Whew. Bright and cold 8 AM session with long time body healer, Dave, eval established my issue is with an unhappy bursa in my knee. Not a concern of a possible tear. Free to resume beating myself.

I rode 2 days ago, same Ticket to Ride loop as a test and to work back into shape. Ride was fine. I waited till afternoon heat melted the skiff of snow leaving slight dampness on tread. Just a minute faster for 1 hr ride, under 8 mile distance. Yesterday I sought to up the effort by riding Catch and Release continuing on Afternoon Delight, plan was to ride 45 min out then return figuring on 90 min of pedaling. The trail goes upstream, I turned around at 45 mins. The out was climbing, the return reaped that potential energy taking me 20 mins, finished at 1 hr 18 mins for 10.5 miles climbing 876′. Cold and during the work day minimizes shared users. Dirt had some tack to it allowing firm berm turns. Lots of fun. Knee pain decreases daily. Still concern of diagnosed meniscus tear. Heart rate is high because of lay off.

Spent night at RD 41 enjoying Propex warmth. The heat duct is underneath my bed which keeps my bedroom toasty. However, the living room is nippy. 2 nights ago I attached the windshield cover to act as a cold barrier, however, at look outside time the windshield was dripping wet from condensation. Last night I kept the windshield unprotected waking to a clear look out. Dunno about excessive condensation unless it is from my being alive.

Sitting in laundromat parking lot. Today there are 3 liners hanging to dry, 3 days of riding is better than last week when the drying line was empty.

My mail in ballot finally arrived at mail forward receiver, I’m having it mailed to me at Moab where I need to be at latest of Nov to mark it up then give it back to USPS. It needs to be post marked on the 8th to count. Mine is 1 vote but it is my vote in participating in this democracy.

Leaving Bend today heading east. Will visit Steve in snowy Wood River valley. Where I ride afterwards along the way is freeze thaw dependent. Maybe all the way to Moab.  Short drive today to Chichahominey drained reservoir for night at BLM pay XG.

Mountains received noticeable snow fall, will check view on way out of town.

So, the ortho knowledgeable evaluator said slight meniscus tear, I heard future surgery. Today, PT did quick eval, he said it was soft tissue which I wanted to hear. 2 health care license holding, each knowledgeable in their body part specialty, exam me. Each speaks their knowledge and I receive each’s input. I assimilate their evaluation and mix in what I have learned. Who to believe? Resting my knee was common. Ortho was PT of no help. PT eval is soft tissue and I have home treatment and more knowledge. I make PT the happy path. Maybe a tear exists waiting for the future.

Shopped Whole Foods. Seafood case had unfrozen Dungeness crab, 3 days from cooker, about $12 / pound. How much is the belly up cold crab in the window? $17, cleaned.  I drove a ways out of Bend before stopping roadside to eat 1/2. Rest will be hor d oeuvre to the washed people, to us it’s delicacy.

Plan was to just drive to Chickahominy CG which I did finding it only me here. At some point in the past it was a reservoir anglers fished. Campground was built. At another point in time someone pulled the plug in the drain. Web site still reads fishing. $ 4 for legal place to stay with clean CXT outhouses. Even plumbed water at the fish cleaning station. Look, no more trees:

And there won’t be for months to come, desert living and riding. Views are panoramas, no more tree trunks. And little to no water.

Amazing, 3 bar 4G.

Tomorrow will be driving east into the rising low angle sun.

Winter is coming on.

Last week I enjoyed sunshine bare chested. A week later I covered myself with long pants, flannel shirt and…. leather shoes albeit sockless. Snow has fallen up high.  Burning the cat heater on med while in bed, switching up to high for start of day. I put the front window covering on at night to act as a temp storm window, in the morning cat combustion product of water vapor covers the windshield that requires wiping off to see out. I’m warm. Tomorrow the replacement Propex is to be installed to provide heat exchanger thermostatic controlled dry heat with the electric draw and noise from fan. Comfort comes with some cost.

My knee has been improving daily as in no pain. Yesterday I rode a test ride of Ticket to Ride, a green trail, from anchorage. Last ride was 11 days ago. Layoff maybe helped from rest, however the HR data said I worked my butt. OKAY I felt slight pain. Weather forecast for today was not riding weather, good, weather induced rest day. Tomorrow will be another rest day. 2 days rest between rides allows continual healing.

However…. I will be leaving Bend shortly, away from medical repair, I needed to know of my knee’s health before leaving… just in case. This AM I crashed the ortho clinic for urgent care. At first, because I was not urgent, they were going to schedule me for an appointment, some time end of Nov. I stated my need then I was seen as urgent. result is knee is recovering, all is good, use it letting pain be a contributing factor to shorten future rides. I score a traveling PT script for muscle issues. Other joints sometimes make popping sounds, worn parts from use. I might have a base line of pain which will become my new norm.

Next was chiro adjustment. I explained to DR my headache and he worked on my neck some more. Being adjusted all over seems like I have way more spring in my step. Headache still present. ENT DR shared web site on facial pain which I read before chiro. I held hope that source was chiro fixable, seems now is nerves.

Sat and Sunday I was parked off rd 41 as I am now, which is about 40 feet off trail Catch and Release. I have stayed here for many days after I left Phils area. yesterday rider traffic was heavy prolly because conditions up higher were less desirable. At my ride finish temp was 42, I wore knickers, a midweight wool jersey covered by windshell. I saw riders less warmly dressed as exceptions to most who were dressed appropriately.

I am waiting for election ballot to arrive at my mail forwarding service in Portland. I will fast mail it to here, vote, stick it in USPS care then head out. I checked Hailey, ID weather, even Kimberly, conditions favorable for freeze thaw. I plan on going up Wood River to visit with Steve..

Even Fruita is freeze thaw, even Moab has below freezing at night. Laid around and played around, winter’s coming on.

Forecast wants cold even adding in snow. Calendar says should be expected. Yesterday clouds blocked blue sky. Last day of fall colors before weather knocks the leaves off the trees. Yesterday I drove up to Skyliner for leaf peeping of a small aspen grove. Gold there with gray skies. Filled water from well, I like the water.

Yesterday the ENT DR examined CT scan and me reaching the medical conclusion that headache is not in his purview, referred me to neurologist as he thinks I have nerve damage which is sending the signal.

I checked the forecast for La Pine where I will someday have my small house built, La Pine is colder than Bend albeit almost same elevation. Snow forecast for next 2 days with less than 1″ landing which above freezing temps will melt. I plan on staying here again tonight to experience weather. US Highway 97 is a major N/ S route from here to Bend, a section of it get snow covered enough that chains can be required. My van lacks winter traction devices. Smokey today, air quality is orange. Oakridge has flash flood warning with precip falling on Cedar Creek fire which is where smoke is coming from.

Season change reality hit my clothing choice as this morning I changed to long pants and resequenced my clothes in the dresser drawer for long on top and short underneath. Still wearing Bedrock sandals as last hold out.

New Propex arrived overnight, shop still holding to Tues install.

Last night I researched an ocean visit, forecast on coast is for rain and snow on the passes. Even considered fuel cost. I really have no attraction to the ocean so I was easily persuaded to stay this side of the mountains.

My knee seems to be healing as I resist using it. This weekend’s forecast precip will turn Bend’s trails to hero dirt. I am planning on testing the knee on Monday. Thinking if I am convinced knee is not damaged enough for repair I will head out working my way south.