Clocks fell back last Sunday, sunrise earlier as was sunset now in decreasing hours of daylight. Yesterday afternoon I started my last Fruita ride from Mack TH just after 2. Sundown was 4:50. I was concerned about loss of light. My ride plan was a last descent on Hawkeye preceded by riding Troy Built  then climbing Mack Ridge over to start of Hawkeye. Troy climbs up and descends over many rock features, some I make, others I walk, others are on climbs lasting longer than my lungs can support. I was alone, not even a rig at the  TH. At junction with Mack Ridge I chose to hike a bike, wrestle a bike up the Mack single track instead of pedaling the 4X4 roads up to top of ridge which is longer distance. The over my head Mack single track is shorter albeit perhaps slower because of all the pushing. Again, possible lights out going the road. I was familiar with this choice, I knew I would be in for a full body workout wrestling me and my bike over upcoming obstacles. Push and lift I did thru the nasty till clear of rocks. I kept my eyes looking ahead and not looking at the sinking sun under overcast skies. I made the junction with the road from the pedal choice knowing the hardest trail was completed. “Road” pinches off to single track then travels on the ridge top to start of Hawkeye for descent homeward. Hawkeye is a hand full of features and mix of climbing on a descending direction. I made the van jst short of leading edge of sun breaking the topography. Over time I learned to leave daylight up on a ride to allow for ride interruptions. I do carry a small headlamp in my pack as a 10 essential.

I am experiencing gut issues of concern which were becoming more discerning. My next stop is Moab where I do have established patient relationship with providers there but I do not know of their ability and facility to diagnosis cause and or treat. I had been putting off addressing my health so yesterday I drove into Fruita to start learning. I started with an instant care who said what I needed was not in their caring, suggested ER in town. I sucked it up and walked into the ER. In little time I was put into a room and given a gown. A tech confidently grabbed my right arm and proceeded to push an IV needle in scoring a good vein in first stab. I received a CT of my abdomen and analysis of blood and pee. All were fine meaning that whatever was the cause was not going to kill me immediately. I will follow up with Moab health. This visit is why my ride was afternoon. A blood pressure cuff was wrapped around my arm and hooked up to the electronic devices. Heart rate at 50 which caused an alarm to go off, nurse said they do not have patients with my low heart rate. DR was surprised after he asked my age, I told him 75.

Last night at 9:30 the Zags started their season playing Baylor. I listened to the first half as the Zags pummeled Baylor. At halftime I crawled into bed  while the game was playing on XM. I fell asleep missing second half. I woke up after completion and clicked off the radio. At wakeup this morning I quickly turned on phone and called up espn. Zags smoked Baylor.

This morning at wake up the heater quit. I put the lit lighter to a stove burner: nothing. Ran out of propane again. Chilly. Dressed then drove into town to a restaurant I ate breakfast last week because I ran out of propane. Just not paying attention to consumption for timely refill.

Driving from town to sleep spot a snow blizzard strongly blew in. Snow heavy. I made my spot and settled in. Snow quit and the warmth of the earth changed color from white to fall brown.

Anyway, plan is to drive to Moab tomorrow where weather is as nasty as here. Strong winds, riding might not be so good.

Need to fix dinner.

Which was my out of bed early activity heart rate. Previous consistent low was 41. My understanding is heart rate is effected by muscle tone. Fruition of lifestyle choices and behavior strengthen heart function, the better taken care of the lower rate can be. I wear  a heart rate monitor using a chest strap. Data is recorded in Garmin edge 530 computer that I write in a journal. I record and collect for information because I can. My theoretical anaerobic threshold is 123 (220beats max – 75 [age] X .85 %). I accumulate minutes on the not efficient rate. I just ride putting effort in but not hammering or structured program. Fitness is what my body allows my brain to accept for planned ride. The edge computes recovery hours. The day before’s ride pushed beat to 152 which is very high. Recovery was 72 hours. One measure of recovery is to take pulse the next day: if elevated above normal resting rate, not sufficiently recovered, if at normal rest rate  consider recovered. My 39 beats was the next morning after the 152 beats and edge 72 hour recovery. I chose to go for a walk out here in the sagebrush dry desert.

Day above was Friday’s ride out Kokopeli trails, out Mary’s, Steve’s Connector, rejoining Mary’s, then climb up Wranglers then traverse, descend, pedal miles of old double track below grade, to last piece of single track dropping to end at road climb out. I stopped for a safety meeting at bottom of Wrangler climb. A younger couple arrived as I was getting ready to start. I gave them go ahead. I caught their wheel in a short while.  (Amazed myself). I rode his wheel until I spun out on a rock caused by no sight line. I stopped and allow them to continue. I caught them again and they let me go. I stayed ahead of them the rest of my ride. I am the one who gets dropped, to be the dropper is novel and will be a long time before I share trial with someone slower.

Thursday was laundry day over to Junction. I unhappily saw a fabric wear rip in my bottom sheet during folding. Worn out and needing replacement. I google searched sheets which returned high rating for a brand at Target a short drive away. Bought a sheet and pillow cases, both in darker colors. Right near by was a Best store, a possible source for mouse replacement. I bought a track mouse sim to what I used when last employed. Working down the learning curve for coordinated use. The mouse does not move, it sticks to tabletop, my thumb and fingers on correct switches makes the cursor move. Previous job function was reading digital models in high level computer system that I used a track ball. I’m relearning how to walk and chew gum at same time.

Yesterday afternoon, after listening to the Ohio State football game, I went for a walk out here in desert. I followed established ways from dirt road to double track out to a body of water per the USGS map. A bunch of years ago I hiked to same pond that held water at that time. This year just indication water might have been there. Hiked thru numerous prairie dog towns that appeared vacant. I haven’t seen one this visit anywhere out here. Drought die off suspected. I decided to bush bash on return to van. I oriented backcountry navigator software to figure a bearing back to van and tracked result. Result revealed my ability to walk a straight line.

Today’s forecast called for 60% chance of showers throughout the day, sucker hole weather. Sprinkles fell before wake up at now 5 AM. I fixed Sunday scratch pancakes and drank a second cup of cold brewed coffee. Sucker hole sort of opened, nah, I do not need to ride today and tomorrow’s forecast is for dry fall weather. I needed resupply in town and buy a new rear tire at OTE and install between bouts of wet. Out on the pavement fallen rain left notice interspersed with dry. Micro localized. Nice hole while in town that I used to replace worn rear tire. $87 for Maxxis Minion DHRll. It is waht it is, $ spent means top notch traction on slickrock at Moab. Tires live a short life before edges are rounded.

Forecast for Moab seems sim to here albeit slightly warmer. Snow forecast both places, no accumulation. Weather forecast will determine when I leave here this week.

“Everybody” complains about the weather but nobody does anything about it. Me, Mother Nature controls the show, I just live with effects to make what I am able to do. My dresser has 2 drawers, the top is for street clothes, the lower is uncold temp riding clothes.  The street clothes are in 2 layers, one for warm and the other for cold. I just resequenced the cold clothing to be on top. Soon I will be putting on cold weather bike clothing from a separate drawer.

Sunday was an enjoyable sunny ride out at Kokopeli trails. Same ol’ same ol’ trails. Mountain biking is challenging even on familiar trails as tread might be different like a rock moved, a pedal stroke missed to make a feature, or a different line chosen. The scenery might change as in fall colors or soon to be stick season. A constant is riding same trails. I start from a parking spot removed from main TH and pedal a pice of the gravel road before turning onto a closed double track to a gap in the ridge then descend last of More fun then start climbing Mary’s. The first part of this trail is an old road with just single track line choices to a pinch point where a rock slide constricts to a squeeze. There on single track and features. This ride I rode Steve’s Connector that starts at locally named Pizza Point and connects to Steve’s loop then the loop. Peter showed me this direction. Out of Steve’s back to far end of Mary’s heading back. I rode the 2nd Wrangler cutover to finish on Wrangler. This choice eliminated Wrangler climb and descending switchbacks and miles of old below grade double track. 13.2 miles climbing 1122′.

I drove back to Fruita for resupply and visit with Peter at OTE to plan Monday’s ride where he would guide me on his Junction local trails. Our ride needed to be on Monday as the forecast wants wet for Tues and Wed. He showed me where to meet.

Monday I drove out to meet location. This area is on the approach to Junction’s airport. Peter and wife Janet live nearby which makes this a preferred riding area. Over time they have explored cow paths, dirt bike trails, and 4X4 roads and named some of them to create a loop. Weather was overcast and windy. I followed a ways off the back as they are faster. First part was thru prairie dog towns. Old cow pies. Brown vegetation.

My Rail has been ridden 656 rides covering 8412 miles since June 2021.

Sprinkles fell on our return. Chilly. Packed up and I returned to Fruita then out to my sleep spot N or Loma. Towards early morning the forecasted weather system made its presence felt with van rocking gusts and pounding rain. I park off S road which is an all weather gravel road allowing 2 wheel drive travel. After Bfast I drove back to Fruita. I hang at OTE for socializing with staff, most of them I have known for years. Then back out to sleep spot. This morning more rain fell which wets the gravel slicking it like driving on fresh snow.

So, I’m back at S road hunkered down. Dirt is too wet to ride, perhaps tomorrow. Forecast for tonight is freeze warning 25 degrees. Ground is too warm to create freeze thaw mud. Cooler weather is moving in which will keep my side door closed eliminating entrance for mice. The last one ate almond butter coconut bait for 2 nights before its 3rd feast met with capture.

Next Tues I have follow up appointment with dermatologist regarding my leg issue. The prescribed ointment cleared up the ulcer. I plan on heading to Moab afterwards which is warmer.