Recovery from vein gluing is little stress to body, meaning like 30 mins of walking a day. Not sure if that is max or min. Reading of info said I could go back to normal activity. Dunno. So I errored on cautious side to limit walking to under an hour. On Sat I felt that I could do an easy ride. I drove out Dry Creek road to bottom of Canyon of Fools for less hilly ride. My leg sent no pain signals prior to pedaling. Route kept me off significant climbs. My leg started barking part way into my ride. Such a beautiful day. I disciplined myself for shortness and ease. Ride was 5,55 miles gaining 417′ pedaling for 52 mins. There is now pain in my leg which limits leg movement. I do not know if I adversely affected the sealing of the vein. Purpose of sealing vein was for body to redirect the returning blood to another vein. I will call clinic of Mon to gain info. I walked 30 mins today experiencing less pain.

Spending nights out off Beaverhead rd now populated by many beef cows grazing eating their choice vegetation then leaving behind the left overs plus pounded earth from their hoofs. USFS land of many abuses benefitting the few while paid for by the rest of us. Environmental destruction. The FS has closed off roads that don’t benefit the rancher.

Unintended consequences: The FS put up road closed carsonite posts on a mapped road out off Beaverhead. The dirt track that is unmapped accesses dispersed camp spots. Those few camp spots are litter free. Off the closed piece people are dumping wood waste and people litter. Seems regulation followers go where not prohibited and clean up after themselves where as the noncompliant people are using the restricted area for dumping. Seems by closing off access opens it up for dumpers. I believe that if road were open law abiders would use it and their presence would deter the dumpers from littering.

Sunshine with little shade. Getting warmer. Weak internet signal out Beaverhead that stifles data acquisition and transmission. I drive back to VOC for signal and whatever groceries, water, or propane I need. I will be returning to Beaverhead shortly. Presently I am reading The Goldfinch, 2014 winner of Pulitzer. Massive tome, small print, many words on its 771 pages, I’m on page 631. I park the van to create shade and wind block for outside sitting. Bike riding consumes chunk of day that is being filled with no activity. It’s too nice to be outside. Some days I visit Absolute bike shop for human interaction and maintaining social and verbal skills. No local bookstore.

The van has been inconstantly sending not happy sounds like turbo. I discussed symptoms with repair shop here that have worked on it. I was told to bring it by for their trouble shooting. The van needs to be acting up for them to figure problem. I drove there on Friday but the van behaved and has since. Been going on for since transmission replacement 2 years ago. I stay on top of van’s health. This condition puts me on pins and needles of uncertainty. 304,000 miles, almost 18 years old.

First step to correct venous insufficiency was completed yesterday up at Flag. Back in March ultrasound of my left leg discovered several valves in superficial vein where not working per print. Solution was to glue shut the vein to cause the body to renetwork returning blood to a properly functioning system of back flow valves. I accepted solution with reservation on fixing date being later than I wanted to be here enjoying Sedona red rock riding. Wow! The clinic scheduled me for yesterday and 2 weeks later for other vein treatments. Procedure performed by a local injection of lydocane in left leg at point of insertion of catheter then inserted way up the vein to junction with next plumbing located using ultrasound. Hose was withdrawn stopping to squirt a drop of super glue several places then removed. The inserting hardware is much larger than regular IV. Wound is bandaged. I changed from hospital gown to my clothes and walked out. Now begins this stage of recovery of easy usage, maybe Sat ride. Time is required for body to reconfigure plumbing and the glued spots to become blocking scar. Today i am noticing like a tight feeling in the leg, seems like a muscle restriction that seems to affect my curb walking balance. The next procedure requires more recovery time.

SO, yesterday completed 5 straight days of riding here in Sedona. Tues afternoon I was parked out in desert when a Sprinter stopped behind. I saw that was friend Bill from Gunnison. In past years he has visited here with me, I thought time for his visit had passed. I was pleasantly surprised. Wife Susan was along even better. They left snow and skiing for early season riding. We shared campsite and for the next 5 days of riding. I performed Doug’s role of route planning and leading. Both had ridden here over the years, Bill more so. They are 20+ years younger than me, I was unable to match their speed and ride time. I lead from the back. Good dose of system and social trails.

There were 2 rides here that I had ridden before, several solo. I put off riding them because? Complicated. I was unsure of my performance both endurance and proficiency. Then I told myself it was about riding alone because safety is another person along. Bill and Susan brought safety, now I looked deeper inward. I completed both of the rides unscathed. I walked about the same features and steepness.

First break through ride was Hogs on Friday. Weather here hasn’t settled into early summer, forecast for today was overcast, and strong winds, and chilly showers later. Windy it was. Bill and Susan’s skills were what I watched. Bill is accomplished. 15.3 miles climbing 1526′, pedaling for 2 hrs 34 mins. Average beats per minute was 111. I rode all in one gear: 30T oval chain ring and 34T on cassette. This gear seems to need fewer beats per minute. Windy at Chicken Point.

Second ride was Catwalk on Sunday. Several miles of basalt riding on shoulder of Scheurman. First part was climbing much I pushed my bike while they pedaled. I am suspicious of my proficiency contributing to aging psyche. Perhaps I challenge myself less. Walking is easier than grunting a steep climb. 14.4 miles climbing 1647′, pedaling for 2 hrs 16 mins, average bpm was 113. Again using same gear. Climbed Old Post, descended Carroll canyon, climbed Old Post then finished on Skywalker. I was tuckered.

On Saturday we started from bottom of Canyon of Fools heading out to ride Mescal. Chuck Wagon was plugged with hikers until junction with Devil’s Bridge. Mescal itself was not crowded. As I encounter way more hikers than bikers.

Beautiful day after chilly and windy ride the day before.

Sunday they headed back to Gunnison. Bid a wonderful adieu.

On easter I needed propane up at Ace in Sedona. I planned on riding up there afterwards. Store was closed. WTF? Plan B was tractor supply in Cottonwood. Drove down to store. Attendant attached me to their tank and hit the flow lever, except the connection was not tight allowing gas escaping. No go, no fill. Plan C was driving more to other store. On the way there I remembered a gas station had a propane tank. I stopped, yes they would pump, and yes I filled up. Forecast was calling for showers. Dead Horse was nearby. I was told those trails dried out quickly. I geared up to learn  myself that veracity. Sedona trails would have been too wet to ride. Short story happened at the land ownership change from state to federal an elevation band of clay like dirt was layered down. A group of people were performing trail work, the dirt held their muddy foot prints. Swell, not so firm. Hope springs eternal from the human breast, perseverance in hope conditions improve. Hope was rewarded as I climbed above the mud to ride on firm tread. Weather forecast was iffy and was threatening. I arrived at decision intersection to add about 5 miles loop on dirt that might be suspect. Enough was enough as I chose the descent back home. Down low I encountered that same elevation band that stuck to my tires leaving just the knob tips mudless.

Sitting here inside van parked at outlet mall. Windows are covered for privacy. Van temp is comfortable but rising from solar gain. Preference here is to be incognito, don’t live outside. Attraction is strong internet. Last night I walked over to PJs to watch the championship game. City camping noises. Forecast is for dry for desert living, temp will permit shorts and maybe suntanning.

Creative juices have been spent.

This year the cacophony of mate seeking male cicadas from the 13 year cycle and the infamous 17  year brood will coincide in parts of the eastern US.

Sitting at outlet mall with strong internet signal being buffeted by strong cross wind. March in or out like a lion or lamb, forecast does not call for snow.

Monday morning down here in Village I needed propane from gas station a short walk from where i park. Drove to station only to see sign reading broken. Next refill is up in west Sedona. I was underway ahead of traffic backup which later in the morning on somedays can stretch for miles. Filled up, where to ride? Down here precip wetted trails here that I chose to not put ruts on. Joey at Absolute here told me Dead Horse is always dry because tread is mostly hard limestone. I headed down to Cottonwood and those trails. The location is called Dead Horse after the name of the state park which butts up against FS land where almost al of the riding is. Entry fee of $3 is paid just to ride through. I parked at rec facilities outside of park then pedal pavement to park entrance. I exchanged $ for pass making me legal. Once my tires hit the dirt I learned that trails are firm. One spring Doug and I rode there on muddy trails which made me skeptical of present dryness. Doug and I must have hit freeze thaw conditions.

I kept a watchful eye on predicted rain during ride.

16.7 miles climbing 1325′, pedaled for 2 hrs 19 mins.

Made it back to van as skies darkened. I switched for riding to driving back to VOC. I passed several showers requiring windshield wipers. Route was length of Beaverhead road passing several dirt roads off to camp spots including where I stay. Still muddy as seen from red dirt tracks on the black pavement. The road descended from the flats to intersection of 179 to Village. Towards the turn I saw heavy white on the road: localized snow squall dumped maybe 3″ of wet snow. Huh? I tuned uphill towards Village driving thru that short snow patch. Rain fell later. I drove out to Jack’s trailhead for dinner. The parking area is raw dirt which becomes muddy. Rain fell after I parked and I watched puddles grow. I had concern that my tires would lack traction to drive away. After dinner I put the transmission in go gear to drive out. This dirt is sand whereas the dirt out off Beaverhead is muddy.

Tuesday I had a DR appointment up at Flag to learn of my blood circulation issue in my left leg. I drove I-17 up. VOC is at 4,000′, Flag is at 7,000′. Just outside Flag I entered a blowing snow storm turning road white. I drove out of the storm before the DR office. Short story an ultrasound was performed on both legs, results revealed several valves in my left leg were not closing which allows blood to not return to heart resulting in swelling. Treatment is outpatient inserting a catheter in a vein in my leg then squirting a bead of superglue to glue those valves closed. Now just waiting for that procedure, was told I should here from them next week with that date at either Flag or down in the valley. My departure time is now determined when that repair occurs. Plan will be made once that date is learned. On the way back down I drove thru that same snow storm.

Somewhere I met Marvin from WI who wanted to share a nip of Scotch with. Tuesday night was his last day. He joined me at the mall where we sipped on his Scotch. Weather was conducive to being outside, not like Flag.

Wed I rode Rabbit Ears loop anticipating less muddy trails which they were mostly. At the intersection of Jacks and start of Rabbit Ears trail which now starts ascending traverse to high point. This piece replaces the original alignment which was a nasty pedal. New trail at present is above grade with less loose rubble. For me it’s a hump in duration. I timed it once, it takes 10 mins only but my age affected effort seems longer. Descend Rabbit Ears to Big Park loop then pavement back to van. 9.16 miles pedaling for 1 hr 20 mins climbing 968′.

Thurs was laundry day in Sedona. Beat spring break traffic. Clean clothes. Doug will be leaving here on Monday meaning time together is short. We met at bottom of CoF for our ride. Just a beautiful spring day for his last ride. Both of us are suffering from melancholy as our time here is coming to an end. We spent  an hour during ride to enjoy the day. Today I pedaled in my 3rd gear the entire ride to see if I could pedal all the time when needed. I watch many riders who seem to peal all the time where with me shifting gears I have difficulty making a pedal move. I learned that I can pedal up those lifts better. My average speed is about same with slightly lower average bears per minute.

Friday I rode Llama loop again riding in same gear. I wore a short sleeve jersey exposing pale skin to sun resulting in reddening of that skin, not a burn just a pink. working on my base.

Friday afternoon the Zags met Purdue in Sweet 16 game. Purdue Ebey at 7’4″ was too much to contain resulting in ending Zag’s season.

Today forecast wants clear skies but very windy. Rest today hunkered inside. Tomorrow is back to wet.