sunrise was at 7:40 a bit after I crawled out of bed. Sun rise filled my living room window during breakfast.
Today I drove 15 miles on I70 to the Kokopelli trail head. Beautiful day, a bit chilly, but hey, no clouds and no wet trails. Just a few rigs in the parking lot meaning solitary riding. I rode Marys out to Steves which is a loop then rode back Marys. Chunky riding a bunch that was way over my head and others I just bailed and walked. I am walking more now. Introduction to chunky technical riding on sandstone. I did have successes making moves. Spectacular scenery:
Even lesser tree cover than Good Water.
Challenging riding. Several places there were killer climb a bike moves including the drop in to Horsethief. Much upper body effort that my right arm can not engage in. I could lower the bike OK but boosting it up face took several steps.
As the day wore on I started seeing riders. retired or on vacation in the shoulder season. Great time to be here.
Drove to Fruita’s Community Center for a shower. During my last visit back in ’12 I received a membership card thru my health insurance plan. Locker room shower. Clean body, next stop was the laundromat. Clean clothes and 5 gallons of water in the tank.
Next was Over the Edge bike shop. I learned that Drew no longer was working there. We have run into each other over the years and country. I hung out for a short while then hit Hot Tomato for dinner hoping to see owners Jen and Anne. They weren’t working. I sat at the bar. An attrractive woman sat beside me on the empty bar stool. We were conversing when I was bumped into by Drew and wife Kimila. The woman seized the moment and dashed. Drew invited me to stay in the street in front of their house which is where I am on a residential street in front of a house permissio as the n given.
Tomorrow I travel to Grand Junction to do some business then ride Butterknife and the Ribbon. More desert chunky riding.
Next stop is Moab next week. Driving from the west the La Salles are visible that are still not white (snow). That means that the shuttle for the Whole Enchilada could be running. Something like 8,000′ descent. I have only been as high as the second stop Upper Porcupine. However rain is called for this weekend here.
Hey Craig, my brothers and I got back from Fruita a couple weeks ago. If you get a chance ride the western rim trail over by rabbit valley exit. Don’t know if you’ve ridden there? Spectacular views. Max at “Over the Edge” drew a little map so we took the right turns. Enjoy! Walter