Hit the road to Sedona on Friday. Drove thru Hildale and Colorado City, home of FLDS, on the hwy.
All day leisurely drive to Sedona. Flag had about 6″ of snow. Stopped @ Fry’s big grocery store to but a bottle of Tequila to buy my way into Bike & Bean. Rolled in while sun still up. Welcome home, Tony, Gonzo, Chewy, Jimmy, Scotty, and Danny. Thing about BnB is after a ride the tap is open and there is usually tequila shots to go along. Jimmy really likes riders to hang around the shop after a ride. The shop is the meeting place. The best after ride place so far has been McAfee @ Bill’s place. Great to be back among people that I have spent so much time with.
I bid adieu well after dark and drove out to Beaverhead Flats camp spot where I have spent many nights. During the dark a VW vanagon parked nearby.
Sat AM I headed back up canyon to Sedona proper to meet Danny for his standing 8:00 AM B-fast @ Wildflower. Lots of catching up and telling stories. I stayed in Danny’s side yard last spring while my broken collar bone healed. Met Rhama.
After b-fast I walked up to Flat Tire to see Dave but his shop was closed. Drove out to West Sedona to check out the new Over the Edge Sports shop that took over Mountain Bike Heaven’s location, Rhama’s former shop. Nicely remodeled. Introduced myself to Jason one of the owners. I was in the shop maybe 10 mins. I turned around and there was Mike, the USFS law enforcement officer that I meet at least once a visit. We talked about trails, advocacy, Rainbow People festival, and my camping on USFS land. I need to do more city camping this trip to comply w/ the 14 days in a 28 day period in the whole Coconino NF which happens to be the largest forest in the US. Talked about Stinky Doug and his trail building antics. Mike has an apb out for him.
I drove back down to BnB for a ride. Beautiful day. I was escorted by Cody, a college student local on NAU cycling team. Cody rode a hard tail single speed and could ride faster and more tech than I could and able. Freeze thaw mud created muddy slippery spots. Darn, I had problems w/ almost all the same old tech spots. I rode one or 2 that I previously walked. I still hike a biked the same stuff. So far what I learned while away is being bested by the same ol same ol and my lack of commitment. The sand tread just sucks out my energy causing me to huff and puff and struggle on the climbs which are like punches to the gut, none are more than 20′ but they just keep coming. Extreme shortness of breath.
Jimmy invited me over to his house for drinks and dinner to join next door neighbor Simon who is from South Africa, and Zack and Sara. My tequila bottle found its way to his kitchen counter. Jan fixed dinner. Mtn biker adult party. Just fun.
I parked across the street in a driveway of an absent owner next door to Simon’s mom who is away. I didn’t turn on the heat before driving across the street for sleeping and the inside was 45 degrees. I turned on the heat. It was almost too cold to go to bed. The heater took the chill off sufficiently for me to disrobe and crawl under the cold covers.
Christmas morn I called my dad back in Ohio to share the day. 86 years old. Called 2 of my younger sisters. Jan fed us b-fast. Jimmy left to open the shop. I made my way up there later. Jimmy lives about 5 blocks away from the shop. What a commute.
Rhama had a People’s bike shop ride @ 11:30 and Jimmy had one @ 2:00. I chose Jimmy’s. As riders arrived I deduced I was below their ability so i headed out on my own riding yesterday’s route. Today i sessioned some missed spots to some partial success. There are still patches of frozen ground even thought eh temp is above freezing.
Hot Tomato girls photographer Anne and Jen are visiting for 2 weeks. I rode around a corner and almost ran into Anne taking pics of Jan.
My eyes still hurt and my headache remains which affect the quality of my life. I will make an appointment w/ DR in Oak Creek that is managing my coumadin.
Marty from the IMBA mtn bike patrol rolled into the shop. Yesterday he fell onto an agave lodging 4 tips into his back side. He admitted himself to the ER for them to be dug out surgically. Marty was featured in a recent IMBA newsletter.
Catch the forecast: Daytime temps in low 60s, sunshine, and night temps just above freezing. Great desert weather.
Drove back out to Beaverhead.