Been staying out @ JEM TH for bumch of days. 2 nights ago in the dark a rig pulled into same small parrking lot I am in. Parked against far side railing about 30 feet away. Disconcertingly close. I watched for lights and saw just small led light moving. Fleeting concern that i should pull out my piece to the ready but didn’t. In the AM light I saw a mountain bike on back of pickup truck and I was assured of kindred lifestyle. After my inside bfast and his living out back of truck bfast i introduced myself to Scott, 33 yo DOD engineer on 3 month road trip leave from work mountain biking & rock climbing in the west. He is from Chattonoga, bought his bike from Trailhead in town. I met the owner durig a visit to ride Raccoon mtn. Nice guy, enjoyed his company. Last night I wanted to ask him to lower my bed but he was already tucked into bed; I waited too long. Today hanging out after his ride I asked for his help b4 he went to bed. He lowered the bed and appraised the weight to be in excess of my 30 pound limit. He will be here in the AM to raise it. Whoopppe! No floor sleeping tonight: sheets & blanket.

Yesterday I hung @ OTE shop talking w/ owner Quentin again. I asked the same question way different ways of his opinion of the Turner 5 Spot w/ DW rear end. Big smile and said best bike he has ridden. Today a car w/ bikes pulled into my same small parking lot. A guy got out wearing a Turner shirt but his bike was a Ventana. What’s up I asked. He said he wants one but living on a bike shop wage put it out. Again twisted questions and he said the Spot DW is the best bike he has ever ridden. I want one, don’t need it. I kept my Boeing stock to sell should a new bike frame be “needed”. Stock sale won’t completely cover a new frame a some new components. Maybe I buy the frame and move over what I can and buy I think a new seat post and put off buying a new fork. Maybe this winter. Nothing but the best for this dirtbagger. What i can’t do because of lack of skill or maybe bike limitations, I could now buy my way. Soon a new DW Spot. Guy w/ Turner shirt is from Jackson, WY and works in Fitzgeralds bike shop. I read about the shop and stopped there for my WY ride. Shop contributing fame is it is next door to a brew pub.

PUSH completly rebuilt my fork and it arrives in ST George tomorrow. I leave here tomorrow to retrieve my bike and move on. My insides still hurt and I know I have another 10 days for 3 weeks before I can ride easily again. Temptation will be great. Oh, I could drive 350 miles to outside San Diego to Turner factory and buy my new Spot. Shake my head get that idea out.

Race Across the Sky movie of this year’s Leadville 100 is showing in Las Vegas 1 night tomorrow. I could put my bike together and make the showing. Friend Grace from Huntsville w/ MS is featured. I spoke w/ her yesterday about her interview on the film. She didn’t get to meet Lance. Only 130 miles to LV on interstate. Camp in a casino parking lot?

Built & shared a photo album of WA rides. Again hours spent @ the keyboard.

Walked a little further today. I want the pain to go away. 3 weeks of hardly any exercise looses muscle tone and adds fat.

Today is first day of “kicking” the pain meds and experiencing unfettered my healing and the pain I subject myself to. The floor I’m sleeping on is a bit firmer than my bed. I continue to limit my physical efforts following dr’s orders. I am sleeping in a $10.00 Wal Mart 40 degree bag. I searched the Yellow Pages for a camping supply house and found just a backpacking shop and I already had that type of sleeping bag. The highway leading from Hurricane to I-15 is paved 4 lane, a prime Wal Mart location. End of justification.

I am camped @ upper TH of JEM trail outside of Hurricane. Parking lot sits a bit back off the road and is secluded w/ a great view of sunset that takes a long time to play out. 4200′. Temp during hot day is low 70s, nighttime is flirting w/ 40 degrees. Treeless. I am on the trail system. Sometimes riders might stop & engaged me in conversation. Almost everyone studies the back of the van as they go by.

Today i spent 4 hours creating a photo album of Utah rides. If you want to view it send me a comment and I will invite you to view. Uploading pics takes time from wireless. Time I have a bunch of presently.

Thing about this desert area is everything is layered in the sandstone formations.

3 days w/o a shower. Yesterday i drove round trip 40 miles to Springdale to bike shop for $5.00 shower. Several days ago I checked out Sand Hollow SP. Showers are $2.00 but an entrance fee is required. I could pay $4.00 and walk about 1/2 mile to shower, drive in for $10.00, primitive camp for $13, or full up site for I didn’t ask. Park is closer to town. Perhaps in several days when I might accept company I will primitive camp there for the $2.0 shower.

Today I walked very carefully about 30 mins in desert on road and then back on trail. Some pain. I don’t “understand” this healing no riding program. I feel I could ride. I wonder how far into a ride it would be before I peed blood again? Besides PUSH has my fork and Red Rock in ST George has my bike.

Today a group of Frogs ( canadians) stopped for a conversation. They have already ridden Sedona. They told me of a trail near Sullivan Lake north of Spokane that I have never ridden. Maybe this is Mel’s trail.

Just hanging @ JEM.

Established an account @ local video store. Rented several titles. Been gone so long from  movies that I have no titles speaking to me. Red Box is on line for box location and what is available to rent in each machine.  Their titles don’t interest me. A movie tonight and back into town for a resupply.

little creek w_ fall