It’s 8:30PM, 31 degrees outside at 4531′ elevation, 69 degrees inside and it is snowing outside (of course). I’m parked at my same spot on the rocks.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. I drove into town in time to do my wash and go for a ride before my participation w/ Wabi Sabi. Laundromat open 24X7. Clean clothes. City Market was open for needed groceries. But the Zags were playing on ESPN and Moab Brewery is nearby and they prolly receive the game. The game started before they opened but I watched it on my phone. Doors unlocked I slid onto a bar stool and the guy made the required TV station change. One beer made it thru the rest of the game. They lost by 1 point. I said good bye.
I dawdled a bit then drove over to the Grant Center where the feed is to be spread. Wabi Sabi. I volunteered for the second shift to work a serving station. I ate first. Wonderful and plentiful food. Community effort for food and serving. Place was beyond packed with a spectrum of people. Very few appeared to be needy. An overflowing plate w/ turkey and the trimmings. My turn came to make a flying switch w/ the person that was serving squash, didn’t miss a customer. I spooned squash for the next hour until the pans went dry, even then I repeated the spooning action giving plates a splat of air. Many people went along with the emptiness. Young bearded man beside me served carrots. We started playing the audience and sort of keeping track of who refused either of our vegetables. Interesting guy on a road trip from PA. I asked him how he found out about the event. He said he googled and found it. He wanted to join in to help. What appeared to be an official commented on my “Change Agent” badge on my jacket. I told her how I came to possess it. She said she has a friend who hands them out. Mine was given to me maybe by her friend years ago as we passed each other at the laundromat in town I use. A job title I had when I was a P&A at Boeing was “Manufacturing change management specialist” or something like that. I was a change agent.
The burning fumes from the sterno cans made me nauseous and hot. I begged off from my station just before dark as I wanted to be at a camp spot before dark just after 5.
My plan was to drive up to Horsethief XG because I believed Willow Springs would be packed and I planned on riding either Mag 7 or Navajo Rocks. Horsethief had like 3 occupied sites. Cold night, 20 degrees. I selected a site that faced the east for sunrise warmth.
Clean sheets. Material is flannel. They used to be scratchy but over time and sleeping on them they are now very smooth and soft.
I decided to ride Mag 7. I parked at the intersection of Gemini bridges rd and hwy 313 which put me right at start of Get Away. 27 degrees, sunny, but blustery. Chilly layers: liner shorts, long insulated tights, heavy baggies, thick wool socks, mid weight wool long underwear top, long sleeve jersey, wind shell, helmet liner hat, and insulated gloves. Almost too cold to warm up as my ride went downhill. My eyes tear blurring my vision over a speed and or temperature threshold. Today both conditions played havoc w/ vision. I like to ride just before lunch to catch peak sun warmth to finish before chill sets in. I rode Get Away down to end of Bull Run then returned on entire Get Away. I added a new trail, Mustang, as an extra.
Cryptobiotic soil is actually living simple plants that hold the sand together.
I added Mustang which is a newly built trail. The trail steepness is mostly about 6 degrees, great layout.
Back at the van I basked in the sunshine in the lee of my van. 37 degrees but warmed by the sun.
My plan was to stay up here for the night to position me for a Navajo Rocks ride tomorrow. Except I watched snow clouds steadily approach. Forecast did call for snow. The hwy descends from the mesa via 2 nasty shaded switchbacks that would prolly be slippery. I did not want to learn if so. I drove down to Willow Springs and scored my rocky spot. Mag 7 is 1,000 above me.
I’ll see what the weather gives to decide what to do tomorrow.
9:14PM snowing no more, 33 degrees.