A little rain, some mud, muddy ride

Rained most of Sunday washing out a ride. Hung in W Sedona, going to watch superbowl @ Oak Creek brewery. Late afternoon the weather was freaky in that sunshine, sleet, & hard rain took turns. Stepped out in a big sucker hole to walk N away from town up into USFS land. Took pictures of views which are like everywhere. Numerous for sale signs. I don’t know how you could get tired of Sedona. The beauty is awesome.

Caught 1st half @ brewery. I needed dinner and headed to red planet next to MBH. Small crowd of 2 couples watching the superbowl channel saying the station will be available soon. Ate a quick dinner form less than attentive staff as I was the only customer in the place. Almost snowing outside. Sedona doesn’t appear to be a go  out to watch a game. I suspected the staff of sabotaging the game as their nationality favors another football. decided that my night was done and that I would listen to the rest of the game on XM. Hwy was blocked @ west end @ top of hill because of slip outs. Returned to the brewery to wait out the road clearing. Never found the game on XM. Watched game which was being received via satellite vs cable. Colts lost.

Cautiously drove out to deer pass. Good bit of slush on road shoulder. Gravel road to camp was fine. Rain is softening it up but should not go sticky slippery. Shouldn’t, back in Jan 4″ fell.

Monday AM into town. UPS the shock to the buyer in CA, buy propane, call Dave & Rebeca for a house companion for the night, and meet Jeff for a ride.

Bit wet because we rode washes running. We did ride over short infrequent sections of soggy wet. Finished up a wash helping to wash mud off and a pavement climb. How fast and easy the riding was on the pavement. Somewhere towards Soldiers Pass a creek flows down sandstone having carved several pools separated by waterfalls. The uphill side is maybe 13 feet overhead, the runout is the relatively flat smooth piece of slickrock. Jeff said that Bryan Lopes gapped it and BikeMag photo’d it to be seen in forthcoming issue. Viewed Devil’s Kitchen which is a somewhat circular opening down thru the respective layers of sandstone. It was like a film of strata formed over like a gas bubble as the sediment settled out. The film wore away leaving the hole.

A rider, the only one met us as we were returning and he was riding out following our tracks which were the only ones. He stopped to talk. He asked if one of us was Craig as he talked w/ Rama who said I might be out there. Eric is his name visiting for first time from Bay area. He is very effusive about hooking up w/ locals to show him around. Just like me. Jeff planned a ride for today and invited Eric along. 10:00 AM west sedona.

I rode a few more technical moves. I am feeling better about my improving skills.

I am making my waldorf salad and Rebeca is making dinner. Buy groceries & drive down canyon to Oak Creek. Continual warm visit. Signals not clear about dinner, resourceful Rebeca dashes to grocery & returned w/ salmon fillets. Score. Visited till 10:00 talking all kinds.

Rained a little bit on me sleeping in their driveway. Woke to sound of auto right behind me. Freaked because there should not have been any vehicle behind me out in desert. Ohhh… I’m in town.

Met Jeff, & John, visitor Eric, & Scott. Drove out to Dry creek TH w/ $5 daily parking fee, the Red Rock Pass. I am told that if you get a failure to pay ticket it is noncollectable. Other cars almost all from out of state also were devoid of a pass. rangers didn’t visit.

Ride turned out to be the same that dean lead several weeks b4 only Dry creek  and the washes were flowing. Riding outsloped slick rock w/ exposure takes nerves. How can side lugs grip the rock w/o side slipping? Counterbalance and going straight. Riding w/ more confidence & comfort. My position on my bike appears to be like sitting upright in a chair, my legs directly underneath, with my hands out front. My saddle & handlebars are just about the same height. This makes my front end light making it easier to loft. The very noticeably stiffer front end allows for steering. My old lighter wheel, smaller axle, & harsh FOX fork were flexie, wiggley; couldn’t stay a line in the rough. Way better bike.

Drove back to WS for beer, a piece of pizza, & Caesar salad @ upscale place still dressed in our muddied riding clothes.

Washed my bike off @ MBH. Sedona red mud leaves a film that requires hand rubbing to remove. Not this wash. Let the red color acreate as a badge of where I have been.

Dean called me as I was driving to TH this AM asking if I wanted to build trail today. Darn Dean for not giving me better notice. We made plans for Friday.

Ride Wed MBH shop ride. Ride w/ Dave &Rebeca Thurs & I fix dinner. Friday B & B builds my new rear wheel. It might be Gonzo. If so I will show his old friend & employer Scott @ ICS in Indi this summer.

Almost everyone I am meeting are mtn bikers and have been wonderful, even George who is 2 handfulls. This goes beyond Sedona. I have met some wonderful people and have been fortunate to enjoy their company. When we are riding we are doing what we want and fills us w/ joy, challenge, success and failure, exhiliration. All riders have been on great bikes.