Left Jimmy’s for B & B, bid Kevin safe flight back to Long Island.
Jeff called to say ride w/ Doug around 12:00. Called Nick. We met @ Doug’s. 3 other riders joined us. Ride was Clor Cove, Plumbers Crack, Ledge n’ Airy, Girdner, annaconda, Girdner, & back on road.Rode a few more moves on Ledge and in general riding w/ more confidence. Speared myself again by same branch on ledge making a step up on a boulder. Needed inside line which is guarded by a pine branch with it’s tip cut off,new sprouts hide the stub end. Last time I almost made the move but the branch lightly gouged my left bicep. Today I moved to the inside about an inch. Bam! Speared by branch this time full on on my arm ripping my jersey sleeve leaving a couple small scrapes. Missed move again also.
Trail dumped out onto Girdner that crosses & recrosses flowing Dry Creek which is fed by snow melt from Flag. Crossed it 12 times, I rode 1 or 2 crossings with the h2o over bottom bracket & soaked the hubs. Too deep for bearings so i carried my bike. At the first crossing pedaling across my feet spun under the h20, shoes wet what the heck, save the bearings and wash my shoes.
Jeff commented that I am riding much stronger.
Beautiful day, so gorgeous here.
Hot Springs, AR is 1200 miles straight in I-40 if I need to push straight thru.
As of today i have been in AZ for 90 days, ridden 46 rides in Sedona for 572 miles.
Heater valve failing rendering heater inoperable, tonight will be chilly. Slept last night w/o heater, turned it on when i woke up. 46 degrees inside seems tolerable.