Ah, memories.

Today mark’s 16 years of Mountain Biking the States. It has all been about doing what I wanted to do, which I did, less events that I surrendered my control to medical care providers.

Outside and above Bend, OR where internet signal is weak.More info as update.

3,232 rides covering 45 955 miles. Garmin knows the elevation climbed. Those are numbers of accomplishment, not a pecker measuring contest but I suspect mines bigger.

Yesterday I paid for an Alpine shuttle, TransCascadia. 9 AM departure from their lot in West Fir at the Red Bridge which is the terminus of Alpine. New van, nice ride, up to Kate’s Cutin connector piece. Several years ago I helped Derek build the FS alignment. A local at the Mercantile said that trail is the most ridden of all trails, I can see that as the  Alpine trail  is the Oakridge trail to ride. Maybe 4 shuttle vans carrying riders were present as I was getting ready to ride. I globbed onto Elizah(incorrect spelling which he will correct me and I will correct), whom we met 2 years ago and bumped into each other other places, and a local. Both enjoy downhill speed more than I do and 1 that was slower on the climbs. I have ridden this trail maybe 20 times over the years on whatever bike I was riding. We had the entire ride to ourselves after the first climb. Oakridge is on the wet side as written about, Trail is under deep tree cover, species of trees were environmentally determined. Up high were giant old growth Doug Fir. Shade. The 2 guys sped a piece of downhill then would stop and talk. I would arrive as they talked. My previous rides solo were pretty much straight thru.

The trail climbs to high spot, Sourgrass, into a meadow of beargrass plants showing just green leaves.

Beargrass blooms on a cycle, not every year, unknown to me. Whatever that year was when I rode thru above and the beargrass was in full bloom. The trail is below grade which made the stalks even higher, most of a rider was hidden. I believe Steve might have been on that ride. Meadow is very short distance and trail enters tree canopy. Trail is wearing as it would from traffic. Stutter bumps growing before speed shedding tech problem. Small cloud of dust was kicked up by the 2 in front that maybe 1 minute wait would settle out. Tree cover lessened  air temp until just above the end. The increase in heat was noticeable like I was being shown the inside of a heated oven. Bike computer  miles climbing hiccupped up high which affected ride data, it did capture these numbers: 12.7 miles climbing 784′ and descending 4,173′, pedaled for 1 hr 34 mins, average heart rate was 121 (how about that rate for descending).  Didn’t take other pics, sorry for reader as I  have many stored pics plus tree cover shows tree trumps stopping well short of crowns.

Several years ago I was shown a sketching path down to the N Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River. Last year the path was overgrown and crossed by blackberry canes. This year I wore leather gloves and carried small lopper and cleared the path. This river temp is the warmest of the other rivers & creeks. I submerged myself in the clear fast running water, I finger clung to rock to stay in place, not downstream with the current.

A father and son were on the shuttle. The father checked his bike after it was off loaded. His rear suspension was broken letting his rear wheel slop like a baby tooth before falling out. Father son swapped bikes, son down rode with broken bike in shuttle. Son at the bottom drove his return ride away. Father gets to bottom. No cell phone reception. He pedals away to where he is staying. I hollered at him, he turned back, I told him I would take him back. He was staying in FS campground W of town off main highway, nasty bike ride. He was thankful, I told him it was pay it forward for him. Drove back to town.

Hot, in 90s. I slept up Larison road about 1,000′ above valley floor, slightly cooler. Last night I was too hot to eat let alone cook. Stand by scrambled eggs.

This AM I bought coffee beans from only coffee place in town. Bulk weighed out. I will grind beans tonight for overnight cold brewed coffee, my method for hot coffee preparation. Drove form Oakridge climbing from town elevation of 12xx’ to pass at 52xx’ then dropped less than 10xx’ to elevation of high desert. My property where I am now is at 4264′.

I accomplished what I wanted to do at Oakridge and nothing held me for additional days.

I checked for shuttle for Oleary to find next opening will be this Thurs. I made peace with my body for shuttling versus monster climb of Ollie. My ulcer will be treated this Thurs. Another try?

Hot. Van reads 101 and I’m inside. Enough of this, I closing and moving outside.

I can be where I want to be when I want to which means making decisions. Where do I want to be? Am I attracted or fleeing? As written earlier hot sets the comfort level. Only reasonable escape at Bend was go higher to Swampy. An Oakridge visit vision flitted around in my thinking. I checked the weather forecast for a visit. Oakridge temp finally dropped lower than Bend for past several days into near future. Cog Wild sent newsletter I read thru. I saw their Adventure Ride out of Oakridge for Middle Fork of Willamette River starting up at Tipanogas Lake down river. This is the remaining piece of entire river trail for me to ride. It’s a linear shuttle, not down and up and the road is stutter gravel which keeps me away.  Thurs I stopped at Cog Wild in Bend, visited with Lev, the owner. I asked about a spot, the staff checked the on line sign up, I would be the first. They decided not to run the shuttle. There still remained a desired visit.

I spent Thurs night on my land (possessive). Dry. Ground cover is just pumice. Comfortable enough for just a door window open, I did mosquito net cover. Fri AM the woman next door neighbor stopped by on her motorized unclassified category bike for a visit. Friendly and nice. Previous conversation was just after I bought the land.  Catch people in neutral places is key. Shared space.

I said I’m off to Oakridge for my break away. I chose the less traveled roads avoiding main drag of US 97. East side of Cascades is higher than Oakridge, 4,000′ to 1200′ meaning long descent. Tree cover on east was lodgepole, once at pass trees became water needers of Doug fir and cedar. Dense and tall.

I have been having adjustment problems with the effects of age on my performance. Oakridge provides an examination. Oakridge sits in river valley, everything is tilted. Rides up are on logging roads for single track descents. I parked at Greenwaters park outside of town to ride Larison Rock loop which is above town. Climb is on pavement with tree canopy provided many patches of shade. I did the same ride last year and other past years, so I know what the ride demands. Steep. I even used my lowest gear, 46T, for relief. 1 hr 23 mins pedaling climbing 1857′. I did stop for several short blows and to walk my sore butt. Today i was slower and higher heart rate average than last year. But I passed this test. The rest was downhill. However, this trail is hot looped by shuttle riders. The trail shows being beaten making it more challenging to ride. I modulated my brakes keeping my speed in control. I ride Formula Cura brakes, a 2 pot on the front and a 4 pot on rear. More powerful rear brake can easily lock up rear wheel which looses its traction and skids and not slowing down. Front brake is the power to be used judiciously. At several spots I wanted more front brake slowing down that wasn’t happening leading me to believe the pads were toast. I need my front brake. It still worked for controlled descent to finish. I checked the pads at the van seeing plenty of meat remaining. Solution would be to buy the 4 pot brake.  But I don’t ride these trails elsewhere so i won’t. 3.57 miles dropping 1998′ taking 25 mins. Entire ride was 9.78 miles climbing 2087′ pedaling for 1 hr 49 mins, average beats per minute was 122.  Entire ride elevation gained per mile ridden was 213′. 89 degrees at finish in shade. Monster. Few of my Bend rides make 100′ / mile. I was well beaten afterwards.

Oakridge is on the wet side of the Cascades, wet because rain laden clouds dump their contents to crest the divide. Lots of water supports mass amounts of greens both in density, and in height for trees. No view sheds. Darkness. 23% humidity now versus 9% in Bend. Poison oak .

poison oak patch trail side.

SO I now know I can drive my body.

I visited the Merchantile seeing same faces which meant no turnover. I planned on dinner at former Brewers’ Union, now 3 legged crane. Becky was working, I called her name, she called mine. We have known each other for years here. Last year I drew a blank on her name. Since then I moved her name to frequently used name list which served me well last night. She customized an entree to meet my preferences. I sat at the bar where I converse with people. Tonight it was a guy 20 years younger than me working for Boeing on a nasa project. We had shared experience.  I hung around for awhile hoping to spark another conversation to no avail. I left.

I drove up Larison rock paved road to camp spot where I have stayed in the past. Driving up went much faster and no sweat. Warm enough for open side door covered with netting. PA told me Benadryl is a sleep aid for my ulcer. I took one before sliding into bed. I stayed there to 8:30, The longest I have ever stayed in bed. I was groggy as told I might be.

Today I rested to satisfy the 22 hours recovery from yesterday per the Garmin. I touristed a bit. This year there are no homeless camps on Salmon creek rd. OR 58 is main drag for new town. Many unoccupied buildings, no feeling if more businesses failed, except the bakery.

Riding here is downhill supported by several shuttle companies. Tomorrow I plan on paying for the climb to ride Alpine. Another test opportunity awaits on this ride. Alpine has climbing mixed in with mass downhill. Straight shot down to finish at Red Fir. Decision choice is side loop of Tire and Clover Patch which adds miles and lots of climbing. Will decide at intersection.

Today during my drive I pushed harder on brake pedal which produced a growling sound. WTF? I braked with less pressure which did not produce noise. No warning light lit. Used to be a brake shop in town, used to be. Decision.

I have spent this writing time at the park under shade. Moving to dinner time. Internet signal is location dependent, even out of valley.