Revel and I9 dealer, right after he opened. He said no parts. I spoke with I9 who said the tracking number was on the file attached to my email. I had searched the files for tracking info the night before but did not see it. He researched my order, found the tracking number, and said that package was delivered on Thurs. I thanked him for help. Visited with the packing store down the hall who found the envelop. The address lacked the shop name but did have the suite number. Perseverance is my game. TJ installed new bearings. I put wheel back on bike and torqued axle to 10 nm and spun the wheel. All is free again. I relooked the efile and found the tracking number, the font was very small that I did not pay attention to. Take a way: read the small print.

Dashed back to spot on rd 41 for a ride. Geared up, spun the cranks enjoying quiet. Catch and Release to bottom of Storm King past Green Gate and across the road to junction of lower COD descending to Ticket to Ride to unmanned Welcome center, across the road to pick up Catch and Release to my van for the night. Last week an unusual heavy rain fell inflicting erosion damage on Storm King. A COTA crew leader organized 2 work parties to heal the trail. As I rode up I saw many places showing fresh tool marks. The trails down here lack tech features for most part and what there is can be walked. Here it is more about pedaling. 10.7 miles average speed was a smoking 7.72 mph, climbed 932′. Back at van and not driving back to some base.

Sat was COTA trail love day up at Wanoga TH. Trail work day open to anybody, 48 volunteers out of 2,xxx members. I used my personal loppers to further trim back what was back. I worked on Fuller trail along with several other teams, other teams worked on other trails. Well organized effort. COTA owns the tools and has FS permission which makes for lots and timely trail love. Creating drains on all but flat slope to carry off the water carried pumice. Particle size is tiny that the slightest water flow will carry until terrain goes flat. Social gathering afterwards that I added my presence to.

Then drove further up mountains to the Swampy TH for the night. TH is at 5748′. Plan was to spend night, ride here from van the next day, then return to town for resupply. Towards morning some state of precip was landing on my roof. Later at crawl out of warm bed time did I see that snow was the state. Snow flakes, temp was low 30s.

Forecast didn’t want it this early. I fixed scratch pancakes and drank a second cup of cold brew coffee while waiting out the weather. And my level of comfort. Snow was squall intensity broken by clearing. Sucker holes is what it was. I geared up wearing knickers, mid weight long sleeve wool jersey, and wind shell. My teeth chattered as I prepped my bike. Start climbed Ridge trail. Trail had been cut out and tread was hero. Turn right on Ridge Loop Cutoff to descend to Swampy Loop.  I would return on these 2 trails for and pay back and earn my turns direction. Swampy look to Swede to its end then back on SST to Swampy and the above 2 trails. Every tree that had fallen and blocked the trail had been cut out. Appreciation to the sawyers. Curious what the FS effort is? Did pedal thru several small snow patches. A web site for summer trails captures trail reports. Trails I ride were reported  as riding well which they were. I wanted to ride Flagline tie to descend lower Flagline to Swampy but trail report was lots of snow and fallen trees. I could of but chose what was known. Sucker holes, snow quit, sunshine, more distance away from van, snow flurries, sunshine. The wet just dampened the surface which was enough for dirt to stick to tires. At one point I was making a wiggle move while seeing my front wheel spinning a blob of said stuff that was going to go underneath my glasses into my eye. I needed sight for move so for overall body safety I had to keep my eyes open. My left eye received dirt. I stopped afterwards to clear my eye. I could have used a water flush.

Drove back down to rd 41 at 3932′ and 57 degrees and sunshine. Spent the night heater ran throughout the night as controlled my thermostat.

Today was a rest day. I filled my sink water tank. Drove into town. Visited Dudley’s book store and visited with Tom, the owner. Next was a visit I have been putting off which as a house contractor that I visited last year but didn’t follow up on. Guy is on 2 week vacation. I avoid meeting is because I will learn about cost of building my house which I next step to settling down. I am really avoiding settling.

Back out at rd 41. On Friday’s ride I saw that the FS obliterated camping spots. Depriving public access to land we pay for.

Dinner time.

Back at Bend. Arrived Monday morning. Day 2, teeth cleaned which was my destination monument. More later.

Sunday I left driveway and friendship of Steve making my way west. Route on I84 passes by Boise, and per Trailforks, many miles of trails exist on the foothills N of town. I picked a system because it was big loop, not densely packed in trails. I picked a trail then researched a rider’s route for me to follow. Chukar Ridge, Peggy’s, Sweet Connie. Way over biked for ride except for several basalt rock gardens and too steep to ride on whatever. Let Google find the TH which was packed. Headed out, Chukar connector was machine built single track. The the Ridge which was mostly double track. Etc. Mix of smooth single and double track. Intersections well marked, never lost as I verified choice on TF. I kept my phone in the side pocket of my shorts, great invention. Trail dumped out onto a road piece going downhill. I noted the next turn going downhill zinging along. I questioned my decision that TF said I missed the ST off the pavement. Pedal back up pavement found the ST and continued, that was towards the end. Trail dropped off ridge onto descending greener to pavement thru a housing development. Almost immediately a sound arose from somewhere on my bike. Suspension? Drivetrain? Wheels? Clicking sound revolution constant but not pedal induced. Stopped, got off the bike, spun the front wheel: bearings sound slightly gritty. Note to self” order replacement bearings. Picked up rear wheel, it was almost bound up. Noise coming from rear hub. With effort I could pedal the wheel. Shit, how far a walk back to van? I put on my reading glasses then studied TF. I was maybe 1/4 mile of pavement back. I did ride back with fingers crossed that the hub did not seize on slight downhill. Put bike on van to check out later. I still had miles to go before dinner and bed time.

I mostly enjoy the adventure route google maps sends me on.  Leaving above TH Bend bound google kept me N of the city and heading west on a state highway. Patience: confidence in past performance. Destination was Chickahominy reservoir about 30 miles west of Burns. Late afternoon turned to evening but no headlights dark. Previously I found a spot off the highway, US 20, at a BLM sign. Yes, stop here. Short drive up paved road to a unimproved gravel wide spot on the left. Leading back from it was a faint double track to a flat spot. No season fresh tracks. Checked for passability, it passed. Parked at drip line of a juniper. Forecast called for possible thunder storm with possible heavy rain. Skies were tipping their hand for an upcoming event. Lightning out a ways, time advanced, darkness arrived, sounds of thunder getting closer and closer. See flash of lightning, count seconds, divide by 7 equals how far away. When flash and clap are identical, it’s right overhead. That was where I was. Heavy heavy rain fell for thunderstorm duration. Concern arose about softness of path out and the bog right before hard dirt. Tomorrow morning viewing would provide escape data. Leftover rain drops were still on my windshield which seemed like frozen raindrops but temp would not support. Did I get struck by lightning and the energy froze the drops? The sun’s warmth made them disappear. After Bfast I walked the path out. Soft, mud sticking to my sandals, I walked into the bog to learn it’s depth. Glop over the sandals and overv my feet tops. Shit, not for the van. I checked out a go around to avoid bog. Back at van I pried off my sandals, mud stuck on. I left a left and right sandal print on carpet at door. Bare foot behind the controls I turned ignition key: engine caught as it should. Steadied my anticipation for a moment reviewing mentally the drive. Moved gear selector lever to Drive then pressed firmly on accelerator, van slithered forward. Momentum and slight downhill got me to firm spot before bog then the hard dirt parking spot. Whew, out. Heaved sigh of relief. Back on US 20 towards Burns, still about 2 hours further.

Stopped for diesel in Burns. In OR attendants pump the fuel. Guy told me highway 20 was closed east of here because of massive mud slide. It was behind me. The rain I experienced was too much for the soil to remain attached. I viewed a web image of some of the slide which was as high as 15′. Could have been but didn’t.

Continued to Bend. First stop was The Hub Cyclery, the home of my bike build up and an I 9 dealer. TJ knows I 9. I removed the wheel which was still binding in frame. I removed the brake caliper in case the brake was the problem which it wasn’t. I walked the bike into the shop and greeted TJ. He broke away from a job to check out the hub. Short story problem is caused by a failed shell bearing, With no compression on the hub the wheel turned but protested. I could ride it if I put up with the sound till new bearings are installed. I put the wheel back in the frame and tightened the axle to 9nm torque then spun the wheel. Not happening, still bound. Axle torque value is required, less tightening freed the hub but not proper for parts alignment in hub. Bottom line: no riding until new bearings. I called I 9 early PCDT to their East time zone. Spoke with Keith whom we learned we had shared the Heart Breaker Ridge downhill race back in like 2009. Ordered 2 shell bearings, and front axle bearings. He included an improved hub axle and a spacer which might be missing. Now waiting for parts arrival Asheville to Bend will take time.

I let the dental hygienist scrape off plaque and calc from my teeth. No exam asked for.

Spent rest of day visiting Pine Martin and Web Cyclery shops. Drove into Import Performance packing lot, site of many repairs. Wanted to show staff that the van was under its own power versus 2 previous visits on a flatbed. Visited with advisor and knowledgeable Landon. Made a van check up appointment later this month. Preventative maintenance.

I attended the monthly Bend chapter of COTA meeting. Connected with long time friends.

My go to sleep spot is off rd 41. Mon I arrived before dinner time. While still light the familiar suburban pulled in. Same guy I have shared nearby spots for several years. He drove away. Last night I arrived after dinner to see his rig occupying the preferred spot. I backed up parking close but socially distant. He left this morning while I was still under the covers.

Today I am parked on my i acre raw land N of La Pine. I walked the property checking the whole. No winter knock down, no sign of trespassers. I checked for Knapweed out on the road shoulder: none as result of previous years’ pulling.

Solar controller shows dead. Fix or replace shop is in Bend.

Spend night here and tomorrow drive back to Bend for laundry and whatever.

Steve lives here in Big Wood Rive Valley and he knows the trails as an experienced local. I just follow him, always the benefit of letting a local lead me around, and his decisions  have kept smiles on my face albeit grimacing on the climbs. Every ride that finishes back at the rigs is considered successful. A ride that finishes on the downhill keeps the smile on at the rig. However, uphill effect on a cold body carries thru the ride. Every ride here started climbing. We have been riding weather windows between thunder storms and carrying rain jackets that have yet to be deployed which speaks to Steve’s weather tell.

Spring bloom time. The arrowhead balsam root yellow blossom is predominate at this time.

Rides out at Croy have above plus lupine is coming on which emits a very sweet fragrance. Purple, red, white colors. Croy is sage covered, no trees to hide the vastness of this area.

The above ride hit 10 miles long, all others have been less.

Today Steve picked me up from Saddle TH for our ride up at Galena lodge. Start was at 7100′, Flagstaff elevation. Route selection was The Grinder. Galena has been developed creating many purpose built mountain bike trails with no shuttles. Steve knows these trails and how to make the climb less grimacing. Route crossed 2 snow melt swollen freshets. Following Steve who rides a Revel Rascal 29er. He pedaled across, I was floored as I feared flow strength would be strong enough to wash my wheels out from under me, if by myself I would have looked for a dry feet crossing. Steve made it upright. I pondered my success for several breaths then pedaled in. I made both of them with not full immersion feet. Follow Steve. He inspired my confidence.

Today i rode his wheel. He’s just 69, I told him old age and deceit will be youth and skill every time which was why I suckcd his wheel and told him stories because he is just a little slower than me on uphills. His speed allowed me to talk. That was today, Yesterday riding Fox Creek loop he had me on the climbs.

Down to his driveway S of Bellevue for the night. Tomorrow I head East towards Bend for Tuesday dentist appointment.

Leaving now, perhaps add more later.